Page:Mad pranks of Tom Tram, son in law to Mother Winter.pdf/8

 miles off, Tom appoints three or four of his companions to meet him, who did not fail, for they were there before Tom and his friend, who came riding upon the horſes, Tom upon the hired horſe, and the man upon his own. Tom alighted, and called the hoſtler to ſet up his horſe, and to give him oats enough, and cauſed a turkey to be rolled with all poſſible haſte; which, according as he companded, was parformed. But Tom whiſpered to his comforts, and wiſhed them to ply the man with drink; while be, in the meantime, went to the hoſt, an told him, They came to be merry, and money was ſhort with him and deſired he would lend him-ten ſhillings upon his horſe. The hoſt having ſo good a pawn, lent it him, knowing it would be ſpent in his houſe. So Tom went and gave the man five ſhillings for the hire of the horſe, and ſpends the other five ſhillings freely upon him: by that time the day was very high ſpent, ſo that the man could get no farther that night, but Tom and his companions took their leaves and returned home, and the man went his way to bed little ſuſpecting the trick Tom had put upon him. In the morning, the man riſing betimes, thinking to be gone, could have but one horſe, unleſs he paid ten ſhillings, for Tom had left word with his hoſt, that paying the money, he ſhould have both