An’ leuk as if something was steerin’ aroun’
Whilk naebody ever could see but himsel’—
An’ then to the folk he wud strange stories tell
O’ witches and spectres, and grim goblins near,
That, flitting in corners, to him did appear.
When a tempest was brewing afar in the sky,
There aye was a wildness in Tam Giffen’s eye,
An’ awa’ out o’ sicht he wad soon disappear,
Crying wark’s to be dune and I daurna bide here;
An’ aften wad gude folk in terror declare