Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-01-21
ROBERT BURNS.

clay. built cottage, raised by his fathers
hands on the banks of the Doom, in the dis
trict of Kyle, and county of Ayr, on the
25th day of January, 1859. As natural
mark of the event, sudden storm at the
same moment swept the land, and the gable
wall of the dwelling gave way, the babe was
hurried through storm of wind and sleet
to the shelter of securer hovel. He was
the eldest born of three sons and three
daughters; his father William Burns, had
come from Kinkardineshire, married Agnes
Brown, young woman of the neighborhood,
and settled on the "banks of the Doom"
where he followed the profession of gardner.
Among the bonnie winding banks,
Where Doom runs whipping clear,
Where Bruce once ruled the martial ranks,
And shook his Carrick spear.
The early childhood of Burns was spent
between this neighborhood and that of the
town of Ayr; and "here ava, there ava, ,"
the inspired child, following his genius upon
the mountain side, or among the wooded
paths along the river side, was imbibing nev-
cr-dying images of humor and pathos.
The elder Burns was silent, austere, we'll
informed man; his wife was of a mild mood,
blest with singular fortitude of temper,
and loved, while busted in her household
concerns to sweeten the bitter moments of
life by chanting the sougs and ballads of her
country, of which her store was great
When the poet was six years old his parents
were induced to remove to Mount Oliphant,
a farm belonging to the laird of Doonhclm.
After residence here of six years the laird
died-and then many terms never intended
to be called for by the generous laird were
exacted so harshly by his factor that the
family were obliged to relinquish the farm
and seek shelter on the grounds Of Lachlea,
some ten miles off, in the parish of Tarbol-
ton. When, in after days, mems characters
were in his hands, the poet gave his factor
lasting touch, for his insoleuce and wrong,
in the poem of the "Twa Dogs"
Besides such instructions as Burns re,ei-
we'd from his parents, he was aided by one
John Murdock, studentin divinity, who un-
dertook to teach arithmetic, grammar. French
and Latin, to the boys of Lachlea, and the
sons of five neighboring farmers. Murdock
was an enthusiast in learning, much cf a
pcdant, and Judge of genius. He thought
wit should be always laughing. He taught
Robert the names of different objects in
Latin and French, the grammar of the En-
glish tongue, and the natural order of prose
and poetic composition. Burns was even in
those days sort Of enthusiast in all that
concerned Scotland. He read of the bloody
struggles OF his country for freedom and ex-
istcncc, till '.Scottish prejudice he says,
"was poured into my veins, which will boil
there till die" Burns lifts himself from
the studies which made him poet. 'In
my boyish days." he says to Moore, 81 owed
much to an old woman Jenny Wilson, who
resided in the family. remarkable for her
credulity and superstition. She had l sup
pose the largest collection in the country of
tales and song, concerning devils, ghosts,
fairies, brownies, witches, warlocks, spunk
les, elf candles, dead light apparitions, 81
ants, enchanted towers: dragons and trum-
perry. His mother, too, unconsciously led
him to the muse; she used to sing to him a
strange ballad called "Thc life and ages of
Man." which was in his mind when he wrote
"Man was made to Mourn"
lie found other teachers Of tcnderer ma
ture and softer influence. "Iou know" he
says to Moore, sour country custom Of coup
ling man and woman together as partners in
the labors of the harvest. In my fifteenth
autumn my partner was bewitching crea,
ture year younger than myself, and, un-
willingly to herself, initiated me in that lie
delicious passion which, in spite of acid Ills.
appointment, and book-worm philosophy,
mold to be the first of human joys. How
she caught the contagiuu | cannot tell
never expressly said loved her. Indeed,
did not know why | liked so much to loitcl
behind with her, when returning in the even
ings from our labor; why the tones Of hel
voice made my heart.strings thrill, aud my
pulse beat when fingered over her httl,
J hand to pick out thistle sting$." Thus with
him began love a verse Through such in
, stinct in after years we're composed some O
!; his best songs; such as "Bonnie Lesley,
"Highland Mary" "Duncan Gray" "Johr