Page:History and comical transactions of Lothian Tom (7).pdf/11

 Comical Tranfactions of Lothian Tom.II

fhearers, and there he hired about thirty of them, and agreed to give them a week’s fhearing at 10 pence a day, which was two pence higher than any had got that year. this made the poor fhearers think he was an honeft, generous, and genteel mafter as ever they got, for he took them all into an ale- houfe, and gave them a hearty breakfaft, till they could eat no more. Now fays he, when there is fo many of you together, perhaps from different parts, and unacquainted with one another, I do not know but there may be fome of you honeft men, and fome of you rogues; and as you are to fleep all in one barn together, any of you who has any mo- ney, you’ll be fureft to give it to me, and I’ll mark it down in my book with your names, and what I receive from each of you, and you fhall have all again on Saturday’s night, when ye get your wages. O! very well good- man ; take mine, take mine, every one faf- ter than another; fome gave him 5,6, 7, & 8 fhillings; even all they had earned thro’ the harveft, which amounted to near 7 pounds fterling. Having got all their money, he goes on with them, till about 3 miles out of town, and coming to a great field of ftanding corn, tho’ fomething green, yet convenient for his purpofe, as it lay at fome diftance from any houfe or perfon: fo he made them, begin there, telling them, he was going to order dinner for them, and fend his own fer- vants to join them: Away he goes with all