The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-03-17

ing may have been smoothed down by the car
essing hand, may have waved IN the breath,
lain against the breast of the poet-lover.
The view from the summit of the monument
is exceedingly beautiful aud interesting, emhra-
cling, as it does, many of th, scenes of the life
and song of Burns. The scenery of air is not
grand, surely, not strikingly picturesque; but
this view is lovely, QUIET aud pleasaut, beyond
description-truy. smiling landscape Per-
haps something owing to the rich sunshine
and soft air of the day, and more TO the won
| tirous charm of association but never reInein-
| her to have felt more exquisite sense of beau
! ty, delight more deep and delicious. though
! sIadowed with sad and regretful memories, than
while sitting or strolling ON the lovely banks of
| the Doon half cheated by excited fancy with
! the hope that might the rustic poet lean-
| ing over the picturesque 'fauld brig. following
with his great, dark. dreamy eyes, the windIngs
| of the stream below, or, with glowing face up
raised. revelling in the clear deep blue, and far
floating clouds above: or, perchance. walking
! slowly on the shore coming down fr I'm the plea
sant ..Braes o'Ballochmyle, musing, with fold
e / arms and dropping bead, on 1.-THE bonnie
! lass" who had there uncOnsciously strayed -
cross the path of poet, and chaneei upon I'M
mortality The Doom seemcl TO roll by With the
melo ious flow uf his song-now with the impet-
uous sweep of passion now with the fine spar
kle of pleasant wit; ; now, under the solemn slad-
ows of snrrbw: out into the clear. sunlight
of exu'tant Joy; with the suft gurgle aud
silver trirkling of loves light measures: now
with the low deep murmur of devotion. As
fingered there, countless snatches of the poets
songs. and stanza after stanza of long forgotten
poems, sprang to my lips: rIre thoughts, the
sweet, fresh flowers of his genius. seemed sud
denly to blossom out from all the hidden nooks
and still shaded places of memory. and the fair
children Of his fancy. who had sung themselves
TO sleep in my heart long ago, stirred, awoke,
and smiled into my face again.
Happily for me, my companions fully under
stood and sympsthized with my mood SO lit
tie WAS said that much might be felt. One
I, sung
.Ye banks and hrae. o'bonnie on!'
and whether it was that his voice, in its deep,
! pathetic tones, was peculiarly suited to the
mournfu words and air, or that the scene itself
mingled its meodious memory with the singing,
know not; but never before had been 50 af-
fected by the song.
Or our way hack to Ayr. we called to see the
sister and nieces of Burns-Mrs. Beggs and her
daughters-who we had been assured were most
kindly accessible TO visitors. This visit was ai-
together the most interesting and gratifying G.
vent of the day. Mrs. Beggs lives in simple
but charming little rose -eInbowered cottage,
about mile from her birth place. where all who
seek her with respectful interest, receive cour-
teous and cordial welcome. Mis- Beggs ie now
about eighty years OF age, but looks scarcely
above sixty, and shows more than the remains
of remarkable beauty. Her smile could hardly
have heen sweeter, or her eyes finer, at twenty
Her sight. hearing, and memory, seem un m
paired her manners are graceful, modest. and
lady-like, and she converses with rare intelii
gence and animation, speaking with slight,
sweet Scottish accent. Her likeness to Nay
smiths portrait of her brother is very marked
her eyes are peculiarly like the idea we have
of his, both by pictures and descrption-large,
dark. lu.trous, and changing. Those eyes
shone with new brightness as told her of our
love for the memory of her beloved brother. our
sympathy in his SORROWS; and our honor for his
free and tnuifly spfif-when told her that the
New World as the DID, bowed Ia the mastery of
his genius and were swnyed TO smiles or tears
by the wOndrous wtchery of his song. But
when spoke my admiration of the monument.
and said. what Al JOY II would have been To hin,
could he have fureseen such noble recognitions
ef ! is greatness she smiled mournfuily, and
shook her head. saying, ''Ah. madam. in his
proudest moments. my poor brother never dream
ell of such thing; then added that his death
chamber WAS darkened, and his death agony
deepened by want and care. and turturing fears
for the dear ones he 10 leave. | was re-
minded by her words of the expression of an
old Scotch dame. in our country, on hearing of
the completion of this monument: ''ruir Rob.
he asked for bread, and now they gle him
stane."
Mrs. Beggs says that Naysmith's portrait of
her brother is the best but that no picture could
,
ing expression of his face. In her daughters.
who are pleasant and interesting women, you
can trace II strong family resemblance to the pO-
ct. The three of Burns are yet living
two in the army. and one has situation under
Government at Dumfres. All three widow
ers. When | saw her. Mrs. Beggs was expec
ting daily the two youngest. the soldiers. who
us often possible visit Ayr. and cherish
tenderly, proudly, the memory of their father
1t was with deep emotion that parted from
this gentle and large hearted woman, in whose
kindred and likeness to the glorious peasant
almost felt that had seen him. hearl his voice
with all it's searching sweetness. and had my
! soul sounded by the deep divinings of his eyes.
| Ii seems. indeed blessed thing. tlat after the
! sorrow which darkened hei youth. the hehnlding
the pride O: her house sink into the grave in
! his prime. broken hearted by fhe neglect of
| friends. the contempt aud cruelty of foes. b
! care and poverty. and Interest of al. by WEI
! ry weight of self reproaeh-that she has lived
| to see his children happy and prosper"us--his
birth place and his grave counted among the
worlds pilgrim sfines-to be herself hofiored
and beloved for his sake. and tn sun her chilled
lge in the noontide of his glory -N0tionai Era
FAoM WASHINGTON
Gen. Pierce and his views---Appointments