The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-17

street COTTAGE in Dumfries, to die. And this
Brow we'll has been singularly overlooked
by lovers of Burns visiting Nithsdale. 1t is
distant but an eight miles tramp south
locally called 1.-The Broo" Brow, and lies
at the brow of the Locher Moss, few hun
dred feet back from the Solway tide-edRe.
An ancient "claohan," or prehistoric stone
circle once stood near, and the half dozen
stone houses of the neighborhood have
Broo." These houses, as in Burns time,
are rude structures, merely kinds houses.
The road to Ruthwell, which is but mile
or so distant, winds past the place; and
little delving into antiquities makes curious
and not altogether improbable the conlec-
for the Gaelic Ruadh, red-was the name
of the locality originally comprising that
village, the Red Well itself and the clachan
or stone circle for the celebration of
pagan rites and ceremonials. For Brow
we'll, of whose waters Burns for
being strongly impregnated with iron.
Tradition, too, places Brow Well among
those possessing miraculous powers. Step
ping few feet from the roadside towards
the Solway, there is found Q deep pit open
to the Firth at the south. In the center OF
deep, and perhaps five feet across; alto
gether more stone basin than we'll, to
which three stone steps descend. The
water filling it trickles through spout
from the base of the bank brow" above;
and it's overflow forms tiny burn which,
reinforced by the other half-hidden rills
from Locher Moss, until it outs clear and
distinct way through the reddish gray
sands of the Solway. In this dreary. place
Burns remained, taking the waters of 1.-The
B.e9" If from m;d ths middle nj ,,, of Agsil
His only companions were his
tho.2hts and his worn pocket bible" His
eyes could rest upon but one scene-the
roaring or sobbing Solway and the darken-
| ing range of the English hills on the Cum
berland side of the Firth. Remembering
it all, that is one line of English shore
whose mystic mists to my eyes seem end.
lessly fraught. with tinge of dolor and
! sadness.
Far pleasanter associations and - mories
than those of Brow Well cluster ABOUT the
| upper Nithsdale region. Here, not two
miles from Dumfries is that lovely ivy
grown ruin, Lincluden Abbey, at the con.
| fiuence of Cluden water and the NTH. just
beyond, to the east, is Dalswlnton hall
where lived the generous and ingenious Pat
rick Miller, notable not only for his connec.
ton with the earliest experiments in steam
navigation but as big-hearted owner OF
Ellisland. the farm Burns took when fresh
| from his laurels in Edinburgh. This little Of
a farm, now comprising 135 acres of land. liet
| to the west of the NTH, upon it's very banks
about five miles north of Dumfries; and it Ii
| here that Burns, after building the cottage
| which to this day stands embedded in rose
and ivy. brought his bonnie Jean to liv'
with her the only happy days he ever knew
never saw quite SO songful and idylllc
spot-songful in every field and copse birt
that border Scotland knows, and wonder
fully songful in the waters of the Mil
which, between banks white with daisies
bordered closer down with yellow broom
spreads wide across cleaning shadows. as i
its mission here was to sing endless anS
tender melodies in honor of the spot wher
the inspired ploughman sang in his clearest
farm house were produced among scorie Q
lesser poems, Tam o. Shanter," written il
day and denominated by Alexander Smit
: ''since Bruce fought Bannockburn, the bes
, single days work done in Scotland" hi
! magnificent battle piece, The Song G
: Death" his wonderful satire. The Kirk
Alarm" his matchless embodiment of cor
nubial affection, John Anderson, My 10,
20 Blaw We Westlin Winds." his "Addres
to the NTH" On Seeing Wounde
Thomson" "Of a the Arts the Winds ca
, Blaw," and that diyinest of his odes, IT
/ My Mary in Heaven"
I Getting to this Ellisland farm brougt
| me. in angular and fortuitous way. With
: | the radius of certain associations few hRv
!. had the good fortune to enjoy. As the
: link the living with thrilling closeness an
1 emphasis to the dead. brief account @
a | this unusual experience will have interes
: | to all lovers of Burns in America. At u lat
: hour Of 3 recent evening | was standin
near the noble statue Of Burns. erected !