The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-06-22

| ouSCccucu pJ euppefs anu uIinhluS uuut
- there were bitter days Of remorse aud
igrief-there were constant failures
in the provision for the wants of the
family. Many of the letters writton du
ring 1893 and '94 display sad traces o.
the effects of this mode of life. Petu
lance and impatience at times bursting
out into absolute infidellty, disfgures
them; and, indeed, it becomes grave
question how for Mr. Chambers was JUS
lified in giving so many of these letters
to the public. 1t is true that they give
us the whole mind of the remarkable
writer, but still there are limits in case:
like this, which, it seems to us, have il
some few instances been trausgresscd.
On the l4th of April, 1896. illness
from which he had been for some days
suffering, threatened to prevent Burns
from giving attendance at meeting OF
Freenasons He made an effort for the
sake of his friends and we have been
told by one of the few persons among
his intiinates who now survive. that he
never was in greater force. Soon after
this he was compelled to abandon the
the graver part of his excise duties.
Through the remainder of the month he
was in the most miserable state. Some
fine days in May revived him; and on
the 18th Of that month be penned the
song. TO Iessy," which contains per-
haps the sweetest stanza in his works:
Although thou maun never be mine,
-, o.-.r bo,a ;e dnniaJ
'Tis sweet for the dispairng,
Than aught in the world besidc-Jcssy!"
This song was composed in honor of
one who had aided and soothed many of
his darkest hours Tho lady still lives.
happy in the recollection Of the services
sue was able to render; happier. perhaps.
in having inspired the beautiful and now
world-famious stanza.
The dreary darkness was coming on.
He removed to farm, commanding
view of the sombre ~oway, and there
vainly ondeavorod to recruit his ruined
health. His letters abound in tender
expressions of his afflicted state TO
Mrs. Riddcl. lady of rare cndowments
from whom he had been for some short
time estranged, he expressed himself as
sorrowful for the many wanton attacks
ne had ihnicted upon persons VINO hau
haru'y meri'eu 30 severe u treatment
we may imagine now urear'iy me
Gays went py lne poet mourning over
of the Solway, at all times gloomy and
darksome firth His children, his faith
iui m ana iors'Ving wiiei now oItei, must
,ney nave presented themselves before
MN anu mere must nave oeeh' 100
toougn'S oi Tue iainc lie nau acquired:
u'h Presages oi MS iu'ufe estima'i9h' o'
inc verdict Oh posterl'y' oi the applause
y, "Vot'unu Ahu' We trust '"e'o "el'
u'Sv o'nei ."ouH"'S. =,
y, we must give, N 'ne woros Oh MI
"acu'"r"''u' 'ne iol'9"cng "necuo'o
y n'sn' oi TWO oG'o[p pur'iS ic,'
pro", nv ufahk Yea WIN nts; rag VIA
Wv u '"o "'"'9'o' Vi nu'u"c,i' M
oi'creu appeaIunce eAci'eu ,nucn siioh'
"i"',S "nu '"o e'er,ne oeinS ura"'
.,iui' u' r"u ''' sun snini"S o''sn'i9
,Irou9u tne o"Sehen'' MISS Ore'9Ihu"
rirs. Iien't Du'lc"n-w"s "iru'u 'he
lisn' mlen. oc :oo 'i,uc,, sni. ior MN, anu m
rGse WIN WI ,,;G :nS view lew o' lel'lng a1Wn INC
",nuo" . .piinus' Durus il'',heu'a'eiy eu.sS-
ca a', m,". Sne ;', aiui"' ANU iesaruins .n'
lo"ns "uy mn M" iooN u S'o"' Do"'su.
~ ia,u ! ii''"h you, my uea.' 'or our
nr'u .u' u''on'iTn pu'' or ic' nun S'''h0 )
n' WI. nov sur. SUM i'Ig 'or me
ns; va ;no '0tr rt: VI Su'y nc te'"''eu ~
Du"lir,eS' ms ",ie' cApec'ing coniine'
men' almost houriy' was uhaoie 10 DC
WIN n'h' Du' 'ne'e were not wanting
h'hu ,r'cnus u assu'gc ms sorrows. va
tnc %is' ne SANK INTO 'eiiriunn MS e'
uest son mas remembrance Oh an eSeera
tioh passing ms lipS against 'ne 'esai a
gent VINO nau caused MN M terrible ahS'e
~ IN us ia.'er ty uays " "u,u IL nae
pcch o,hor"'se i.n MS chiiuren neal
NM ne sank ih.o 'ne cam OF dea'h
Peaceinily' ana w',houe a gronh'
t;no ,omo,hor ,I,;s r.n;d slatoh
~ na,solorn, ~ Re- r;sos b;o,
,bovo ,he sn;res and houses of Dnmrr;es
Tho Traveller from tho soutb ;fbc h,v,
bnt one dron IF scotch Hood in his vc;r.