." j - "ivj. '.'.':-.:.'".' "..::v7'.(rTJ;:"'
.3
' WE GO WHEAE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLE POINT THE WAY WHEN 1HEY CEASE TO LEAI), WE 6AE TJ FOLLOW."
VOLUME IX.
THBHSDjy, Mill 17, 1853.
mm 2i.
T I? It M S.
The "MOUNTAIN SEXTIXEI." is publish
d every Thursday morning, at One Dollar and
fitV Cent P?r annum, if paid in advance or
within three months: nftcr three months Two
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-v brrirtlon will be taken for a Bhorter
period than sit mouths; and no paper will be
continued until all arrearage are pain.
failure to notify a discontiuuanc at the cxpira-
r- . t . . bTn A.Vi..-;Vvn4 will rnn!jK
u" ,
1 r m n rifv rfirrji trr.YT.cTlT- -
. ADVERTISEMENTS will be inserted
tie first insertion ; 75 cents for two insertions ;
$1 for three insertions ; and 25 cents per square
. .tiViyanntiht inBitrtiAll A lil.rl-!ll feilm-
Son made to those who advertise by the year, j
All advertisements handed in must hve the '
proper number of insertions marked thereon,
or they will be published until forbidden, and
charged in accordance with the above terms.
All letters and communications to iiu-ure
Mention must be post paid. A. J. R1IEV.
ONE OF THE GIEL3.
A yankee girl, who has been spending some
time out West, and getting tired, returned EaBt,
g'ma be St. Louis Republican her opinion of
bcr -visit in the following verses:
Juw, Father, Mother, Neil, Ma.ty, and all thc j
rent. I
ga iwn and listen while I tell you what I have !
learned 4ut West :
I iin Vsck in old Connecticut, the Wand of stea
dy ways." h
Asfi if 1 wasn't diffident, and did not hate self
praise, I wfU tell you what the people say about us
"'Vaukee f ir e,"
How ""smart" au'l "wideawake" we are to all
life's twibts and twirls.
But. never mind ! I want, you know, to see the
trld myself.
And in the corutr of my brain I kept n little
Vlielf,
To stow away the facts I gained and pull them
down at will ; ......
Aa-1 had & sharp lookout the while, this little
shelf to til.
Well, first I learned ere halfway there, to Call j
tur baggage "plunder.
In reckdh," too, instead of "guess," and 'toat"
. without & blunder ;
h'tver to full behind the time, but always be on
4&nd ; "" -Tor
Western folks are prompt, nor like for lazy
ones to stand ;
Aad Nothing here lies long at rest the word is,
"go ahead;"
People don't atop to talk a thing is done as
soon us said.
A famous place it is for cash, to make, to lose,
and lend it.
The 4l'n know how to fill a purse the ladies
-how to spend it.
there I learned I
j
I wciffway up the country, aud
a ""heap ;"
ikey'have the "ague mighty strong.
and it
makes them "powerful weak ;"
TkefV corn is of the "tallest." kind," "bacon the
staff of life ;"
Corn bread and homminy "the go," and hoe
cakes worth a strife.
They will keep 3-0U as long as you will stay, and
make you welcome, too ;
forever count the cost ot board, as Eastern I paigns and splendid victories. An active survey- ue know, too. that he should thus sacrifice the
people do ; 1 or and the scholar of an ancient gymnasium, welfare of his country to that of Frauce. This
Cut find a place to 'stow you in, however thick t might well be expected to discover the same i bis Amer.cau feelings forbid, and rather choos
before, i trails of masculine firmness, moderation, an 1 iug to cousu.t the true interests of his country-
Afito if another chance present, could pack a 'judgment. The energetic habits of mind tic- J men than to gain their applaure, he maintained
doiuu more. ' quired while he breathed the mountain air and j a stca ly course, to t-ie ciose of his ad minis tra-
j braved the fatigues of the f--rest, appear in an ; ti-u, Vneu suosequently the iusu'ts of the
llere I was introduce to "gnats," and almost ' interesting point of view, in the influence on his mad dit eet iry of Fran-je tiecnn intolerable b
caught a flea.
rew closely intimate with ticks, who fondly
clung to me.
Or learned to climh a five rail fence, or trotting
horse could ride.
Cut got, as the old ladies 6ay, a "misery" in my
side.
At last, (and this I must confess, didn't exactly
take.)
So apt a learner I became, I caught the "Wes
tern shake ;"
f.ad after practicing a while, on every other day.
Concluded I had learned enougn, and so I came
away.
Gloiious New Hampshire.
At the election held in New Hampshire on
Tuesday last, the Democrats carried their nomi
,tee for Governor Noah Maktin by double
lt year's majority. They have also elected
U three of their candidates for Congress, defea
ting A.n ns Ti ck in the First District by a hand
oine majority. He was supported by the whigs
Free Soilers. There will be a largely in
creased Democratic majority in the Houe from
"18t year. The Council will be unanimously
"tmocratic, and probably ten of the twelve Sen
tnrsnre Democratic. Abolition is dead. Col.
