Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-09-29
MlSCELL A N Y.
From Bentley's Miscellany.
JeaHie Burns.

Our man James came to me to request
the loan of one Of the horses, to attend
funeral. III was absent on business,
and the horses and the mans time were
both greatly needed to prepare the land for
the fall crops. | dcmurred James looked
anxious and disappointed and the loan OF
the horse was at length granted, but not
without strict injunction that he should
return to his work the moment the funeral
was over. He did not come back until late
that evening. l had just finished my tea,
and was nursing my wrath at his staying
out the whole day, when the door of the
room 1--WE had but one, and that was shared
in common with the servants) opened, and
the delinquent at last appeared. He hung
up the new English saddle and sat down
by the blazing hearth without speaking a
word.
"What detained you so long, James p
You ought to have had half an acre Of land,
at least, ploughed to-day"
"Verra true mistress. 1t was nae fau't
O. mine. | had mista'en the hour. The
funeral didna' come in afore sun, down, and
cam ava directly it was ower.'
"Was il any relation of yours :"
INA, ma, jist freend, an auld acquain-
tance, but name O. mine ain kin. | never
felt sare sad in "a my life, as ha' dune
this day. l ha' seen the clods piled on mo-
ny held and never felt the saut tear ia
my cen. But, puir Jeanne puir lass. II
was a sair sight to see them thrown doom
upon her,"
My curiosity was excited I pushed the
tea-things from me, and told Bell to give
James his supper. :.
"Naethiug for me the night, Bell
Gamma eat--my thoughts will rim on that
puir lass. Sac young-sae bonnie, an a
few months ago as blthe as lark, IAN now
a clod o the earth. Hout we maun all dee
when our ain time comes but, somehow,
Gamma think that Jeanie ought to ha' game
sac sune."
"Who is Jeanie Burnsl Tell me, James.
something about her.
In compliance with my request, the man
gave me the following story. wish
could convey it in his own words, but tho
| can perfectly understand the Scotch dia-
lect when spoken, could not write 1t IN
its charming simplicity the honest, truth
iul brevity, which is so characteristic OF this
noble people. The smooth tones of the
barney may fatter our vanity, and please
us for the moment; but who places any
confidence in those by whom it is employ
ed? We know that it is only uttered to
caiole and deceive, and when the novelty
wears off the repetition awakens indigna-
ton and disgust but who mistrusts the
blunt straightforward speech Of the land of
Burns--for good or i'll, it strikes home to
the heart
"Jeanie Burns was the daughter of re-
spectacle shoemaker, who gained com
Portable living by his trade in small town
in Ayrshire. Her father, like herself, was
an only child, and followed the same voca.
ton, and wrought under the same roof that
his father had done before him. The elder
Burns had met with many reverses, and
now, helpless and blind, was entirely de-
pendent upon the charity of his son. Hon
est Jock had not married until late in life.
that he might moro comfortably provide for
the wants of his aged parent. His mother
had been dead for some years. She was a
meek, plous woman, and Jock quantity af-
tirmed, That it had pleased the Lord to
provide better hertance for his dear auld
mither than his arm could win, proud and
happy as he would have been to have sup
ported her when she was no longer able to
work for him.
clocks paternal love was repaid at last;
chance threw iii his way cahnie young
lass, bath guild and bonnie; they were u
nited, and Jeanie was the sole fruit Of this
marriage. But Jeanie proved a host in
herself, and grew up the best-nasured, the
prettiest, and the most industrious lass in