Page:History and comical transactions of Lothian Tom (6).pdf/17

 17 htending to go and ſearch farther for it the next day, giving them a tedious relation how he came to loſe his calf by a curſed pair of hoes, which he believed the devil had drop'd n his way, and how he had taken the calf ind all along with him ; expreſſing his thank- ulneſs that the devil was ſo honeſt as to pare his d horſe, when he ſtole away his alf-Next morning Tom ſet to work, and nakes a fine white face on the calf with halk and water, then brings it out and ſells to the butcher; which was good diverſion o his matter and other ſervants, to ſee the butcher buy his own calf again. No ſooner was he gone with it, than Tom ſays, Now maſter, what will you hold but I ſteal it rom him again, ere he goes two miles eff? No, no, ſays his maſter, I'll hold no more pets with you, but I'll give you a ſhilling if you do it. Done, ſays Tom, it will coſt you no more. So away he runs a-foot thro' he fields, until he came before the butcher, tard by the place where he tole the calf from in the day before ; and there he lies be- ind the hedge, and cries, Baw, baw, like calf. The butcher hearing this, ſwears o himſelf, that there was the call he had loſt he dat before; Down he comes, and throws he calf on the ground: gets in through the edge in all haſte, thinking he had no more o do but to take it up; but as he came in