Page:Mad pranks of Tom Tram, son-in-law to Mother Winter (1).pdf/17

 OF TOM TRAM. 17 and accordingly, he did, and Tom made himſelf brave clothes with the money, and ſweethearts came about him as bees do about a honey pot; hut Toni wore a rope in his pocket and being aſked if he would marry, he would-pull it out, and laugh, ſaying, I have broken my ſhins already, and will be wiſer hereafter; for I am an old colt, and now may have as much wit as a horſe.

CH AP XI.

How he hired himſelf to the juſtice, and what pranks he played while with him.

THE juſtice at this time being without a man, and finding Tom to be a lively fellow, aſking him, if he would ſerve him. Yes, quoth Tom, for. I am a great many miles from the country. As ſoon as they had agreed for wages, Tom was immediate- ly entertained : But he had not liv'd long there before the juſtice and his family was obliged to go to London, leaving no body at home but Tom. Now in the juſtices ab- a fence, an officer brought a luſty young wo- man and a little man with a complaint; ſo they knocked at the door, and Tom let them in; then placing himſelf in his maſter's chair, ſhe aſked the woman what ſhe had to ſay, who told him that the man whom ſhe had brought before him had lain with her by force. Adzooks, quoth Tom, is it poſſible that ſuch a little fellow as this could force