Page:Mad pranks of Tom Tram, son-in-law to Mother Winter (1).pdf/6

 6 THE MAD PRANKS heavy, he fees a man that fold tobacco up and down the country, at the foot of a hill, when be alighted to lead his hors down the hill, at the bottom of which he rails down, and lies crying as if he had broke one of his legs, and makes to the man a moſt piteous lamentation, that he was ſix or ſeven miles from any town, there being no houſe near; and that he was like to periſh for want of ſuccour. The man aſked, Where he dwelt? he ſaid with a knight, to whom Tom did. live as a jeſter. The man knowing the knight, and thinking Tom's leg had really been bro- ken, with much ado lifted him upon the horſe. When Tem was mounted, he pray. ed the man to give him Iris maſter's turkeys. Tom made the horſe to gallop away, crying out, I ſhall be killed! I ſhall be killed! O my leg! what ſhall I do! O my leg! The man ſeeing him gone ſtood in amaze, and knew not what to think; nevertheleſs,' he durſt not leave his turkeys behind him, for fear of diſpleaſing the knight, but carried them lugging along fretting and ſwearing in his boots, till he came to the next town, where he hired a horſe to overtake Tom, but could not; until he came to the knight's houſe, where rom food to attend his com- ing, looking out at the window. When the man alighted, Tom then called to him ſo: loud, that moſt of the houſe heard him; O, ſaid he, now I ſee thou art an honeſt man, I had thought you had ſet me upon your