Page:History and comical transactions of Lothian Tom (7).pdf/5

 Comical Tranfactions of Lothian Tom. 5 meal; there he takes her by the feet, and coups her up into the barrel with her head down, and her bare back-fide uppermoft; then runs into the fchool, crying, “ O maf- ter! mafter! the de’il’s looking out o’ your meal-ftand, wi’ a fat face, and a black ill- far’d mouth : yon’s juft Auld Nick if he be living.” At this the mafter ran with all the fpeed he could to fee what it was, and found it to be his own wife fpeechlefs, and atmoft fmothered to death, but as fhe could not tell who did it, Tom got clear off: yet he was not fatisfied without fome more vengeance on the old fellow ; and knowing his mafter had a fafhion, when he was going to whip the boys, if they did not loofe their breech- es willingly, he drew his knife and cut them thro’ the waiftband behind: So Tom goes to a butcher and gets a raw pudding, and fills it with blood and water, and puts it within the waiftband of his breeches, then goes to fchool next day, and as the mafter was fitting with his back towards the fire, Tom lights a piece of paper, and fets his wig in a low, which burnt for fome time unper- ceived, until the flame came fizzing about his ears : He firft put out the flames by tramp- ling on the wig, and being informed that Tom did it, flies to him in a rage, ordering him to loofe his breeches, but Tom told him he was never fo mad: Then he drew his knife, and whips poor Tom over his knee, and with great kicking and ftruggling, cuts