John Burness

“ When we mentioned a fortnight ago, that a man had been found dead among the snow near Portleathen, we were notified that it was John Burness, the author of the popular little poem Thrummy Cap. He was a native of the parish of Glenbervie, Kincardineshire, and was born May 23, 1771. He was many years a private in the Forfar Militia; and although not much esteemed as a soldier, yet, as Burness the Poet, he was loved by the whole regiment-officers and men. For sometime previous to his death he was employed as a traveller for a Periodical Publishing Company in Aberdeen ”

“ The room was quiet now an' mirk,
An' Thrummy stilping in his sark;
Glamping the gate back till his bed,
He thinks he hears a person tread,
An' ere he gat within the door,
The ghaist again stood him before ”

“ THE BROWNIE O' FEARNDEN.
"ONCE MORE THE BROWNIE SHEWS HIS HONEST FACE."
The Brownie is supposed to have been a descendant of the Lar (illegible text) iliaris of Greece, as he generally attached himself to some secular family, whom he faithfully served every night by performing any laborious task which he thought would be acceptable. In the day time he always retired to some ruinous castle, unfrequented church, or solitary den or valley in the neighbourhood ”