Page:Comical stories of Thrummy Cap and the Ghaist (NLS104185980).pdf/10

 John marvelled sair, but didna speir

Again where he did get the beer,

For it was stronger than the first,

Sae they baith drank till like to burst,

Syne did compose themsels to rest,

To sleep a while they thought it best.

An hour in bed they hadna been,

And scarcely weel had clos'd their e en,

Whan just into the neighbouring chamber,

They heard a dreadfu' din and clamour.

Beneath the bed-claes John did cow'r,

Bnt Thrummy jumpt upon the floor.

Him by the sark-tail John did haud;

Lye still, quoth he, fat, are ye mad?

Thruminy then gaed a hasty jump,

And took John on the ribs a thump,

'Till on the bed he tumbled down,

In little better than a swoon,

While Thrummy fast as he could rin,

Set aff to see what made the din.

The chamber seem'd to him as light,

As gif the sun were shining bright;

The Ghaist was stanen at the door,

In the same dress he had afore;

And o'er anent it, at the wa',

Were ither apparitions twa.

Thrummy beheld them for a-wee,

But deil a word as yet spake he:

The spirits seem'd to kick a ba',

The Ghaist against the other twa;

Whilk close they drave baith back and fore,

Atween the chimney and the door.

He stops a while and sees the play,

Gyne, rinnin up, he this did say,