Page:History and comical transactions of Lothian Tom (7).pdf/10

 10 Comical Tranfactions of Lothian Tom

there’s a meafure for her coffin. Tom w out and ftaid for fome time, and then cor in again, and tells the wright he did know what to do, for his father had order him to get money from fuch a man who he named, and he was that day gone out town; the wright afked him how much wanted: to which he anfwered, a guinea an a half might do, or 30 fhillings at the leaf fo he gave him the guinea and the half: the Tom gave him ftrict charges, to be out o the morrow againft 11 o’clock with the co fin, and he fhould have his money altoge ther: Tom fet out for the ale-houfe with this money, and lived well while it lafted. Next morning, the wright and his two lads went out with the coffin: and as they were going into the houfe, Tom’s mother, ftanding at; the door, afked the mafter how he did, and where he was going with that fine coffin he did not know well what to fay, being fo furprized to fee her alive, but at laft he told her, her fon brought in the meafure the day before, and had got a guinea and a half from him, which he faid, was to buy fome other neceffaries for the funeral. O the rogue! faid fhe, has he play’d me that! So the wright got his guinea and a half, and fo much for his trouble, and had to take back his coffin with him again. Tom being now fhort of money again, began to think how he could raife a frefh fupply fo he went to the Port amongft the