Page:History and comical transactions of Lothian Tom (7).pdf/16

 16.Comical Tranfaftions of Lothian Tom*

believed the devil had dropped in his way, and how he had taken the calf and all along with him, expreffing his thankfulnefs, that the devil was fo honeft, as to fpare his old horfe, when he dole away his calf. Next morning Tom went to work, and made, a fine white face on the calf, with chalk and water, then brings it out and fells it to the butcher, which was good diverfion to his mafter and other fervants, to fee the butcher buy his own calf again; no fooner was he gone with it, but Tom fays, now mafter, what will you hold but I’ll fteal it from him again, ere he goes two miles off? No, no, fays his mafter. I’ll hold no more bets with you, but I'll give you a fhilling if you do it, done fays Tom, it fhall coft you no more; and away he runs a foot through the fields, until he came before the butcher, hard by the place where he ftole the calf from him the day before: and here he lies behind the hedge, and as the butcher came paft, he puts his hand on his mouth, and cries baw, baw, like a calf; the butcher hearing this, fwears to himfelf, that there was the calf he had loft the day before, down he comes, and throws the calf on the ground, gets in thro' the hedge in all hafte, thinking he had no more to do but take it up ; but as he came in at one part of the hedge, Tom jumps out at another, and gets the calf on his back; then gets in over the hedge on the other fide and through the fields he came fafely