It was in the cabin in the brae, where we'd gather to fill our lamps and eat our bread and cheese, that they asked me, as a rule.

We were great ones for being entertained.
And we never lacked entertainers.

If a man could do card tricks, or dance a bit, he was sure to be popular.

One man was a fairish piper, and sometimes the skirl of some old Hieland melody would sound weird enough, as I made my way to the cabin through a grey mist.
I was called upon oftener than anyone else, I think.
"Gie's a bit sang, Harry," they'd say.

Maybe ye'll not be believing me, but I was timid at the first of it, and slow to do as they asked.
But later I got over that, and those first audiences of mine did much for me.