White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-07-02
From the Scotch Herald.)
Robert Burns Aequaintances.

and it will be sixty, come July. since he
gaed ava but he has left works behind
him, the merit Of which are such that
worthy men of coming ages WILDE proud
to claim acquaintance with hip. have
known many Of his personal acquaintan-
ces, or those who have seen him and
spoken to him, but from the visible men,
tai defects exhibited by the most of the
pretenders to his acquaintance, it must
have been but slight. 1 have had the
HhPPer- IN on my back. He told me In
confidence that he had the honor to see
the character. I have met number who
spoke Of having gills in his company,
but as foa- conversation they seemed to
have none. An auld wife told me she
was at wedding wi him. and at weel
he was but little worth fallow. 1t was
pay wed 9ing, and it was ma lang time
tall ne had, them in for q Draw sum, and
the rest o. the lads thought that he
keep it himself clear, but they could ma
max It out on hin, for he puts them a.
stupid wi the way he counted. Some
had set in the kirk WI him. And had
driven the plOw WI him. Anither had
enjoyed his blethers at the bin in the
morning, and ben unco great wi him
just he listened to him. He was unco
fond to onybody to listen to his nonsense.
have seen Brither Davie, and heard him
speak. have heard a number of the
clergymen preach whose portraits he has
taken. have visited many of the scenes
he has immortalized. / was born within
ten miles of him, and speak the same
language.
! have only heard one old man of the
whole pretended acquaintance of Burns,
speak sensibly of his character and gent
US. l happened in the presence of this
old man to be singing, in my old way,
the Farewell to the Mason Lodge, Tar
bolton" "Hauld your tongue, man, and
no spoil that sang" quoth he, 81 heard
it sung once to perfection, and cana think
to hear onybody abuse it - said L. 81
heard it, said he, with emphasis, 'the
first time it was sung in this kintra. 4"
aye couldna do that" said /, ''for Burns
himself sung it in Tarbolton the first time
it was sung in public" cave, did he,
man, and l sat at his right hand" quoth
the old man. | made some inquiries
about several things connected with the
meeting, which inquiries he answered in
the following manner: cit was great
treat to see and hear Burns that night"
There was a number O. us belonging to
the Lodge who had been often meeting
wi him and making speeches, and we
though int it was pity to see him gaun
ava without hearing us in such a shape
as to be sensible O. our greatness.
We met, and looked out subjects for
our speeches-every one taking up his
favorite theme. We met and rahearsed
our pieces. to aur ain satisfaction. The
night came when we were to have fare
well meeting of the Lodge, in honor O.
his gaun ava. There were ABBOTT ten o.
US set that night as we had been at a
burial. We were fu' O. our speeches !;
we burst ma open our mouths for fear
some bit O. them would IA out. had re-
peated mine twice or thrice to myself,
and suppose the rest were doing the
same thing. We had determined to as
tonish the bard for ance, so as he might
haze mind o. us when far frae us. He
was late in coming that uight-a thing
quite uncommon 70 him.
He came at last. l never in my life
saw sic an alteration on onybody. He
looked bigger than usual, and wild like.
His cen seemed stern, and cheeks fan in.
He sat down in the chair, as Master. He
looked round at MS. 1 thought he looked
through me, and 1 lost the gap o. the be-
ginning O. my speech, and for the life O.
me could l get it again that night He
apologized for being late. He had been
getting a things ready for going abroad.
He could get to no sooner. Heintended
to have said something to us, but it had
gone from him. He had. composed
song for the occasion, and would sing it.
He looked round on us and burst into
song, but such as l never heard before or
since. If ever a sang was sung it was
that ane o, man, when he came to the
last verse, when he says:
"a last reques, permit me here,
When yearly ye assemble a.
One round, ask it wi a tear,
To him, the Bard that's far awa,5
The sight O. him will never leave my
mind. He rose and burst into tears.
They were ma sham anes. 1t was a queer
sight to see sac mony men burst out like |
hubby boys, and blubber, in spite O.
themseP. Soon after the song, he said
he could not stay longer Wishing us
all well, he took his leave, as we thought |
forever. We sat and looked at each 9TH
er, full as We were Of great speeches.
Name o them came to light that night.
The greatness o. Burns was not under
stood by any body; but there is.a feeling
remains ! wad IA like to part WI. II
looked on this auld man as a great man.
| respected his state o. mind, and excus-
ed him for not being pleased wi my sing
ing, although it was my attempt at It
which brought out his great speech. The
old man is now gathered to his fathers.
"They are wearing AVA"
Vernon was the person who invepted
the story about the lady being pulverized
in India, by a coup de sOleil. When he
was dining there with Hindoo, one of
his hosts vvivas 1vaa auddanIv radncad fol