Page:Thrummy cap (1).pdf/12

 12 "Sae on your tale," quoth Thrummy, "I

To do you justice sure will try.”

" Then mark me well," the ghaist replied,

"An' ye shall soon be satisfied.

Frae this aback near fifty year

I of this place was overseer,

Whan this laird's father had the land

A'thing was then at my command,

Wi' power to do as I thought fit,

In ilka cause I chief did sit.

The Laird paid great respect to me,

But I an ill return did gie:

The title deeds o' his estate

Out o' the same I did him cheat,

An' staw them frae where they did lie

Some days afore the laird did die.

His son at that time was in France,

An' sae I thought I'd hae some chance,

Gif he should never come again,

That the estate would be my ain.

But scarcely three bare weeks were past

When death did come and grip me fast,

Sae sudden that I hadna power

The charters back for tae restore.

Soon after that hame cam the heir,

An' syne got up the reefu' rair

What sorrow was come o' the rights?

He sought them several days an' nights,

But never yet ha'e they been seen,

As I aneath a muckle stane

Did hide them i' this cham'er wa',

Weel sew'd up in a leather ba';

But I was ne'er allowed to rest

Until that I the same confess;

But this to do I hadna pow'r