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for his trouble, and had to take back his
coffin with him again.
Tom being short of money, began to
think how he could raise a fresh supply;
so he went to the Port amongst the shear.
ers, and there he hired about thirty of
them, and agreed to give them a whole
week's shearing at ten-pence a day, which
was twopence higher than any had got
that year, this made the poor shearers
think he was a very honest, generous and
genteel master; as ever they meet with;
for he took them all into an ale house,
and gave them a hearty breakfast. Now,
says Tom, when there is so many of you
together, and perhaps from very different
parts, and being unacquainted with one
another, I do not know but there may be
some of you honest men, and some of you
rogues, and as you are all to lie in one
barn together, any of you who has some
money, you'll be surest to give it to me
and I'll mark it down in my book, with
your names, and what I receive from each
of you, and you shall have it all again
on Saturday night when you receive your
wages. O! very well goodman, there's
mine, take mine, said every one faster than
another. Some gave him five, six, seven
and eight shillings, even all that they had
earn'd thro' the harvest, which amounted
