The Washington herald., 1910-03-06

she ventured forward the light
And vowl Tam awful sight!
Wizards and witches In a dance
No cotillion new from France
But hornpipes, jigs. strathspeys. and reels
Put life and metal in their heels
In window sill within the east
There sat old Nick in shape OF beast
With shaggy dog, black. grim, and large
To give them music was his charge
He screwed the pipes and made them shrek
TIL roof and rafters roared In pain.
Collins stood round like open presses.
That showed the dead in their last dresses
And by some devilish spell and slight
Each in its cold hand held light.
BY which heroic Tam was able
To note upon the holy table
A murderer's bones IN gibbet irons
Two span long. small. unchristianed babies.
thief new cut down from rope
With his last gasp his mouth did cape.
Five tomahawks with blood red rusteG;
Five scimitars with murder erusted;
a garter which babe had strangled;
a knife fathers throat had mangled
Whom his own of life bereft
The gray hairs yet stuck to the heft
With more OF horrible and awful
Which even TO name would be unlawful!
As Tammie glowered, amazed and curious.
The mirth and fun grew fast and furious;
The piper loud and louder blew.
The dancers quick and quicker few,
They reeled, they set they crossed they caught
Till every old witch sweat and smoked
And cast her clothes to do the work,
Tripping along with ragged shirt
Now Tam. oh TAM had they been queens
And plump and strapping in their teens.
Their shifts instead of greasy iannen.
Been snow white seventeen hundred linen
These breeches of mine. my only pair
That once were plush and good blue hair
I'd give them freely from my body
For smile from these midnight brides!
But withered witches old and droll,
These shameless hags would wean foal.
Leaping and hinging a cow
shee devils in churchyard row,
But Tam knew what what full well.
There winsome witch from hell
That night enlisted in the corps
Long after known on Carrick shOrel
For many a beast TO death she shot.
And persisted many bonnie boat
And shook the corn both bleak and bear
And kept the countryside in fear.
Her short shift of Paisley linen
That while a IassIe she had worn.
In longitude though soreIy scanty.
II was her best and she yaunte:
All little thought thy reverend grannie
That shift she bought for her small Mamie
With two Scotch pounds. twas all her riches.
Would ever grace dance of witchesi
But here by muse her wing must lower.
Such flights are far beyond her power.
To see how Mamie leaped and flung,
A supple jade she and strong,
And how Tam stood like bewitched
And thought his very eyes enriched:
Even Satan glOwered with putting pain
And played and blew with might and main.
TIL with caper and another
Tam lost his reason altogether.
And roars out We'll done Mamie Sarki-
And in an instant all was dark.
And scarcely had he Maggie rallied
When out the hellish legion salliedl
AS bees buzz out with angry zest
When plundering herds assail their nest
As open pussies mortal foes.
When pop she darts before their nose:
AS eager runs the market crowd
When catch the thief" resounds aloud;
so Maggie runs, the witches follow,
With many a CHASTITY screech and hOllowl
All, TAM All Tam! thou'u get thy toastingI
In hell they'll give thee rushing roasting;
IN vain thy Kate awaits thy coming!
Katie soon will be a wceful woman
Now do thy speedy utmost. Meg.
And win the keystone of the bridge;
There at them thou thy tail may toss
A running stream they dare not cross!
But ere the keystone she could make.
The devil q tail she had 10 shake.
For Mamie, far before the rest
Hard upon noble Maggie prest,
And few at Tam with furious might
AS Maggie gslloped out of sight
One spring brought of her master hale,
But left behind her gray tail.
The old witch clipped her by the rump
And left poor Maggie scarce a stumpi
And who this tale OF truth shall read
Each man and mothers son take heed
When you are for strong drink inclined
Keep short shift witches In your mind
And when you buy your joys too dear.
Remember Tam O. Shanter's mare!
ROBERT BURNS