4
overset by the weight of her self, so she
had to flee to the other, and finding the
same there, from thence to the middle,
where she sat mewing, always turning
herself about, combing their noses with
her foot. The old woman being informed
of the dangerous situation of her dearly
beloved cat, came running with a long
pole to beat off the dogs and haul her
ashore. What now, says Tom, if you be
going to take part with my enemies, you
shall have part of their reward; then gives
the old woman such a push that she tumb-
led into the dam over head and ears,
beside her beloved cat, and would un-
doubtedly have perished in the water had
not one of the people who was there look-
ing at the diversion, came to her relief.
After his Tom was sent to school, to
keep his hand out of an ill turn; and
having an old cankered, crab-witted fellow
for his dominie, they were always at vari-
ance; for if Tom had got his whips, which
he often deserved, he was sure to be re-
venged upon his master again for it. So
Tom perceiving his master had a close-
stool in a little closet within the school,
where he went and eased himself when,
need was, Tom gets a penny-worth of
gun-powder, and sprinkled it on the
ground directly before the seat, and lays
