Page:History and comical transactions of Lothian Tom (7).pdf/18

 18 Comical Tranfaciions of Lothian Tom,

for him, until he had got about 30 pounds of her money, and then fhe would delay the marriage no longer; Tom went and took the old woman and girl afide, and made his apology as follows; ‘ Dear mother,’ faid he, ‘ I am very willing to wed my dear Polly, ‘ for fhe appears as an angel in mine eyes, ' but I am forry, very forry to acquaint you, ‘ that I am not a fit match for her;' ‘ What ‘ child,’ fays the old woman,' there’s not a ‘ fitter match in the world for my Polly ; I ‘ did not think your country could afford ‘ fuch a clever youth as what I hear of you ' to be, you fhall neither want gold nor fil- ‘ ver, nor a good horfe to ride upon, and ' when I die you fhall have my all:'O but fays Tom, ‘ Mother, that’s not the matter at ‘ all, the flop is this, when I was at home in 'Scotland, I got a ftroke with a horfe’s foot ' on the bottom of the belly, which has quite ' difabled me below, that I cannot perform a ‘ hufband’s duty in bed.' Then the old wo- man clapt her hands, and fell a crying,' O if ‘ it had been any other impediment but that! ‘ but that! but that wofu that! which gold ‘ nor filver cannot purchafe, and yet fhe ‘ pooreft people, that is, even common beg- ‘ gars have plenty of it.’ The old woman and her daughter fat crying, and wringing their hands, and Tom flood and wept, left he fhould get no more money. O fays Polly, ‘ Mother, I'll wed with him neverthelefs, I ‘ love him fo dearly !’ ' No, no, you foolifh