Page:Mad pranks of Tom Tram, son in law to Mother Winter.pdf/14

 into a little thatch'd houſe which had a ditch round about it, very cloſe to the wall thereof; that houſe Tum help'd them to fill with ſtraw, and fee them take their lodging; and then, it being dark, Tom bade them goodnight; and as ſoon as he was over the bridge, which was a plank, he drew it after him; and in the dead time of the night, Tom gets a long pole, with a waſp of ſtraw at the end of it, and ſets the ſtraw on fire, colling out to the reſt of the fellows to ſhift for themſelves; who thinking to run over the bridge, fell into the ditch, crying and calling out for help, while, by Tom's means, moſt part of the town ſtood to ſee the jeſt; and as the gypſies waded through the ditch, they took them and carried them into an houſe, where there was a good fire, for it was in the midſt of winter; where Tom counſels them; that they ſhould never make him believe that they could tell him any thing, that did not know what danger ſhould befal themſelves: But, ſays he, becauſe you cannot tell me my fortune, I will tell you yours; For tomorrow in the forenoon you shall be whipped for deceivers, and in the afternoon be hanged for ſetting the houſe on fire. The gypſies hearing this ſo ſtrick ſentence, made haſte to dry themſelves, and next morning ſtole out of town, and never came any more there.