Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-09-30


! The Tower of St Johns Church, erected in
the 18th century, but converted into an Armory
and Fertilization by Oliver Cromwell, in 1862,
is venerable relic. The Rev. John Welsh,
son.in-law of the Reormer, John Knox, was
Pastor OF ST. Johns Church in 1860.
But passed these objects with crrsofy
glance for the purpose of seeing and crossing
"'The Briggs of Ayr" whose relative claims to
consideration were SO glowngly sung by
"Thc simple Bard, rough o, the rustic plough,
| Learning his tuneful trade from every bough."
While standing upon the "Auld Brig" look
ing toward It's gay rival it required but slight
effort Of the Imagination to endow it with the
powers Of speech, and to suppose it exclaiming;
"Concci,el gowk pufT'd up wi windy pride
! This monv year I've stood the food an tide
| An tho wi crazy cid I'm sar forfeairn,
| I'll lie q brig when we're a shnpecss caifn."
And having imagined this, the supercilious
reply ofthe "New Brig" was Of course heard
Fine .irchuecirrc trow,h, need no, say Tot
| The Lorl be thsnkii ;hat we've tint the gate OF !
| Gaunt, ghastly, ghsis'- aluins edlGces,
| hanging with threat'ning lut, like precipiCes
| Mansions that would disgrace the building taste
OF any mansion, reptile, bird or beast"
1t is a little singular that the poetic prophecy
of Burns, that the Old Brig would be a Brig
when the new one became ''shapless cairn,"
is about to be realized. The new Brig, since
the construction of the Ayr Railway, which
terminates near it, is found too narrow for the
increase Of business, and is to be taken down.
This Bridge was built in ITS. The "Old
Bridge" was erected in 1855, and looks as if it
might stand as much longer.
Before leaving the BRIG" my attention was
arrested by what with us would be regarded, il
not patented, as an "lmproved Washing Ma
chine" At least dozen wash-tubs were placed
along the shore of the river Ayre, in which as
many females, some old and ugly, and others
goung and pretty, were pounding clothes
with their feet have heard that the Scotch
lusses, who have large "Bak:ngs," knead their
bread in the same manner the truth OF this
however, cannot vouch bu, that I saw thea,
dancing in wash.ubs without stockings OF
gartcrs is certain.
Within mile Of the village Of Tarbol,cn
near the river Ayr, is the scene OF BuRss's las
truly affecting interview with MARY CAMPBELL
I, was OF Sunday, in May. Their mutua
faith was pighted, fr.t by laving their hands !,
, the pure stream, snG then crossing them upoT
Mary's Bible. Preparatory 70 their marriage
Mary visited her f,isnds in Argyleshige, nnG
, in returning, fell sick and died a, Greenock
BURss retained through life the most devoted
remembrance OF this early attachment. Mr.
LoCKHART, who, from frequent interviews will
the widow orthe pac,, derived hzny Interesting
facts in relation to Burns, states among othe
things thai mary years ener his marriage
and on the anniversary Of the death Of High
land Mary" after working hard all day in tn,
fields, though much OFT d health, ne wandere,
into Tie barn-yard, where he remained SO Ion.
that Mrs. b., alarmed at his abserce, went re
,, reatedly and begged him to come in, which h,
promised tC Go, but remained stretched upon
mass of straw, with his eyes fixed upon beau
tiful planet, that shone lae ano,ter moon, IN
ed for his desk, and Immediately wrote the fol
= lowing sublime and pathetic lines
"Thou lingering Star with lessening ray.
That lov'st to greet the early moon;
Again thou usher'st in the day.
My Mary, fom my s,Il was torn.
oh Mary dear departed shade,
: Nherr is nv plsce or h'issfu rest
Sccst thou thy lover owlv lliil
Hears, thou the groans that rerd his b,eas, ,
That sacred hour can forget.
Can forget the haowd grove,
+ Whore, hy the winding Ayr we met,
l. To hive one day Of parting love,
j Eternity will ne'er efface,
/. Those records dear Of transports past,
Thy image at our las, cmhrlco
. All li.le thought we twas or last,