Mr. Burns

“ Poor Burns! we shall hardly ever see his like again. He was, in truth, a sort of comet in literature, irregular in its motions, (p. 120) which did no good, proportioned to the blaze of light it displayed."
It seems that during this autumn there came a momentary blink in Burns's clouded sky, a blink which alas never brightened into full sunshine. He had been but a year in the Excise employment, when, through the renewed kindness of Mr. Graham of Fintray, there seemed a near prospect of his being promoted to a supervisorship, which would have given him an income of 200l. a year. ”

“ Mrs. Montgomery: Dear me. Mr. Burns seems to be making a speech. I fear I was mistaken.
The Duchess: It’s that foolish man Robertson. He was speaking ill of Mr. Gray’s Elegy. He was very provoking. Mr. Burns does quite right to defend it.
[Pg 51]
Burns’s voice (from the far room) : Sir, I now perceive a man may be an excellent judge of poetry by square and rule, and after all be a damned blockhead.
[The Reverend Mr. Robertson, a pedantic and acidulated clergyman, comes hurriedly through the door accompanied by his host, Professor Ferguson, followed by Burns.] ”

“ CCXXVII. TO MR. WILLIAM SMELLIE, PRINTER.
[When Burns sends his warmest wishes to Smellie, and prays that fortune may never place his subsistence at the mercy of a knave, or set his character on the judgment of a fool, he had his political enemies probably in his mind.]
Dumfries, 22d January, 1792.
I sit down, my dear Sir, to introduce a young lady to you, and a lady in the first ranks of fashion too. What a task! to you—who care no more for the herd of animals called young ladies, than you do for the herd of animals called young gentlemen. ”

“ Tried to look modest, I suppose,” laughed Chester, glowing with pride and pleasure.
“He was white all through the operation—he always is, with the strain. But he turned red all over when they cheered, and just said: 'Thank you, gentlemen.' It really was a wonderful thing, Mr. Chester, even in these days. Only one man has done it, a German, and he has done it only twice. Doctor Burns will be distinguished after this.”
“Good for him! No wonder he looks the way he does—as if he'd like to turn a few handsprings,” Chester reflected as he watched the nurse's trim figure walk away. ”

“ Farewell, farewell, Eliza dear,
The maid that I adore!
A boding voice is in mine ear,
We part to meet no more!
The latest throb that leaves my heart,
While death stands victor by,
That throb, Eliza, is thy part,
And thine that latest sigh!
XXV. THE SONS OF OLD KILLIE. Tune—“Shawnboy.”
[“This song, wrote by Mr. Burns, was sung by him in the Kilmarnock-Kilwinning Lodge, in 1786, and given by him to Mr. Parker, who was Master of the Lodge.” [218] These interesting words are on the original, in the poet’s handwriting, in the possession of Mr. Gabriel Neil, of Glasgow.] ”

“ Burns [253] sympathised with the matron, and quoted so much Scripture that she was fairly astonished. By and by she said to her husband, “Oh, Dauvit, how they have wranged that man; for I think he has mair o’ the Bible on his tongue than Mr. Inglis himsel’.” Mr. Inglis was the Anti-burgher minister. Burns enjoyed that compliment, and almost the first thing he communicated to his wife on her arrival was the lift he had got from old Nance.
Than “the glorious ploughman,” no one was kinder to such helpless creatures as were weak in mind, and who sauntered harmlessly about. ”

“ The first persons of a higher order who sought the acquaintanceship of Burns were Dugald Stewart and Mrs. Dunlop of Dunlop. The former of these two was the celebrated Scotch metaphysician, one of the chief ornaments of Edinburgh and its University at the close of last and the beginning of this century. He happened to be passing the summer at Catrine, on the Ayr, a few miles from Burns's farm, and having been made acquainted with the poet's works and character by Mr. Mackenzie, the surgeon of Mauchline, he invited the poet and the medical man to dine with him at Catrine. ”

“ CLIV. TO MR. WILLIAM BURNS.
[William Burns was the youngest brother of the poet: he was bred a sadler; went to Longtown, and finally to London, where he died early.]
Isle, March 25th, 1789.
I have stolen from my corn-sowing this minute to write a line to accompany your shirt and hat, for I can no more. Your sister Maria arrived yesternight, and begs to be remembered to you. Write me every opportunity, never mind postage. My head, too, is as addle as an egg, this morning, with dining abroad yesterday. I received yours by the mason. Forgive me this foolish-looking scrawl of an epistle. ”

