Page:Mad pranks of Tom Tram, son-in-law to Mother Winter (1).pdf/10

 10 THE MAD PRANKS men made all poſſible ſpeed to drink up the ale and ſpice before he came up again, and that was what Tom deſired. When he came again, ſeeing all the ale and ſpice gone, he ſays, Gentlemen, will you know why my horſe carried me to the gallows? Yes, ſays one of them, Well, ſays Tom, it was to fetch you ſome ſpice to your ale, and if you want I have more for you; and with that fhewed them the chips out of his pocket, and away he runs, leaving the gentlemen to look one upon another, ſtudying how they ſhould be revenged on him.

CHAP VI, How Tom rode a Goſſipping.

TOM heard of a company of women that would meet at the place a houſe-warm- -ing, to welcome one of the houſe. Theſe women had formerly abuſed Tom, and now he thought to be even with them, ſo he goes to an apothecary's ſhop, buys a pound of purging comfits, and puts them in a cake with other ſpices, and dreſſes himſelf in women's apparel, and gets a horſe and a pannel, and to the houſe he comes, knocks at the doors and aſked the maid, whether there were many women, came a houſe. warming? The maid ſaid, Not yet: I pray ſays Tom, take this cake, and if I come not at the meeting, let them eat it and be mer- ry: for I muſt go to a woman that is ready