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To venture in within the room
After the night begins to gloom;
For in it they can no'er get rest,
'Tis haunted by a frightful ghaist!
Ourselves are terrified a' night;
Sae ye may chance to get a sight,
Like that which some of our folk saw,
Far better till ye gang awa,
Or else ye'll maybe rue the day.
Guid faith, says John, I'm thinking sae;
Better in the neuk to sit,
Than fly'd, guid keep's, out o' our wit;
Preserve us ever frae all evil,
I widna like to see the devil:
Whisht gowk, quo' Thrummy, haud your peace,
That sanna gar me quit this place:
To great nor sma' I ne'er did ill,
No ghaist, nor deil my sert shall spill.
I can defy the meikle deil,
An' a' his works I wat fu' weel;
Fat sorry then maks you sae eery?
Fling by your fears, come then, be cheery.
Landlord, gin ye'll make up that bed,
I promise I'll be very glad,
Within the same a' night to lie,
If that the room be warm and dry.
The Landlord says, Ye's get a fire,
An' candle too, gin ye desire,
Wi' beuks to read, and for your bed,
I'll orders gi'e to get it made.
John says, As I'm a Christian man,
Who never likes to curse nor ban,
Nor steal, nor lie, nor drink, nor whore,
I'll never gang within its door,
But sit by the fire-side a' night,
An' gang awa whene'er 'tis light.
Says Thrummy till him wi' a glow'r,
Ye cowardly gowk, I'll make ye cower,
