The pudding being broke
to pieces by the fall, Tom crept out covered over with the batter, and
with difficulty walked home. His mother, who was very sorry to see her
darling in such a woful state, put him into a tea-cup, and soon washed
off the batter; after which she kissed him, and laid him in bed.
Soon after the adventure of the pudding, Tom's mother went to milk her
cow in the meadow, and she took him along with her. As the wind was
very high, fearing lest he should be blown away, she tied him to a
thistle with a piece of fine thread. The cow soon saw the oak-leaf
hat, and, liking the look of it, took poor Tom and the thistle at one
mouthful. While the cow was chewing the thistle Tom was afraid of her
great teeth, which threatened to crush him to pieces, and he roared
out as loud as he could, "Mother, mother!"
"Where are you, Tommy, my dear Tommy?" said his mother.
"Here, mother," replied he, "in the cow's mouth."
His mother began to cry and wring her hands; but the cow, surprised
at the odd noise in her throat, opened her mouth and let Tom drop out.
Fortunately his mother caught him in her apron as he was falling to
the ground, or he would have been dreadfully hurt.
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