“ How life and love are all a dream.
[As he is ending the song, three men come to the door. One is James Armour, Jean’s father, another a Factor, and with them is Holy Willie. The Factor goes to the counter and drinks.]
Armour: So you can sing in the midst of the desolation you’ve caused.
Burns: It was no happy song, Mr. Armour.
Armour: There’s a warrant coming down the road for you.
Burns: But I cannot pay, I told you. I’ll work for Jean, but you’ll not let me.
Armour: I will not. I want no creeping seducer for a son-in-law.
Burns: That’s—I’ll not say what it is, Mr. Armour. Ask Jean. ”

“ What is your price?”
“I have no price,” the great detective answered, simply.
“Then why did you not arrest me at once? Why this purposeless interview?”
“Because––” Blaine paused, and when he spoke again, a solemn hush, almost of pity, had crept into his tones. “You come of a fine old line, Mr. Rockamore, of a splendid race. Your grandfather, the aged Earl, is living only in the past, proud of the record of his forebears. Your father is a soldier and statesman, valuable to the nation; his younger brother, Cedric, has achieved deserved fame and glory in the Boer War. There remains only you. ”

“ You know that father was not the sort of man whose confidence could be forced even by those dearest to him. I had been so worried about him, though, that I had a nervous headache, and after you left, Ramon, I retired at once. An hour or two later, father had a visitor––that fact as you know, the coroner elicited from the servants, but it had, of course, no bearing on his death, since the caller was Mr. Rockamore. I heard his voice when I opened the door of my room, after ringing for my maid to get some lavender salts. I could not sleep, my headache grew worse ”

“ So say I—Come, curse me that east wind; and come, defy me the north! Would you have me in such circumstances copy you out a love-song?
I may perhaps see you on Saturday, but I will not be at the ball.—Why should I? “man delights not me, nor woman either!” Can you supply me with the song, “Let us all be unhappy together?”—do if you can, and oblige, le pauvre miserable
R. B.
[499]
CCCXXXV. TO MR. CLARKE, SCHOOLMASTER, FORFAR.
[Who will say, after reading the following distressing letter, lately come to light, that Burns did not die in great poverty.]
Dumfries, 26th June, 1796. ”

“ The lights in the interior of the car had not been turned on, nor the shades lowered, and after a few tentative remarks which were not encouraged, Doctor Alwyn turned to the window and watched the brightly lighted cross streets dart by with ever-increasing speed. Once he glanced back, and started, casting a perturbed glance at the immovable face of the detective, as he remarked:
“Mr. Blaine, are you aware that we are being followed?”
“Oh, yes. Give yourself no uneasiness on that score, Doctor. They are two of my machines, filled 241 with my men, and a Walton ambulance for Mr. Hamilton. ”

“ Winchester.
[ 231 ]
He called a boat's crew and lowered, taking his place in the bow with his rifle, while Long John sat at the tiller. He had got only a short distance from the ship when Captain Shorey ordered Gabriel after him.
"Killing that bear may be a bigger job than he thinks," he said. "Lower a boat, Mr. Gabriel, and lend a hand. It may be needed."
In a few minutes Gabriel was heading after the mate's boat. Neither boat hoisted sail. With four men at the sweeps, it was as much as the boats could do to gain on the brute. If the bear was not making fifteen miles an hour, I'm no judge. ”

“ Yours,
R. B.
CCCXXXIX. TO MR. JAMES ARMOUR, MASON, MAUCHLINE.
[The original letter is now in a safe sanctuary, the hands of the poet’s son, Major James Glencairn Burns.]
July 10th [1796.]
For Heaven’s sake, and as you value the we [l] fare of your daughter and my wife, do, my dearest Sir, write to Fife, to Mrs. Armour to come if possible. My wife thinks she can yet reckon upon a fortnight. The medical people order me, as I value my existence, to fly to sea-bathing and country-quarters, so it is ten thousand chances to one that I shall not be within a dozen miles of her when her hour comes. ”

