The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-04-14
DIR. j. c. Aver.

The Legislature of Massachusetts hav-
ing Incorporated given portion of
its barren soil into q town, the citizens
named itinh honor of the famous medicine
man and called it Aver. They gave him
chance to spread himself, through the
instrumentality of a serenade, in reply
| to VIII ich honor he responded as in duty
bound as follows, which we insert as an
advertisement, to wit:
Ladies and Gentlemen:
On the western coast of Scotland where
it slopes into the Irish Sea, a river, ris-
ing on the mountains of the inner land,
winds down among the hills and empties
into the Firth of Clyde. From remote
time it has been called Ayr from an old
Scotch word "Ayry,' meaning an eagles
nest-the river of the eagles nest. Near
its mouth and a contiguous harbor, 10; &
stood hamlet which became a royal
burg or town named from the river, and
now about one-third us large as Lowell
the city of Ayr. For more than a
thousand years it has been noted in the
history of Scotland. During the wars
of Robert Bruce it was one ofhis resorts,
and was especially favored by him be-
cause he was there cured of leposy.
Oliver Cromwell made it one of the de-
pots and headquarters of his army in his
attack upon Scotland, and one of his old
forts is now the Citadel of AIRY.
But above all its distinctions, AIRY was
the birthplace Of the poet Burns. And
what a poet What voice has he given
to all the endearments of home! How
has he hallowed the cottage and all it
covers-weans and wife, patches and
poverty, beans, barely, ale, hardship
and the poor mans toll. How he wraps
with tenderness whatever he names,
even his bleak leagues of pasture, the
stubble field, ice, snow, sleet, and rain,
brooks, birds, mice, thistles and heather.
His Bonny Doom, John Anderson, my
Jo John, Aud Lang Syne, and High
land Mary roll round the world in ever
ringing symphony with what is purest
and best in human nature. His songs
WOO and melt the hearts of youth and
maidens, bring solace to the sorrowing
and courage to the eoverburdened by their
lot. His inspiration has set the atiec-
tions to music in strains that are i'm
mortal.
No other one man ever made Ian
guage classic, but he has rendered that
lowland Scotch Doric dialect of fame.
The name of his home and his beloved
river Ayr was lifted on the wings of his
pathos, and now the approaching trav
eller yearns to reach the spot his geniu:
has sanctified.
Along the borders OF the sea in a par
allelogram and surrounding the town
is country of the same name Ayr
shire.
1t would weary your patience to heal
the history of my ancestors from one
ancient John of Ayr, then John Ayr,
down through the centuries to this Aver
now before you; through their vicissi-
tudes of poverty and plenty-of fortune
and misfortune; how they have inter
married with England, Ireland and
Scotland, and later with the Americans
who are an excellent mixture of then
all.
WyJriendS, you have chosen The name
l Inherited for your town with an extra
ordinary unanimity, and have thereb,
conferred and honor upon me, the pro
per acknowledgment Of which do no
feel fully able to express. But l beg yol
to be assured that it is appreciated ant
that it will be egreaty remembered will
a living interest in your prosperit.
while life remains to me, and, trust
beyond that by my children after me.
If this name has become noted amon
the many that are worthler around you
that is greatly due to itspubllcity. Ma.