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sorrowfal heart to leave the fawn. After his departure, the ’squire ordered the fawn, when dressed, to be brought to his table, which was done accordingly. On Thomas’s return, he found himself fairly tricked out of the fawn; and instead of it, to his mortification, bread and cheese, and small beer, his old diet; however, Thomas vowed within himself to revenge it the first opportunity.
A little while after, the ’squire, (who was going to pay his addresses to a young lady,) gave orders to Thomas to get the carriage, together with the horses and harness, well cleaned. Thomas obeyed the order, and on the road from the stable to the ’squire’s house, he met a man with a small sand-cart, drawn by two remarkably fine jack-asses. Thomas insisted upon an exchange, the horses for the asses, which being obtained, he cut all his master’s fine harness to pieces, to fit these Arabian ponies, as he styled them. Matters being completed, he drove up boldly to the ’squire’s, and knocked at the gate; the porter perceiving the droll figure his master’s equipage cut, burst out into an immoderate fit of laughter! ‘C’up, c’up,’ says Thomas, ‘what’s the fool laughing at?———Go and acquaint the ’squire his carriage is ready.’
Shortly after the ’squire came, and seeing his carriage so beautifully adorned with cattle, was struck with astonishment. ‘Why. what the devil,’ quoth the ’squire, ‘have you got harnessed to my carriage?’ ‘I will tell you,’ says Thomas. ‘As I was driving from your stable to the gate, I met a fellow driving a sand-cart, drawn by these two fine Arabian ponies, and knowing you to be fond of good cattle, I gave your horses for these two fine creatures; they draw well, and are ornaments to your carriage; only observe what fine ears they
