Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-05-03

the stranger 10 q strange land" But tn-
stead Of this, pastor and people disap-
peared no quickly that the bewildered
stranger scarce knew which way 20 turn,
for every soul had left the place and no
hand had been offered in greeting, no
voice had spoken = welcoming word |;
and vending our lonely way homewsrd,
an audible sigh escaped the lips for the
good old Methodist meetings at home,
where the stranger is never stranger,
and the sinner never too much Of SIN
ner to be gathered into the fold.
And now we resume our pilgrimage
once more towards the place where
''The simple Bari rough as the rustic plough,
I>earn'd his tuneful trade from every bough."
Arriving once more xt the cottage
door, it was opened by our inhospitsble
but loyal friend Of the day before. Not
recognizing the intruder ss the former
violator Of the Sabbath day, she warmly
greeted her visitor this time; but when
her two old withered hands were taken
in two strong ones, and voice said,
"Auntie, xm glad you would not let
me In yesterday" she somewhat recoiled
from the touch OF such sinful hands (;
but hers were nevertheless more closely
held and the explanation OF our unholy
conduct made her dear old heart forgive
the repentant sinner.
"Auntie dear, I like you better for not
letting me 10 yesterday, though Il has
cost me pretty penny and ciused me to
lose nv train to Edinboro'-but 1t Il
worth more than that TO find an honest,
devoted soul, who will scOrn TO take
money on the s .bbsth, or to do anything
for gain. The last foreign country |
visited WAS France, where they have no
sabbath, but dancing and theatre going
and wicked psstimes occupy your sacred
Sabbath day" She could scarcely be-
lieve that in country separated from
her by but narrow strip Of sea, there
could be such "fsilin's"-but came
back to the present by asking, "Aye,
lsssie, how cam ye ter be sic a fsutor
[trausgressor]. diuna ken how We sac
lesl [,ruel wad be sac tapetless" heed
lessl. But the explanation Of the late
arrival on Saturday night and the short
time to stay, seemed to satisfy her.
"But had known how sacredly the
Sabbath was still kept In Scotland. |
should have managed the arrival for
some other day. And now, Auntie, will
you forgive me:'
AYE, leeze me I am proud Of thee
I do forgive ye, but We msun askit that
o. the guide Lord himsel' and nae o
sinfu' me-"
That l have done already, Auntie
dear, and now will you 20 out with me-
and show me where ganged our Robert
Of the Plowr'
"Its just theer, over the les-rig, las
sie," pointing through the window.
Not many poems were written here,
for At the age Of Is Roberts father r.
moved to larger farm at Lochles. but
here at the age Of IL love and poetry BE-
gan with him, and he wrote his ars'
poem, 20 once Loved Bonnie Lass +"
This was written of his companion in
the harvest field, young girl year
younger thsn himself, Nelly Kirkpatrick.
daughter Of the blacksmith, who sang
sweetly and was altogether "bewitch-
Ing creature"
II WAS here and at this time that thr
hard labor, poor living, unproductive-
ness OF the soil, loss Of cattle and 9th
misfortunes caused his father to get Int
pecunlsry difficulties, and the thrratenin.
letters Of the factor or landlord, used &
set the depressed family all 10 tears. Th'
sorrow Of this period formed the chi''
cause OF the poets subsequent mel.r-
choly and IN health. In the tale 81
''The Twa Dogs" the character OF IT,
fxctor. the gentry and the cotter, Is rir'
ly drawn. the latter described thusly:
"Ye msist wad think. wre touch snscr.
An they maun stArve o. caould and hunger.
But how it comes. never kend yet.
They're malstly wonderful contented.
An buir,ily chiels. an clever hiszies,
Arr bred In sic n way rs this H."
With dear auld Auntie's hand clasped
tightly, We wandered up and down the
Doom, over the same soil whereon Rob
ert's plow-hsre and bis mdse gained IT,
spirxtion from
The chanting liunct and the mellow thrush
Halling the setting sun. sweet In the green thorn
bush
The soaring lark. the perchins rcd breast shrii.
Or deep.toned plovers. grey. Wild whissing Ger
the hill."
He once wrote to his friend, Mrs. Du0-
iop: ~ never hear the loud, solit-r,
whistle OF the curlew In summer noon.
or the wild cadence OF a troop OF gr-y
plovsr Ia an sutumnsl morning, ~ithou'
feeling sn elevation OF soul like the en-
thusissm OF devotion or poetry. Ar
we piece Of machinery, which like the
.Eoli.n harp, passive, takes the impres-
sion OF the passing incident?' Surely
here was man who walked and talked
With angels, though his angels were tn"
birds of the sir. the flowers of the field.
a 49, IT,, a hA u.ll ll.u
Before r--entering the house, Aunti"
WAS told that one OF the commissions of
her visitor WAS to bring TO friend tn
America a Scotch thistle. This pleased
rhe old lady, and she knew just where I"
find one, "but aye" she saws, "ye'll n
find blume at this time o. year-but
there's plenty o. gOwans gllntin. up NJ
We. Maybe your 10 wad like ane o. these
IA ~eel." The g0wan IL the daisy, tn
hardy little flower that grows low on tn
ground and blossoms nearly all the year
the last 70 succumb to the SHOWS OF
winter, and the first TO welcome the sun
shine OF spring.
Inside the house once more the visitor
was shown what few relics OF Burns Re-
main, the most important being the rude
cradle, sfill kept IN the room where b.
was born, q corner of the auld kitchen
and IL can truly be said that the hand
thst rocked that cradle rocked the world,
for the genius Of Shakespd are has never
rocked mems hearts, AS have the simple
homely ballads Of this lowly poet.
"Gie me spark o. Natures 1re,
That's a the learning desire;
Then tho drudge thro' dub an mire
A. plough or cart.