TOM HICKATHRIFT. 37

woman, too glad to gain his help upon
any terms, let him have it at once.
Tom, swinging the rope round his
shoulders, went to the farmer’s, and
found him with two men threshing in a
barn. Having told what he wanted, the
farmer said he might take as much straw
as he could carry. ‘Tom at once took
him at his word, and, placing the rope
in a right position, rapidly made up a
bundle containing at least a cartload, the
men jeering at him all the while. ‘Their
merriment, however, did not last long,
for Tom flung the enormous bundle over
his shoulders, and walked away with it
without any difficulty, and left them all
gaping after him.

After this exploit Tom was no longer

allowed to be idle. Every one tried to