Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1852-03-13
BURNS POETRY.

Our correspondent %. X. gives us in the fol.
lowing criiique an additional Stanza TO Burns
admired song, "John Anderson my io." 1t is
an attempt to guild refined gold, add perfume to
the violet, or another hue to tho rainbow. Burns
was an original 9enius--nature's poet, i { nature
ever made one. His ear was altuned to the
sweetest melodies OF music and he sang his
"wood notes wild" with pathos inimitable. Bat
more than that, and better than that, he had the
head to conceive and he heart to feel the noblest
thoughts and kindliest sentiments that ever came
from the pen oil fell from the lips of uninspired
man. Ilo was particularly happy too in his
choice Of words. Byron, kindred genius, tho
differing in some points from the Scottish Bard,
notices this, and evidently feels, as he admits in
the case Of Horace, that the "curiosa leicas' of
Burns is unappoachcd and unapproachablc.- -
There have been hundreds Of mIlaions-'lhick
as the leaves in shady Nesmbrosl." But THEY
are none of The right stripe at any rate none
have ever told the tale as Burns has done, The
riridd ris--the dives rena seem 10 be wanting.
| Burns thought as man, but wrote almost as an
angel. He knew how to begin aud when to stop,
and the bright flashes Of genius mark every
stanza and every paragraph that he wrote. His
epistles and his songs are, and ever will be- the
admiration of all who can get over The prejudice
H.. O Al. Il. ~ -
night speaks pure moraty,and his Tam OShan
ter tells tale Of rich wit and humor, not sur
passed BY anything in Milton or Shakespeare.
! But TO our tale--that is our correspondent O..
X. Ills additional slanza is very good, and he
gives several others that are admirable, but be
omits one of the best, and we will here give it:
John Anderson, my 10, John.
When nature first began
To try her cannie hand John,
Her master work was man
And you amaug them a John
Sac trig from top TO toe,
She proved to be nae journey-work,
John Anderson, my 10.
The "cannie hand" Of Burns Is clearly visible
in this verse, as Cunningham admits. No one
else could have penncd it, The same sentiment
varied of course for the occasion, breathes hro'
his beautiful fragment, Green grow the Rash.
es," which every body has read and every body
admires. We close our remarks with the closing
stanza Of that celebrated song, embracing as it
does the richest offering that any poet ever laid
a, the shrine Of beauty
/ Aud nature swears the lovely dears
Her nohlest work she classes o,
Her prentice han she tried on man,
And then she made the assesO
And now Mr.. o. X. must speak for himself
and right well does he speak. Hear HIM:
Mr.. EpIroa;--
see correspondent of the knicker'
booker has written an additional verse TO Rober
Burns beautiful poem of John Anderson my
jo," and perhaps this might suffice as an excuse
ior sending you another verse for the benefit o
those Of your readers who admire that good ole
song,
The original by Burns consisted Of but tive
verses, as follows;
John Anderson, my jo, john
When we were first acquent,
Your locks were like the raven, John,
: Your benny brow was brent
Bat now you're turning auld, John,
Your locks are like the snow
But blessings on your frosty pow,
John Anderson, my 10
a "John Anderson my 10, John,
We clamb the hill thegither,
And mony canty day, John,
:. We've had WI ain anither: