The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-01

me IN his el%ph from another poet.
which Is equag applicable TO himself:
For even hifaiiinss leaned to Virtues
lie was md FOR his retentive mem
ory. lie 81 that he knew an old wo-
man. who epided In his family. remarka-
lie for he ignorance. credulity and super
! %s,ition. htshe had the largest collection
IN the ountry of tales and songs. con-
ccrnlng Evils. ghosts. fairies, brownies
kclpice nd other trumpery, and this cuI-
| tivate,1e latent seeds OF poetry In him.
lie sates that "his social disposition
was rhout bounds or limits" Love and
poetN carly marked him for their own.
! lie was stirred with ambition. hut tho
! paas OF knowledge were denied him. and
hi efforts TO gain that knowledge he
phctically compared with the Blind
20 ing of Uomer's cyclops round the
OILS Of his cave" But struggling and
4rsistent reading Mt odd times and
rnder all circumstances. he gathered
fround him the memories and traditions
fof his country. til they became a mantle
and q crown and burning with n love
and patriotic devotion for his country
and "A noble ambition that was ever pres
cnt with him, he cries out in the prayer:
That I FOR poor old Scotiand's sake
So'ne useful plan or book could make.
or sing a sang. at least"
This prayer was fully answered.:
The Cotters' Saturday Night" has
embalned her history in the glow
ing lights of an honest and God-fearing
people, whose simple faith and sterling
virtues ave radiated from her humble
hearthstones carrying the lessons Of pu-
vtfNs hnnnr A,1 ..w,.t 49, -.- -
tioa. into the stately halls Of the great.
70 the humble frcside of the poor and
io"Iy, to the log cabin Of the emigrant
ia the wilderness. and distilis it's sweet
essences through all the world. And still
n every peaceful Christian home the
patriarch, with gray temples. wearing
thin and bare, gathers his household to-
gethe". And still with Solemn air let
us worship God, he says and with
voices H. unison and hearts full OF rever-
euce, they ,ing the Holy Lays to their
great Creators praise" His heartfelt rem
dering OF n good weeks close In a God
fearing home. sincerely devoat. yet by
It's humorous touches devoid Of sermoniz-
ing. "Will smell sweet. like the actions
OF the lust for all generations"
In harmony with this is ''fhe Epistle
10 a Young Friend
A firm faith ir a supreme being was
ever present with him. This he always
insisted upon IN his serious religious
verses, though he scouts at cant.
THE great Creator Ia revere,
Must sure become the creature.
But still the preaching cant forbear.
and even the rigid feature.
Yet nt'er with wits profane to range,
Re complaisance extended.
The atheist laughs q poor exchange
For Deity offended
His worldly wisdom. OF which he had
a great store. is put in the most kindly
manner:
ven try the world fu' soon, my lad,
And. Andrew. dear. believe mo,
YouH find mankind an unco squad.
And muckle they may grieve ye."
"But och! mankind are unco weak,
And little TO be trusted:
u self the wavering balance shake,
It's rarely right adjusted"
His native judgment and good sense
are hardly anywhere better Illustrated
than in the following advice to his young
friend:
AYE. free AFT han you story tell.
When wi "a bosom croney:
But stil keep something to yoursel,
Sc scarcely tell to ony.'
Old Poionius has hardly said it better
to Laertes:
give thy thoughts no tongue.
Nor any unproportioned thought his act.
re thou familiar. but by no means vul-
gar" .
. O
Give every man Thy ear, but few thy
voice.
Take each mans censure. but reserve thy
Judgment
OF Halloween" easy, vigorous full OF
innocent rolicking life. and blended truth
and fancy. We can only give a snort
glance. But the Keynote Of this exquisite
"-Uauowoen." which Burns describes. ana
of many Of his other productions IS WHAT
the spirit of poetry said to him when she
appeared before him:
O when the deep green manted earth'
Warm cherished cv'ry nowerets birth
And 10y and music pouring forth in every
I saw thee eye the sen'rai mirth.
with bOundless love-
And re above most eyed the gen'rai
mirth with b%oundiess love-
"The lassies' feat. and cleanly neat
.
Hearts zeal, aud warn, and kin
And:
"The lads sac trig. We vooer-babs,
Wen knotted on their garten.'
And young Jean looking for her fate;
lean slips in twa vi tentie ee.
VIVA twas she VAGINA tell;
But mi is Jack. and this is me,
She saws into heTsel."
Ia Halloween the rollicking fun is fast
and furious. full Of tricks ana WICKED
~salIies. but nothing vicious.
ole hated all v;ickedness that hinderd
loving
II were q task far beyond the limits or
this paper to go deeply into all the won
dorfully apt and beautiful things mat
combine 10 make him so sought after. ana
go generally read. The answering emo
ttons Of our hearts are touched in every
line.
lie indeed was an
"Aeolian harp. strung 10 every wind Oh
Heaven
We must not pass over however, ""
O'Shanter.' uor,a,v tho
-uhiuatlon of the terrible and the ludi-
crors. the revels in the Ola Church'
which ne say,
.When. glimInering thronsh me sroani"e
vtrk-Auoway seem'd in a bleeze.
Tnough ilka bore the beams were giahe-
ing" .
And:
"As Tammie glowered, amazed ana GU
riOus. H.