Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-17

Dumfries is that lovely ivy grown ruin, Lin
cuden Abbey, at the confluence of Cluden
water and the Nj tn. Just beyond, to the east
il Dalswinton Hall, where lived the generous
and ingenious Patrick Miller, notable not only
for his connection with the earliest experiments
in steam navigation but as the ig-hearted
owner of Elisiand, the farm Burns took when
fresh from mis- laurels at Edinburgh. This little
OF farm, now comprising lbs acres OF land,
iles 10 the west OF the Ntth, upon its very
banks, about i've miles north Of Du mfries: and
it is here that Burns, after building the cottage
which to this day stands embedded in roses and
ivy, brought his bonnie Jean to live with her
the only happy days he ever knew. L never saw
quite songful and idyIlic a spot-songful in
every field and copse bird that border SEQ tlaud
knows, and wonderfully sOngful in the waters of
the NTH which, between banks white with
daisies, bordered closer down with yellow
broom, spreads
WIDE ACROSS CLEANING SWALLOWS,
as If its mission here was to sing endless and
tender melodies in honor OF the spot where the
inspired ploughman sang in his cleareSt purest,
grandest strains. For here in this farmhouse
were produced among scores of lesser poems,
'Tam O. shanter,' written in a day and de-
fought Bannockblrn, the best single days work
done in Scotland, - his magnificent battle piece
1.-THE Song of DEATH his wonderful satire,
1.-THE Kinks Alarm his matchless embodi-
ment of connup,al affection, John Anderson,
my 10, 20 blaw ye westlin Winds his lad
dress to the NTH, ..on seeing Wounded
Hare. that grand Address to the Shade of
Thomson ''Of a. the ARTS the winds
blaw: and that divinest OF all his odes. ITO
my Mary in heaven
Getting to this Ellisland farm brought me in q
singular and fortuitious way within the radius
of certain associations few have had the good
fortune to enjoy. As they link the living with
thrilling closeness and emphasis to the dead,
brief account OF this unual experience will have
int crest to all lovers OF Burns in America. At a
late hour of a recent evening 1 was standing
near the noble statue OF Burns, erected in ls77.
in Church place, Dumfries The only other oc-
cupant of Church place at that time a
cradle Scotchman who, standing in the shad-
npy nj he oh
in merely an idle curiosity on his part, in
tently regarding me as had been studying the
statue. l finally made bold to approach him
with request for information regarding the
road l should take to Elisland, at the same
time expressing my intention of visiting it on
the morrow. The chance meeting was pleas
ant one: and on discovering that. the gentle
man, Mr.. Thomas Brown of Queensbury street
was quite at leisure for the next day. invited
which he heartily acceded, and the day was a
glorious one on one account of hi 8 intelligent
company; for his perfect familiarity with de-
tails of the life and experiences OF the poet, at
which then wondered, though attributlng the
same the universal treasuring OF Burns-iore by
the people of Nithsdale, was source Of the
greatest delight The companionship resulted
In q return invitation TO visit my new found
friends family on the same evening Of the
door, 1 was admitted by young lady whose
face and presence startled me as completely as
though Robert Burns had himself greeted me at
the Threshold OF that welcoming hs bi alton.
There stood fair young woman, in whose face
was repeated every lineament of the poet 8.
Her hair was raven black; her brows were broad
and high; the eyes like flaming orbs; the nose
perfectly chiseled; the mouth large, impas-
stoned, tender; and the chin full rounded and
dimpled. It was indeed Burns face chastened
and softened BY the pure soul of 8 woman look
ing through it.
Completely overcome by the extraordinary
likeness and situation, could scarcely use my
tongue, but at last faltered:
Isis this the residence Of Mr.. Thomas
Brown, with whom an American gentleman has
an engagement for the EVENING"
1T is; ;" the young lady smilingly answered.
Father and mother are expecting you.''
And you are?"-
Their daughter, Jean Armour Burns
Browni''
It was the home of the granddaughter and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF ROBERT BURNS.
haired hostess OF the evening, Mrs, Thomas
Brown lady sixty years of age, who sang for
Us, ''Of a the ARTS the wind can blaw, - with
extreme pathos and feeling. is the surviving
daughter OF Robert Burns. Jr., the poets
oldest son. who died here in Dunn
fries in 1851, at the age Of seventy years. His
early education chiefly the charge OF Burns
himself, and with him, hand in hand, he wan
dered again and again in every loved haunt OF
Nithsdate, from Criffel on the Solway TO Friar's
Carse, above Ellisland. A page of this paper
Of that evening and of later hours in this plain
and pleasant home-in itself q museum and
shrine of Burns memorial. relic and sentiment.
But asi de from these and the marvellous repro
duction Of figure, face and radiant speech OF
eyes and look OF the poet in hls great grand
daughter. Jean Armour Burns Brown two things |
came to me. -tth conviction which cannot be