Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1863-07-03
Robert Burns Mother.

The first of these was his having parent
of such singular excellence of character
and particularly his being blessed with ;
father who was perfect model Of humble
Intelligence and worth. The mother o
the poet is described as having been al
excellent specimen of the prudent cottag,
natrons of Scotland--calm in her de
ncanor, careful Of her household, con
scientions in discharging the duty sht
owed to her children, and full of venera
tlon for her husband. Another writer
speaks of her as woman Of mild mood
blessed with singular iortitude of TEN
per, and as devout Of heart as she was
calm Of mini. She had, however, nc
pretentions to superior intellect, or any
education above that Of her ncghbors.
When a child, the mother of Burns
had been taught to read her Bible and re.
peat the Psalms, but at the death of hel
mother, which occurred when she was
only nine years of age, this kind of edu.
cation came to an end and was never re-
sumed. 1t is not strange, therefore, that
her mind. though shrewd and intelligent
was warped with prejudice, yet rot to a
serious extent. That the mother of the
poet was never able to write her own
name, will surprise those who are so gall
liant to the genter sex as to believe that
extraor linary talents are al,o1ys and in.
raria5iy inherited through the mothers
Here is an instance somewhat against
their theory, for beyond doubt those Of
Buras were derived, along with keenly
nervous temperament, from his father
His mother, however, was instrumental
in developing much of that poetical tai.
cnt which distinguished his future career
Mrs. Barns loved, while busiel in her
| household concerns, to swecten the bitter
moments OF lille of poverty and toll by
chanting the ballads and songs of her
country. Sae was good singer, and had
u never falling store Of old ballads aud
songs, on which her poetical sou must have
fed in his childhood. 'In my boyish days,
says Burns, IL owed much to an old woman
(Jenny Wilson, who resided in the fami.
ly, remarkable for her crcdulity and su.
perstition. She had, l suppose, the larg.
est collection in the country, OF tales and
soags. THIS cultivated the latent seeds
of pocsy."
His mother, as we have before stated
unconsciously loi him in the ways of the
Muse she loved to recte or sing to him
strange but clever ballad, called the
"Lfc and Age of Man" This strain oi
piety aud Imagination was in his mind
when he wrote Man was made to Mourn.
The poet himself speaks of it in letter
to Mrs. Dunlop, where he says, Il had an
old grsnd-uncIc, with whom my mother
lived in her girlish years the good old
man, for such he was, was long blind ere
he died during which time his highest
enjoyment was to sit down aud cry, while
my mother would sing the simple old
song of the Life AMI Age of Man"
Mrs. Burns had tine complexion,
with pale red hair, and beautiful dark
eyes She was of neat snail figure, ex-
tremcly active and Industrious, and con-
stantly looking after the affairs ola cheer.
full ntaure, bat in her later years, burd-
encd by cares and anxleties, no doubt in
consequence of the life of hardships and
difficulties through which it has been her
lot to pass, she was more silent and re-
served yet kind and obliging.
As glimpse Of the life of Mrs. Burns
in the dark days Of sadness which pre-
cded her husbands death, Mrs. Begg
the poets sister, remembers the old man
coming in one day from sowing very
weary. He had used all the threshei-up
grain, and was now desirous of preparing
some for dinner for the horse, but his
worthy helpmate, on seeing his feeble
state Of health, insisted that he should
refresh himself by a rest, while she her.
self would see that the beasts were duly
cared for. The heroic little wife then
went to the barn with her servant girl,
ard the two soon had the necessary corn
for the horses both threshed and winnow
ed. Such was the character Of the moth
er and wife, and such the household in
which was reared the youthful Burns
Who can but regret that the lot Of such
family was not from the first, more
prosperous and cheerful one.
Robert Burns had always been free, IN
the early years of his poetic efforts, in
communicating his best compositions to
his mother aud sisters, for their edica-
ton, and in the hope of securing from
them words Of commentator and APPROX
al. Thc sisters would often crafty their
beloved mother, in her advanced years OF
widowhood, by reading Hallow Zen, The
Cotter's Saturday Night, and other fav-
orte and popular poems of their absent
brother, by the sad and lonely fireside.
They all valued the author highly, not
only for the brilliant and acknowledged
talents he possessed, but as an amiable
and affeetionate son and brother. The
mother had nothing to restrain her grow
ing admiration Of her sons genius but the
fear that the great popularity attending
his success, might make him reflect less
on the Giver OF all good gifts than his
earl y training would naturally lead him
to do and less than would be expected
from the author of such beautiful poem
as "Thc Cotter's Saturday Night" d
picture Of the poet's $ own family and FIRE
side.
A FAST YourH.-The latest from the
Prince Of Wales, since he got married, u