Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-11-06
From NE EceniHg gazette.
DO YE KEN HAIIECk7

June last | took a conveyance from iBr and
drove to "AUoiody Ark" a few miles distant
the road leading by the birthplace at Burns.
l alighted there--and found il occupied by "a
ruddy, hale, and animated Scotch marion. She
Was exceedingly civil. aud entered at once
with much enthusiasm iu,oa full description
oi various events and incidents directly asso-
Ciatcd with thc origin OF Burns; particulars of
which, as they are matters ol history, il were
needless here To repeat. Tile Cottage is a very
humble, matched building, divided into three
aplrtments,-a kitchen, "a sitting ROOM and a
stable. or rubbish-roon. The Kitchen floor Is
laid with rough flat stones, and in one corner
oi this room Is a small hook just large enough
for Il humble bed. Here Burns truS born.
The room next TO this kitchen is what
might be called a kecping-room or parlor. Its
floor i of plank. 4 small elm-wood table
and few chairs constitute its entire furniture.
Every article of which is covered with names
and initials of pilgrims TO that shrine. The
good dame told me that she had 'sold all the
furniture To Il gentleman ol Glasgow, ior a
good warm sum, '-"but,'' says she, "itis ma
the furniture of Burns. and | told the gentle
man SO; but he said it had been long enough
in the house To answer his purpose, and as we
move away in October next, it would ma lon
ger be OF amy value to US
IL appears that the father of this good dame
took tile hoousc after the elder Mr.. Burns (the
father OF the Poet) left il, and the same family
has retained possession ever since.
There, saws she, that little cupboard door
there is worth more than a. the furniture: but
that | could ma sell, as IL b~elongsto the house
but many a supper has Robert eaten from
cupboard-and the door is the same tnat old
Mr.. Burns made himself
In fact the father of the Poet built the colt
ann ,-,tl 49,. 1890. l...1. IN. ..-.
is only one story high-about twelve or fifteen
feet wide, and perhaps thirty feet in length.
\ short distance beyond this cottage stands
the Ruins of Alloway hirk-a small remnant
OF a small building-its two gable ends still
remain with Il portion of its side walls, its
roof and ~raiters, with every vestige OF wood
work belonging TO il, gone long since into
chairs and snun boxes.
The "Bonie Doom" was ncar-,he space be-
tween its Banks and Braes' occupied by IA
beautiful cottage of exquisite form and finish,
Clearing the name OF Doonbrae Cottage) aud
covered with vines and surrounded with roses
and other lowers. Whilst walking around
the ruins of the cold Kirk, - an elderly person
approached me from the cottage, whose man
ner and appearance at once invited Inc TO a
conversation with him. soon found thai he
was the owner and occupant of the cottage |
had been admiring, and he kindly invited me
in, which invitation ! readily accepted.
found him a second and improUcd edition
OF the good dame of the old cottage in all mat
tiers associated with Burns; his rooms were
filled with beautiful pictLres and drawings of
scenes and events rendered immortal by the
genius of the poet; and under glass cases were
secured various letters and other papers in the
hand writing of Robert Burns.
told him | had comc from afar to visit the
spot.
Aye, mon,' said he 'many come even fra
London"
YES" said |, "and so have | even from
Nom London
He looked c%nquirin ly; and to satisfy him
at once, | told him had come from n. York
III the United States of AmeTica-and although
| had visited many interesting points in Scot
land, ! felt that | had seen little, did not visit
the birth place of Burns, Alioway Kirk, the
Braes of Doom, and other scenes cons ecrated
by his genius.
You came from New York then you may
have hard of Halleck!"
20 yes said | ''he is a neighbor Of mine
i know him intimately and well-every
body knows him in America.
"'le ken Hallcck!'-and looking at me with
a mixture of doubt and joy-ikc a man who
had Just picked up a coin covered with mud,
stands rubbing and looking at il alternately,
TO see whether it comes out gold or brass-'ye
ken Halleck say ye-g us your hand mon "a
gain"
o assured him ofthe fact-and turning
from me, he went to his Library and brought
me a very beautifully bound book-latcl,
Notwithstanding all the writings of
Burns-sketches of henors paid to his memory
and filled with beautiful pictures of scenes
and events associated with the Poet; and hur-
ryinS back 10 It's first pages, "therc," said he,
look at that-thcre is not in all that book.
except what Burns himself has written, any
thing that compares with Hellcck's lines ON
there stood in proud and merited eminence
that beautiful poem of my countryman.
commenced reading ii, and at every line he
would make some eXclaInation-"is ma that
poetry-'does not that warm the heart
FAYE mon"
There is nothing like it, Sir, in a the Ian
guage, sin the days of Burns himself"
had often thrilled with pleasure in reading
those lines, when far distant from the scenes
they described; but reading them here on the
very spotmade the blood dance, to say moth
ing OF the accompaniment of DdUy Auid. my
KIND host who stood by s%lapping his hands.
stamping ms loot, and smacking his lips, and
fetching "a deep 'hey mon" at intervals.
nv accompany W. INC W tue monument
hard by, and to the Brig O'Doon," calling
my special attention to the "Key Stane8
where Tam OShdnter' just saved himself,
but lost the tail of his old mare maggie
q
And pointing out every scene and incident
around with all which Mr.. Auld was as fam
liar as with bis own fingers. Ileit him. and
returned To AgT, where | promised to wait
for him till he had carefully packed up some
"mementoes for Halleck," which he desired
me to carry TO him, and which pleasing duty /
strictly performed: for as old Davy Aud saws.
WHO kens Hdlleck and does ma feel proud
o him.
TOW BOAT EXPLOSlON.-The New Or.
leans Bulletin states that the tow boat Per-
sian, Captain Riddle, in towing UP ships T.
D. Wales and TyJiau, when about ~ miles
below the city, on the 18th inst. burst her
two starboafd boilers, carry lug away the hui.
Ter deck from the cabin forward. with both
chimneys and pilot house. The first pilot and
assistant were IN the pilot house at the time.
and glgtnCI tgtfit hat ll.,It ..-.