“ Chirsty, aye, ye’re a queer ane, fin, bawbees for yoursel’, my lass,” and so saying, Thomas slipped the coinage into his pocket.
In his youth the hermit was a handsome and a very powerful man, measuring 6 feet 2 inches in height, with a fine broad chest and proportionate limbs; in his old age he became bent, as most men do; yet notwithstanding, the ravages of time, his outlandish beard, and his uncouth raiment, he still manifested the the ruins of a noble frame and visage. The love of money was his great besetting sin ”

“ Further, should any of you be particularly inclined, whether through disappointment in love or money matters, or by having too much of the latter to look after, to become hermits or hermitesses, be kind enough to send us your address and a postage stamp, and we shall direct you to a safe location, where you will run little risk of being intruded on by "villainous mankind," and at the same time enjoy plenty of turnips and cold water. ”

“ He had as many cats, and fed them as well as any old maid ever did in broad Scotland, and was so well known to the little birds of the air that they would come with fluttering wings at his call, perch on his shoulder, and peck the very crumbs from his Aaronic beard.
Some years before his death Raeburn slipped his foot during frosty weather and broke his arm; as he included the sons of Galen in the same category with lawyers, taxmen, and gangers, he would not call a doctor, so that the bone never having reduced secundun artem, his arm was rendered nearly useless. ”

“ The old man used to say, ‘what's the use of giein‘ Tam Latin or Greek, may be he wad turn a Roman or a Papist a’thegither.’ Tam throughout a long life, although fond of news and information on all subjects, never evinced any peculiar liking to dip deep at Learning’s fount. ”

“ To go on, however—About mid-way between Kilmarnock and London Kirk, and half a mile off the public road, a small farm-house, or cottage, of the old School, that is to say, built of rough unhewn stone and covered with thatch; it is somewhat romantically situated, as it is nearly concealed by woods and rising grounds until you are within a few yards of it. As you enter the front door you may as well look to your feet as indications are visible that cattle and sheep reside under the roof: their locality in the byre, npon the left hand. ”