Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-07-24
MISCELLANEOUS.
A VISIT TO THE BIRTHPLACE OF
ROBERT BURNS.

April %, 1916. The writer be it remembered,
is a |" Runaway Slave," who, during his eight
years Of stolen Freedom, in defiance of all the
disadvantages under which his class labor,
has qualified himself to think and write thus
-.7J. Fee. Journal.
! am now in the town of Ayr. 1t is famous
for being the birth place of Robert Burns, the
poet, by whose brilliant genius every stream,
hill, glen and valley in the neighborhood
have been made classic. ! have felt more in
terest in visiting this place than any other In
Scotland, for, as you are aware, (palnlully
p~erhaps) | am an enthusiastic admlrer OF
Robert Burns. Immediately on our arrival,
Friend Buffum and myself were joined by
Rev. Mr.. Renwick, the minister in whose
meeting house we are 10 lecture during our
stay, and proceeded forthwith to see Burns's
Monument. 1t is about three miles from town,
and situated on the right bank Of the river
- Doom" and within hearing of its gentle
steps as it winds its way over its pebbled
path to the Ocean. The place Of the Monu-
ment is well chosen, being in full view of all
the places mentioned and referred to in the
Poets famous poem called "Tam O'Shanter,"
as well as several others of his most popular
poems. From the Monument (Which | have
" lllllS W u'oClluCsJ may " Z oVtu lHO ~
tage where Burns was born-the old and new
bridge across the Doom Kirk Alloway,"
called by Burns the " Haunted Kirk" The
banks of the Doom rising majestically from
the sea toward the sky, and the Clyde stretch
ing off to the highlands of Arran, whose dim
outline is scarcely discernible through the fog
by which it is almost constantly overhung,
makes the spot admirably and beautifully
adapted to the Monument of Scotland's noble
bard. In the Monument there is a finely eX-
ecuted marble bust OF Burns-the finest thing
of the kind | ever saw. | never, before look
ing upon it, realized the power of man to
make marble speak. TIT expression is so
fine, and the face is so lit up, as to cause one
to forget the form in gazing upon the spirit.
In another room, there are two statues
carved out of free Stone-the one eff Souter
Johnny and the other of Tam O'Shanter. two
characters named in his most famous poem.
These were also finely executed and shared
my attention, but | was drawn to Burns. In
a glass case near his bust there was a Bible,
given by Burns to his sweet Highland Ma
ry - there is also in the same case a lock of
her hair neatly fastened to a card. As | ga
zed on the hair of her he so dearly loved, and
who by death was snatched from his bosom,
and up TO his bust glowing with expression,
| received a vivid impression, and shared with
him the deep melancholy portrayed in the fol-
lowing lines:
YE banks and braes Of bonnie Doom,
How can we bloom sac fresh and fair;
How can We chant, ye little birds,
And | sac weary, flu O. care
Thou'll break my heart, thou warbling bird,
That wantons through the Towering thorn;
Thou minds Inc of departed joys,
DPDartpd never TO return
cot haze | roy'd by bonnie Doom
To see the rose and woodbine Irvine,
And like a bird sang o. It's luve,
Aud fondly sac did [ o. mine:
WI lightsome heart | pu'd a rose
Fu' sweet upon It's thorny tree,
And my fduse love stole my rose,
But ah he left the thorn wi me-"
On our way to the Monument we enjoyed
a pleasure and a privilege | shall never forget.
1t was that of seeing and conversinr with
Mrs. Beggs, an own sister of Robert Burns,
and also seeing and talking with the Poel's
two n%ieccs, daughters e Mrs. Beggs. They
live by the road side IL l small thatahct cot
tage, humble but comfortable. When Mr..
Renwick made them acquainted with the fact
that we were from America they received us
warmly. One IF the uieeps said her uncle
was more highly esteemed 10 America than
in Scott nd. Mrs. Beggs is the youngest sis
ter of Robert Burns. and though now an
preaching eighty, she does not look to be
more than sixty. She enjoy good health, is
a spirited looking woman. .ud bids fair to
live yet many days. The two daughters are
truly fine looking women. Coal black hair,
full, high foreheads, and Jet black eyes,
sparkling with the poetic fire which illumed
the hr,,et Sc Ill. I-.II.--. - nu