thinking he could carry the tithe of it, he flung it over his shoulder
as if it had been a hundred-weight, to the great admiration of master
and men.

Tom's strength being thus made known there was no longer any basking by
the fire for him; every one would be hiring him to work, and telling
him 't was a shame to live such a lazy life. So Tom seeing them wait on
him as they did, went to work first with one, then with another. And one
day a woodman desired his help to bring home a tree. Off went Tom and
four men besides, and when they came to the tree they began to draw it
into the cart with pulleys. At last Tom, seeing them unable to lift it,
"Stand away, you fools," said he, and taking the tree, set it on one end
and laid it in the cart. "Now," said he, "see what a man can do."
"Marry, 't is true," said they, and the woodman asked what reward he'd
take. "Oh, a stick for my mother's fire," said Tom; and espying a tree
bigger than was in the cart, he laid it on his shoulders and went home
with it as fast as the cart and six horses could draw it.

Tom now saw that he had more strength than twenty men, and began to be
very merry, taking delight in company, in going to fairs and meetings,
in seeing sports and pastimes. And at cudgels, wrestling, or throwing
the hammer, not a man could stand against him, so that at last none
durst go into the ring to wrestle with him, and his fame was spread more
and more in the country.

Far and near he would go to any meetings, as football play or the like.
And one day in a part of the country where he was a stranger, and none
knew him, he stopped to watch the company at football play; rare sport
it was; but Tom spoiled it all, for meeting the ball he took it such a
kick that away it flew none could tell whither. They were angry with Tom