The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-06-26

AhAtiEh
C,rbies ana clergy shot right kuie. BRIG.
The years passed, and / was again iW5l-
iar ou The Sea but NE ill-fortunc which had
hitherto tracked me Ike a bloodhound.
seemed at length as if tired in the pursuit,
ard 1 was INV the master Of West India
trader, and hpd begun "a lay the foundation
Of that compel ncy winch has secured to my
declining years The quiet aid comfort which,
foT the lstter part f my life, III has been my
happiness 70 enjoy. My vessel had arrived
az Liverpool ia the latter part Of the year
l7S4, ana had taken coach for Irvine, to
visit ml mother. whom had not seen toI
several years. There was a change Of pas
seuEers at every stage but ! saw Lttle IN
any Of them to interest me, tin within about
. score Of miles Of my destination, wien
net With al oll respectable townsman, a
friend ol my fathers. There was but ano-
th5r passenger IN the coach, a north country
gentleman from tile West Indies. | hal
many questions 10 ask my TOW wnsman, and
many to answers and the time passed lightly
away.
Z" Can YOU ten me aught Of the BuTnses Of
L1chlea T. | inquired, after learning that ny
mother and other relatives We're well.
met with the young man, Robert, about five
years ago, an3 have often asked my self what
special end providence could have 10 view III
making such a man
81 vas acquainted with old William
Burns said my companion, " when be was
gardener at Denholm, an got inuu tte VII
BIS son Robert when he lived w as al IT.
vine, q IEalmInlh syne. The father died
shortly ago, sairly straiIened ID his ans,
m feared, and DO very square vi the laird
an I'D wsd he nae liked hat, for an homes
ter man never breathed. Robert puIr child,
IS no very easy either
g 10 his circumstances fn / said.
4" Ay, an' waur he got eutangled VII
the XIX % sn unlucky scuiduddeTy business,
an has been writing bitter, wicked ballads
on a. the guild ministers in the country ever
syne. I'm ,exed its on tnem be suld hae
fallen; an yet They hae been to blame,
toO.'
Robert Burns 50 eutangled, 50 occupied
7 exclaimed sou grove and astOnishl
me
&" We are p4ir creatures, Matthew" said
the old man strength ar weakness are
often next d0ur ncigh50Ts n the best ot rs (;
nav. what Is cur vera strength taen on the ae
side, may be or vera weakness tacn on the
ither Never was there n stancher, tirmeT
r. g than Robert Burns an now that he
has tatn a wrang step, pnir cheild, that vera
stanchuess seems just weak want o ability
to yield. tie has planted his foot where it
lighted by mishanter, an a the guild an III
il Scotland wadna bulge him irae the spot
Dear NE that so powerful mind
should be so frivOlouS.y engaged Making
ballads, y0u say with Ehst success
" All, Matthew, lad, when the strong man
puts out bis strength" said my companion.
there's nsethng frivolous in the matter, be
his object what it may. Roberts ballads
are tar, far aboon the best things ever seen
ia Scotland afore We auld folk dinna ken
whether mast to blame or praise them, but
they keep the young people laughing lrae
the AZ nuk o. The shire till the ither.h
" But how" | inquired, have the better
o ergy rendered themselves ObnoxIous to
Burns The laws he hes violated, if |
rightly understand you, are indeed severe,
and somewhat Questionable in their 'enden-
cies and even good men Cften press them
too lar"
And in the case Of Robert" said the old
man, " our clergy have been strict to the
very letter. They're guild men an faithful
ministers but aBe o them, at least, an he
leader, has harsh, i'll temper, az mistakes
sometimes the corruption o the auld man IN
him for the proper zeal o the new ane.
Nor i there ony D the ithers wha kent what
they had to deal VII when Robert cam afore
them. They saw but proud, thrswart
ploughman, that stood uncowering under
the glunsh o hail session and so they
opened on him the artillery o the kirk, tC
bear down his pride. Wha could hse told
them that they we're but frnshing their straw
an To''en wood against the iron scales o.
\ Levia.. an An now that they hae done
4 their msisl, tie record o Roberts mishsn.eT
I is ly ing in whity-brown ink yonder in a page
q the session bulk, while the ballads hae
sunk deep Until the very rniud O the coua-
try, and may live there foT hunders and
bun iers o years"
You seem to contrast, in this business y
/ | said, " our better, and what -ou deem our
I inferior clergy. You mean, 90 YOU not, the
higher and lower parties in o1r church.
How ar. they gettins on now p
] "Never worse" replied the old man