Telegram-herald., 1890-08-03

had been born 10 him out OF wedlock
bs Jean Armour, one OF whom, Robert,
IN after years a man of character and
worth, survived the poet tfty-elght
year,, his decease occurring 81 Dunn
fires ia 1857, and his body being IN
TERED IN the Burns vault. Mary Camp
DELL died and was buried at Greenock.
Burns local fame having attracted the
attention of the literary coterie at
Edinburgh, he WAS invited 10 that city,
where ne was affiliated" At the famous
lodge of Free Masons which still meets
m the veritable room then used, and
subsequently "inaugurated" as lts poet
laureate, the latter event being the sub-
Ject of u celebrated painting, while he
was made the literary lion OF the day
as new and enlarged editions of his
poems appeared. He then made
q tour of the border coun-
ties of England and Scotland, and.
untarnlshed bv fame, returned TO
Msuchline, the old home-spot in Ayr,
drawn there by MS true love for his
Jean, who repented her remuneration,
and with whom the former intimacy
was renewed. The tour OF the North
was then made; Burns returned TO
he WAS introduced to Mrs. Maclehose,
the "Clarinda" of ms famous CORE
spOndence; and again returning TO his
beloved Jean, took her secretly 20 Tar
bottom Mill for confinement there In
disgrace, when twins, both of which
died, were again born to them. Being
now independent of scandalOus opposI-
ton, Burns publicly and proudly "ac-
knOwledged" Jean Armour as MS wite,
then as sacred and binding marriage
IN Scotland as any other, and, IN this
instance, necessary only because de-
barred formal marriage at all times by
the wlfe's parents, who thus were solely
responsible for the cloud upon the
poets marital record. Burns also "sat-
lshed' the Church. which IN those days
was not so very difficult of "satisfsc-
ton" He was also in position TO
satisfy" jeans parents; for on settle
ment with Creech, his Edinburgh pub
Usher. the then astounding sum of
$500 was found to be at his disposal,
Then came the brief, bright days.
MagnsnimOusly generous always, much
of this sum, the Girst last good fortune
Burns ever knew, went TO Jeans par
ents, and TO assist ms brother Gilbert
Burns IN avertIng disaster IN the lat
ter's farm-hfe efforts. His lucky
meeting with the ingenious and kindly
Patrick Miller. OF Dalswinton Hall, had
occurred. IL had been settled that the
poet, who hated the city with a royal
hatred, should return 10 the plough.
The nobility of the day never quite for
gave tins plebeian longing and love, the
source OF his grandest inspirations.
The beautiful farm of Elhsland, five
miles above Dumfries, was taken as 4
rental OF Coo per year. Burns unalded
began his farm-labors the first Monday
after Whitsunday. IN l7S3. He tOIled
maufully until the autumn of that year
meantime singing many q lusty song TO
ms absent wife, tearing down the
wretched hovel he found. and building
the lovely cottage which stands there
emboWcred IN roses to this day. And
then vas celebrated the simple but
glorious home coming, when, with
rustic rites, and ms bonnie Sean upon
his arm, preceded bv a peasant-girI
carrying the family Bible and a bowl of
salt" he marched proudly into his
little hOme-heaven beside the wind
ing Nth. All evidences agree that IN
the brief period OF triiie over two
years, between Wnitsunday 1883 and
Marunmas. IN 1871, Burns aud his good
Jean experienced An Eden of labor
and love, despite their enforced depart
ure. II WAS also the period of Burns
best aud greatest poetical fecundity.
But more children came TO them.
These must be supported. The crops
failed, and inevitable ruin was sp-
prosching. II was then. with nowhere
else on earth 20 turn, with no enc on
earth % defend him from the vretchcd
influences of such environments. that 70
save MS wife ans children from actual
want and starvation, he was forced 20
sccept the government position OF eT-
cisenlsn at the h-ggarlY pi.tancc 81 $50
per year And | say that that person
who will become critic or this poor
striving soul. from this pitIfal period
takes % himself a share Of the endless
oblOquY Of the dereleots q that day
and tme. who UNANIMOUSLY deserted 4
Cod sent genius m the hour Of his sOr-
est plight and highest Efforts TO a noble
manhood. The five remaining wears
uf his fe. after the poet. bis Jean and
therr three children. Robert. Francs
Wallace. and William Nlc0l. removed
% their humhe lodgings. their first
home in pumfries, cbcckered, sad,
pathetic and beyond comprehension,
are known 90 all. The literary CHOU
r'av come here and shove from TIE
dust of q ptifui epoch. the dr0ss If sad
GoInCs and hours. Whoever comes
with ressou. heart and the least 0'
I sympathy snd charity. WI, still ind
glowing herr The lingering ba.tie-fire'
I between temptation inexprt - ole and
effort Incredible between weakness
and q scourage0ents indescribab.e and
love and loyalty nctfable. For my
self I prefer 30 stsnd at the shrins oi
Burns aud look down along The burn
ine shaft ri ght thar Inks hrs genIui
sur hisworid -grilng human love and
mas gllan NIFTY en- the fsdeless immortal
itv of hss memory snd name
-o'ue of the plsccs IN Dunf7es n1o.t
interesting from its association wltf
Burns a the old t4ioce Tavern. It d
still called etae howl lhof. hof
hufe. houf SCOTTISH feT bad. hease 81
retrsst. cr haunt Is s certainly to
naost noted 81 sa ti4e "hovfs" a
haunts, naade fanoaS by the frequent
presence aud ioltsr.nzs of oosls IA