Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-06-04
From Hsipsr's Magazine.l
.THE LAST DAYS ClF BURNS.

pleasant farm of Elisland for small house in
Dumfries The exchange is in every point of view
undesirable. lie begins to live town. life, and
the life Of small country town is most united
for man Of bis habits. There were always ldlers
and loiter's ready to fasten upon man VINO snao
seen the social circles Of E 'inburgh, and VINO
could charm away an evening as no other man
could Then there were the country lairds anxious
to secure him for some merry-maklngs, where
STRANGERS from the south were to assemble, eager
to oet a glimpse of the untauSht genius. III"
work of an exciseman was not very engrosslng.
His evenings were generally his own-the taste
for tavern parties were strong in Dumfrlcs, and
more hours were spent in the society OF boon
companions than in that Of his patient, trusting
wife, and his young children.
About this time the excitement of the french
revolution was beginning to have most percePnoie
effect The Same misguding star which diverted
Coleridge, Sonthey, and Wordsworth from the
beaten track Of employment, and filled them WIN
an enthusiasm for what was, after ALL but the phan-
tom of liberty, attracted Burns by Its Maynard
and ftful light. lie expressed too open sympa-
thv with the chiefs of the French nation to suit the
taste of some of his friends among the higher Or
ders Alienation follows, and an increased violence
in Burns lie deslises those who are swayed by
such miserable feelings. He pours fourth lampoon
after lan1poou in severe and relentless revenge.
The tavern is more frequently sought by him. and
the society of those whose opinions agree with
his own more sedulously cultivated. 1t seems
strange, too that during the two first years OF ms
residence at Dumfries, when the political rancor
was at the greatest, he should have enriched the
language with the choicest of his songs. His en-
Sage,nents to supply his friend Thomas with the
nroper materials for his collection, is upon the
whole vigorously fulfilled and even when the vlo-
lence of his politics threatened to draw down the
dspleasure Of the government, he pnrsues his task,
and discharges it most ably. Nothing would
tempt him to receive money for these songs. 1t
was cause, he thought, in which every trueheart-
ed Scot should feel interested lie had no feeling
about accepting whatever the sale of his poems
brought him. Many persons have expr ssed Won
der at this determination, but the distinction we
hold to be Just one The songs were the free
..outcome" Of his mind. They had risen to the
heart, and poured themselves forth. They were
more the children of his brain than the elaborate
and finished productions of his pen. No true
man could bear to receive money for his child
Burns could not accept it for his songs.
The professional excursions of Burns brought
him into contact with many strange persons and
places. Like the gauger in Guy Mannering,"
he was often welcome guestat the tables of coun-
try gentleman from the acquaintance he ell Oyed
with several of these, he reaped great benefit. He
was reputed merciful in his calling, and there oc-
cur many instances of forbearance and gentleness
quite unusual. In quiet times there appears to
have been great attention given to the education
of his sons, and although his frequent alterations
would have lost him the love and approval of many
women it is on record that his wife declares that
his conduct to her, though not altogether blameess
was on the whole tender and atectionate. Life
must have past with him pleasantly in 'the sea-
sons of fair weather" The days labor over, he
would often wonder with his children or the NTH,
repeat psalms and fragments of old songs to them
E.. l. IL
minds in the same manner rs his own revered
parent had DONE But there is another side to
the picture. The political and masonic reunions
would be succeeded by suppers and drinking bouts
there were bitter days of remorse and grief
there were constant failures in the provision for
the wants of the family. Many of the letters
written during 1893 and '94 display sad traces of
the effects of this mode of life Petuance and
impotence at times bursting out into absolute in
fidelity, disfgure them; and, indeed, it becomes
grave question how far Mr.. Chambers was justified
in giving SO many of these letters to the public.
1t is true that they give the whole mind of the
remarkable writer, but still there limits i'll cases
like this, which, it seems to US, have in some few
instances been transgressed.
On the l4th of April, 1906, illness, from which
he had been for some days suffering, threatened
to prevent Burns from giving attendance at a
meeting of Freemasons. He made an effort for
Ih9 0o'nO Va AS anu VIC nave OSOH IOIu
by one of the few persons among his intmates
who now survive, that he never was in greater
force. Soon after this he was compelled to ADAM
don the graver part of his excise duties. Through
the remainder of the month he was in the most
miserable state. Some few days in May revived
him; and on the 18th of that month he penned
the song, :" To Jessy," which contains perhaps the
sweetest stanza in his works
although thou maun never be mine,
Although even hope is denied
'Iis sweeter for thee despairing,
Than aught in the world beside-Jessey! -
This song was composed in honor of one who had
aided and soothed many of his darkest hours The
lady still lives, happy in the recollection of the SER
vices she was able to render; happier, perhaps, in
having inspired the beautiful aud now world ia
nous stanza.
The dreary darkness was coming on. lie re-
moved to farm, commanding view of the SOM
bre Solway and there vainly endeavored to recruit
his ruined health. His letters abound i'll tender
expressions of his afflicted state. To Mrs. Riddle
lady of rare endowments, from whom he had
been for some short time estranged, he expressed
himself as sorrowful for the many wanton attacks
he had inflicted upon persons who had hardly
merited so severe treatment. J
We may imagine how drearily the days went
by. The poet mourning over the days that were
no more" in sight Of the Solway, at all times |
gloomy and darksome firth His children, his |
faithful and forgiying wife, how often must they
have presented themselves before him And there !
have 81 H., l., i