Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-14

leadlng to the LETT, you Will come 10 the an
cient church of Irongray. Here is the grave
of Sir Walter Scott's "Jeanie Deans"
| (Helen Walker) and the inscription on the
table tombstone was written by the author
| of Waverly himself This picturesque old
bridge at which you tarry-for there is a
pretty scene of sheep-washing going on be-
meath the giant willows, just above-crosses
the river Cluden, small stream but tune
full one. 1t bounds along merrily through
copse and between emerald haughs below,
sweeps around the ancient abbey walls, and,
entering the NTH, broadens into a deep
pool or linn. Hence linn -Cluden, "ths
Cluden pool, and the name of the grand
old monastic pile, Lincluden Abbey, which
towers at its edge above.
Where Bobby Burns Was Happy.
Thus all the winsome way to Ellisland
are found pastoral, historic and romantic
scenes and objects. You finally come to a
bit of almost champaign country. Comfort
able steadings with snug stone cottages lie
on either. side of the highway. To the right
is an ancient gate, opening to long lane,
hedge bordered, between well-kept fields,
where the young grain is already rich and
green. The wagon way is thick with the
falling blossoms of the hawthorn. The
hedge banks are mass of gladstone daisies.
A tiny burn having its source in springs
above, wimples at one side, half hidden in
the grass and daisies. And at the end of this
lane, Just over ridge of warm and yellowy
loan, are seen the low roofs Of acottage and
its humble outbuildings, here and there
half hidden in the foliage of surrounding
trees. This is Ellisland, for four years the
farm-home and home-heaven of Robert
Burns; the ony spot on all this earth where
comfort and happiness were his.
IL l.
pointing. The ridge of the stealing fields
forms a monotonous horizon line. But
Burns knew where to build his Nithside
nest. From any point in the vicinity of the
onstead or farm buildings there is glorious
view of the valley of the NTH. Almost the
entire course of the river is traceable. The
house faces to the east and north gentle
bend in the NTH, which murmurs here over
the shining shadows not hundred Yards
distant With the outbuildings and their
connecting rubble walls, a sunny, nearly
inelosed quadrangle is formed. The side
next the distant highway, to the west, has
to the right as you enter the enclosure, a
stable and cow-house and byre or feeding
aad straw yard behind. To the left is mill
shed, modern structure, a tiny barn, and
and eow-house stand precisely as Burns
built them) is the inclosed stock-yard where
bonnie Jean found her husband in that
great agony of detection which gave the
world the matehless hymn to Mary in
Heaven.
Built by the Poets Own Hands.
The house itself, into the construction of
which the poet put months of his own labor
working alonside of the rustic stonemasons
of the time, remains to this day exactly as
he built it. A small kitchen has been
added on the side next the river, which now
as then is the front of the house. The por-
tion built by Burns is of rubble, about 55
feet long and nearly 20 feet in width. 1t is
one story in height, with an ample attic.
There is large room about 18 feet square
at each end. The entrance from the NTH
side was into hallway, from which these
two large rooms were reached. Out of this,
one could also pass to the attic above, and
to a small kitchen which, with little bed
room, stands between the two larger rooms.
Of the latter, the one at the left or north
end, which communicates with the little
bedroom, was used by Burns for the cere-
monious entertainment of distinguished
guests.
The other, at the south end was the real
heart of the home; the "spence" or living
room of the poet, his wife and BARNS The
family provisions were kept here. In one
end stood the bed. The meals were eaten
here. And here the companions that Burns
loved came into the single-nook glow. Be-
side the fireplace is broad, low window.
Against the side wall stood an oaken table,
and here the poet in this sunny corner could
feast his eyes upon the flowers and vines Of
his own little garden, let them dwell fondly
upon his cattle and put sheep in the billowy
field beyond, or conjure glorious fancies
from the noble sweeps of Nithsdale's broad
southern expanse, crowded at its eastern
edge with noble forests and the huge gables
of Dalswinton Hall.
When His Best Work Was Done
By this little window Burns either COM
posed or put into completed manuscript
form the greatest amount of the greatest
work of his life. How we prize the least
reminder of these royal fellows when they
are gonel There are those who would paw
81 900 each for two of the tiny panes in that
one sunny window. On one Burns wrote
with a diamond and afterwards partially
erased, "Home he had not-home is the re-
sort;" on the other he inscribed his favorite
maxim, can honest mans the noblest work
of God" These inscriptions, the house
and outbuildings, and few sturdy trees.the
poet planted, are the only visible relics Of
bard's life at Ellisland; for the spot is one
of the few in Britain, more grace to it, that
is not show-place where the insistant re-
minder of the endlessness of fees merges
reverence and emotion into ridieule and
contempt.
The most exclusive haunt of Burns at
Ellisland was within call of his bonnie Jean
Just below the high bank or scaur, upon the
edge of which the cottage stands. Between
this and the NTH for long distance to the
north and south runs lovely river road.
Out of the cottage enclosure a shaded path
and wagon way descends to join the river
road. Half way down this almost sylvan
way is copious spring. The bank of the
scaur-side in the shade is mass of ferns
and violets, and in the sunshine Q wondrous
of ''wee crimson-tippet flow
ers," the daisies of Scotland, for which
Burns felt something akin TO alteration.
Then came the silvery shadows of the NTH.
Beyond its stream, leading to the meadow
lands above, is a haugh, golden mass Of
waving broom.
Where He Walked and Dreamed.
Along this dreamful way, and up and
down the river road, Burns sauntered and
dreamed. 1t was the scene of his most
ecstatic achievement, ''Tam O'Shanter,"
which the celebrated Alexander Smith
thought, as it was written in day, the best
single days work done in Scotland since
Bruce fought at Bannockburn.
Ellisland originally comprised 170 acres
of land. The lease to the poet was for four
terms of 10 years. 1t was executed in
March, 1888, and would have expired by
limitation in 1854. Burns was to pay $50
per year for the first three years, and $40
and the owner allowed the poet
e300 toward the erection. of the cottage and
I find the present owner to
De one DR.. j. NJ. Taylor, of Spittlefeld,
Dunkeld. The steading has been reduced
rom 40 acres to 100 acres, and it is now