Page:History and comical transactions of Lothian Tom (6).pdf/24

 24 his call, and Tom had but one calf to serve them all, which he took and she wed them. Now, says he whoever gives most for it shall have it, or I'll put i to a roup.-Whai, said they, our master bought i yesterday : then, says Tom, you would be fools to buy it to-day, for it is heavy to carry, and fashious to lead, so you must all go home without it. Next day Tom got ten summonses, to answer at the in- stance of the butchers for selling his calf and not de- livering it. Tom then goes to Edinburgh, gets the ablest lawyer in town for that purpose, and tells him the whole of what past, from first to last. Then, said the lawyer, as they cannot prove a bargain, deny you the paying of the money again; and if you'll give me the calf I'll bring you off: but remember in law there is no point like that of denial. The calf. says Tom, you shall not want the calf and a stone of butter to make it ready.—Then the lawyer goes to the court, where Tom is called upon, and the hw- yer asked the butchers if they could tell the price of the calf, or prove the bargain ? they answered, No; but he ordered us to send out our lads, and we would agree.--Agree! said the judge: Why do ye sue for a bargain, and have to agree about it yet? So as they could neither prove the bargain, nor lending their money, they lost the plea.-Then the lawyer desired Tom to be sure to send in his calf and but- ter: Ho, ho, says Tom, you told me the best point in law was to deny : I'll sell my calf to then that will give most for it: So if you have learned me law, I have learned you roguery; and that was all the lawyer got of Tom.

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