“ I’m sorry to have found him out!’
“She burst out cryin’ again an’ ran back as her father called her from the porch. He was bringin’ out a pile of suit-cases and roll-ups, and pretty soon a taxicab drove up with a man inside. I couldn’t see his face––only his coat-sleeve. They got in an’ went off kitin’ an’ that’s every last thing I know. What d’you s’pose she meant about findin’ you out, Mr. Morrow?”
He turned away without reply, and went to his room, where he sat for long sunk in a stupor of misery. She had found out the truth, before he could tell her. ”

“ It is common knowledge that you have invariably refused to be guarded.”
“The years during which I have been constantly face to face with sudden death have made me disregard the possibility of it. But I shall not insist in your case, Mr. Hamilton, if you do not wish it; and allow me to tell you that I admire your spirit. However, I should like to have you leave town for a few days, if your clients can spare you.”
“Leave town? Run away?” Ramon started indignantly from his chair, but Blaine waved him back with a fatherly hand.
“Not at all. On a commission for me, in Miss Lawton’s interests. Mr. ”

“ So twa blind beggars, on a string, The faithfu' tyke will trust. But now Yerl Galloway's sceptre's broke, And Broughton's wi' the slain, And I my ancient craft may try, Sin' honesty is gane. 'Twas by the banks o' bonie Dee, Beside Kirkcudbright's towers, The Stewart and the Murray there, Did muster a' their powers. Then Murray on the auld grey yaud, Wi' winged spurs did ride, That auld grey yaud a' Nidsdale rade, He staw upon Nidside. And there had na been the Yerl himsel, O there had been nae play; But Garlies was to London gane, And sae the kye might stray. ”

“ The author's estimate of the moral character of Burns is temperate and discriminating; he sees and states his evil qualities, and beside these he places his good ones in their fulness, depth, and splendour. The exposition of the special features marking the genius of the poet is able and penetrating."
Of THE BALLADISTS, by John Geddie, the Birmingham Daily Gazette says:—
"As a popular sketch of an intensely popular theme, Mr. ”

“ Feal: a tributary of the Ayr, which flows through the grounds of Captain Montgomery.
228. A female form : an allusion to Mrs. Stewart, of Stair.
229. Learning, etc. : a tribute to Professor Dugald Stewart, of Catrine.
On July 8, 1891, a statue of Burns was unveiled at Ayr. On that occasion, an original poem, entitled The Auld Brig's Welcome, was recited by its author, Mr. Wallace Bruce. The following stanzas are taken from that poem :
The Auld Brig hails wi' hearty cheer, Uncover, lads, for Burns is here! The hard who links us all to fame, And blends his own with Scotia's name. ”

“ Scotchmen are ever ready to do honour to the memory of Burns, and enthusiastically celebrate his birthday every year.
Last year the Aberdeen Burns Club had a dinner at the Imperial Hotel, after which, one of the members, Sir William Cadenhead read some poems on Burns, purporting to have been composed for the occasion by Lord Tennyson, Mr. Gladstone, and Mr. ”

“ You are only an impulsive, credulous girl, and he is using you as a mere tool for his own ends. I cannot imagine how you happened to fall into his clutches.”
Anita faced him, straight and slim and tall, and her soft eyes seemed fairly to burn into his.
“I am not so credulous as you think, Mr. Mallowe. I never for a moment believed your assertion that my father died a pauper, and I took immediate steps to disprove it. Doctor Franklin was your tool, when he came to me with your message, but not I! And I shouldn’t advise you to try, at this late date, to ‘suppress’ Mr. Blaine. ”

“ Gay Pleasure ran riot as bumpers ran o'er: Bright Phoebus ne'er witness'd so joyous a core, And vow'd that to leave them he was quite forlorn, Till Cynthia hinted he'd see them next morn. Six bottles a-piece had well wore out the night, When gallant Sir Robert, to finish the fight, Turn'd o'er in one bumper a bottle of red, And swore 'twas the way that their ancestor did. Then worthy Glenriddel, so cautious and sage, No longer the warfare ungodly would wage; A high Ruling Elder to wallow in wine ”

“ With silent passengers the Imp threaded its way to the toy shop. In front of it Burns stopped the car. He got out and went in and came out, the big rocking-horse in the arms of the salesman who followed him.
He looked up at their faces. Bob's was one wide-eyed countenance of incredulous joy. The other's—if he had seen there satisfaction at having brought a man to terms he felt he should have despised her; but that was not what he saw.
There was, by planning carefully, just room to wedge the rocking-horse in at Mrs. Lessing's feet without encroaching on the steering-gear. ”