Page:History of Thomas Hickathrift (1).pdf/7

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would be hiring him to work: They seeing him to have so much strength, told him that it was a shame for him to live such a lazy course of life, and to lie idle day after day, as he did.

Tom seeing them bait him in a manner as they did, went first to one work then to another; but at length came a man, who would hire him to go to the wood; for he had a tree to bring home, and he would content him. Tom went with him, and he took with him four men besides; but when they came to the wood, they set the cart on the tree, and began to draw it up with pullies; Tom seeing them not able to stir it, said, stand away, ye fools, then takes it up and sets it on one end, and lays it on the cart; Now, says he, see what a man can do. Merry is it true, said they. When they had done, as they came through the would they met the wood-man, Tom asked him for a stick to make his mother a fire with. Aye, says the wood-man, take one