The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-05-21
From the Scotch Herald.
Robert Burns's Acquaintances.

nc aulu acQualntanceS OF DurnS are
vanishing. 1t is ninty-seven years, yes
terday, since he first came among us, and
it will be sixty come July. since he
gaed awe, but he has left works behind.
the merits of which are such. that wor-
thy men of coming ages will be proud to
claim kindred with him. l have known
many of his personal acquaintances, or
those who had seen him and spoken with
him but from the visible defects exhib-
tied by most of the pretenders to his ac-
quaintance, it must have been but slight.
/ have had the IVhipperin on my back
llo told me in confidence that he had the
honor to be the character. | have met
a number who spoke of having gills in
his company, but as for conversation
they seemed to have none. An auld
wife told mo that she was at a wedding
wi him, and "atwcel he was but little
worth fallow. 1t was a pay-wedding,
and it wasna lang till he had them in for
Draw sum, and the rest o. tho lads
thought that he kcepit himself clear, but
they couldna mark it out on him, for he
put them aye stupid wi, the way he coun-
tea" Some had set in the same kirk
wi him. Ane had driven the plough with
him. Anither had enjoyed his blethers
at the bin in the morning, and been unco
great WI him, just because he listened
to bin. He was unco fond to get ony-
body to listen to his nonsense. [ have
seen Brithcr Davie, and heard a number
Of the clcrgymen preach whose portraits
he had taken. have visited many of
the scenes be has immortalized. l was
born within ten miles Of him, and speak
the same language. | have only hcari
one old man Of the whole pretended ac-
quaintances Of Burns speak sensibly of
his character and genius. | happened,
in the presence of this old man, to be
singing in my own way, the Farewell
to the Mason Lodge Tarbolton." .""lIaud
yourtongue, man, and no spoil that sang"
quoth he, al herd it oHco Sung to per-
fections, and Gamma think to her onybody
abuse it," "And whaur happened ye to
hear it?" said I. Il heard it," said he,
with emphasis, 'the first time it was sung
in this kintra" "Ye couldna do that"
said |, Ger Burns himsclfsung it in Tar
bolton the first time it was sung in pub
lic." AYE did ho man. and | sat at his
right hand" quoih the old nan. made
some inquiries about several things con
nccted with the meeting, which inquiries
he answered in the following manner -
"It was great treat to see and hear
Burns that night. There was number
o us bclangiug tc the Lod &c wha had
been often meeting wi him aud making
speeches, and we thought it was pity
to see him gaun ava without hearing MS
in such shape as TO be sensible O. our
greatness We met, and looked out sub,
jects for our speeches ane taking
up his favorte theme. We met and re.
hearsed our pieces to our ain satisfaction.
The night came when we were to have n
farewell meeting Of the Lodge, in honor
o. his gaun awe. There were about ten
o. US sat that night as if we had been at
q burial. We were sac fu' O our sp"a ach-
es we durstna open our mouths for fear
some bit o. them would fa' out | had
repeated mine twice or thrice 10 myself,
and | suppose the rest were doing the
same thing. We had determined to
astouish the bard for ancc. SO as he
might hae mind o. US when far frae us.
lie was late in coming that night--a
thing quite uncommon wi him. lie
came at last. never in my life saw
such an alteration on ony body. He look
ed bigger like than usual and wild like.
His cen seemed stern, and his checks fan
in. lTe sat down in the chair, as Master.
lft looked round at US thought that
be looked through me, and | lost the grip
o. the beginning o speech, and for the
life o me could get it again that night.
IIe apologized for being late. lie had
been getting a things ready for going
abroad, He could get to us no sooner.
lie intended to have said something to
US, but it had gone from him, lie had
composed song for the occasion, and
would sing it. lie looked round on us
and burst into song such as | never
heard before or since. If ever a sang
was sung it was that ane. O man, when
he came to the last verse. wh2r he
says
A last request permit me here,
When yearly ye assemble a.
One T0HRd, | ask it wi a fc0r,
To him, the Bard that far Gra.'
That last sight O. him will never leave