Page:History and comical transactions of Lothian Tom (7).pdf/15

 Comical Tranfaflions of Lothian Tom. 15 hind the hedge, and throws the fhoe in the middle of the high-way, then up comes the butcher riding and his calf before him; hey, faid he, to himfelf, there’s a good fhoe, if I knew how to get on my calf again, I would light for it, but what fignifies one without its neighbour, fo off he goes and lets it ly: Tom then flips out and takes up the fhoe a- gain, and runs crofs the fields, until he got in before the butcher, at another open of the hedge, about half a mile diftant, and there he throws out the fhoe again on the midft of the way; then up comes the butcher and feeing it, fays to himfelf, now I fhall have a pair of good fhoes for the lifting, and down he comes, lays the calf on the ground, and tying his horfe to the hedge, runs back, thinking to get the other fhoe, in which time, Tom whips up the calf and fhoe, and home he comes, demanding his wager, which his mafter could not deny, being fo fairly won. The poor butcher returned back to his horfe, got only his travel for his pains, fo miffing his calf, he knew not what to fay or do, but thinking it had broke the rope from about its feet, and had gone into the fields, the butcher fpent that day in fearch of it a- mongft the hedges and ditches, and fo re- turned to Tom’s mafter’s all night, intend- ing to go and fearch farther for it next day, giving them a tedious relation how he came fo lofe it by a curfed pair of fhoes, which he