Jous H. George, who sueceeds Gen. I'ierce in
the law business, is one of the representatives
chosen. - Kittrepob's (Democratic) majority in
'he First Congressional District will be from
1.000 to 1.500 over Ti ck. Morrison's maiori-
J will range from f.(0 to fi.OOO; last year it .
"&j,j.w. uiorious ew Hampshire.
North Branch Canal It is thought that
the North Rranch Canal will be finished and in
using order by the first of August next. Por
tions ef it. vii : between Pittston and Tunka
hatmock, and between Athens and Towanda, it
thought will be ready for use by the first day
f June next. , :
Tight Screwixr. Do you support Gen Tay-
No-" D" you support Gen. Cass V
' sir." What J d you support Van Bu
" No, sir -ee I support Betsy and the
cWdren, and it's mighty tight screwing to get
'ni?st that, with corn only twenty cents a
ihtl. . . . .
A despatch to the New-York" Herald says
v " It ig reported that after the Inaugural, Gen.
won thanked the , President for his remarks
Wtit Piat &d the tkrxaj.
Writtett fur the Sentinel.
CHARACTER OF WASHINGTON ITS INFLU
ENCE AND IMPORTANCE.
In reviewing the changes of empire, and re
fleeting on those viciss.tuies of uatioiial glory
and decline, which ever furnish themes of his
tor'c eloquence and poetic inspiration, no period
so strongly arrests the attention as that in which
: wtnen we are aO.e to attriouie u me energy oi
an individual cli.ir.ictv.-r, the origin of a coui.-
try s p utical existence
: J r
S'lch a period seem-
tnc ur',c
cic age ot tliat nation. ine ueveioi -
such ii character is viewed with emo
tions the moat flattering to human pride with
hopvs the most dear enlarged to philanthropy.
I'o behold the grand enginery ot military and
C'VI "b.v'P
hand, affords a pleas,
the mj.ulfit ot a sm
isitig conviction oi nit
enersrv ot intellect, when its powers are con
ceutrated on a single object and guided with un
wavering deci.sioii. Cut when to this energy is
added the charm of moral excellence, the as-
! cendency of individual influnnce is complete :
anu, as in ine iormer insiauce. nio omnia oi
men yielded to superior policy, so in the latter
their hearts are won by superior goodness, while
the cheerfulness of obedience, and the enthusi
asm of personal attachment afford fu'.l d-moti-Str.itiou
of the controlling power of character. l
History presents no personage, m whom this
happr coinhin-itioit of talents aud virtues arc so
ptrik na'.y illustrated as in the splendid charac-
ter of Washixgto.-
lle was formed to deserve
and gain an illustrious name, to support it in
the proudest elevation, by unremitted activity
and superior conduct, and to ru e4 by its power
ful in tgic. where discipl'.ne had scarcely found ft
place win re trovernment in its infancy i Was
compelled to resort to the assistance of iufltl-
enc
ml where all other influence was unavail- j
nig.
The circumstances which contributed to form
the character of Washington, (so far as its for
mation may be supposed to have reu!ted from
external caus-s, ) are clearly apparent and are
simple and natural. II id his education been
conducted with a sole view to the part he was
to act. a better method cuM not have been Cho
sen than the one that wa pursued.
The 8 acred regard to truth, which was per
cr-
his
haps the earliest principle inculcated on
mind, may be readi'.y followed to its admirable
ivsult in the sincerity of his political conduct,
so opposite to that Machavelian policy, whose
prevalence in the old world fixes a stigma on its
Courts and Totentates. His earlv course of
mathematical disc plind aud its practical appli
cation to the purposes of surveying, contribu
ting iu no small degree, to form some of his
m"it rumuraUe, nod decisive traits. To the
former we may refer his habits of careful and
persevering investigation, his caution in be'ief
ami his attention to svstem and arrangeiu't; whi'e
the latter produced far more important results, ,
-.... ? .1. . i ; . i . '
exercising ami maturing mai, piivsioai opr iu j ment ot our a .at s with ranee ; if any influ
action and patience of fatigue,,! nobly displayed Kuce could hae warped the integrity of so stem
in an early solitary embassy; in furnishing him ' a patriot, one would suppose, it were that of
with those practical elements of field discipline, J attachment to brothers in arms, and sharers in
as indispensable to the General as they are un- danger and triumph. The'uudue prevalence of
attainable to the mere theoretic' student : and. J such ie-.inirs would have been extolled heroic.
above all in ripening that consummate power of
judgment which guided the powers of his self- .
taught genius, tempered the ardor of his cour-
age, and displaying itseu on ninumeraine occa-
sions. through his whole life invaribly secured
the ready confidence, and co-operation of his
interior in command, and the final success of
his military and political enterprises; In its
practical character, his education was strikingly
analogous to that which fitted the renowned i
lonimaudcrs ot antiquity tor their severe cam-.
reading and writing composition
composition That he read j
English style no oue can :
the best authors of
'. doubt, who hys seen a single effusion of his.-
That he profited so well by his reading of any
I study of the ancient classics, is to he attributed
to the peculiar tone of an energetic, and pr.icti-
I cal mind. His style of writing is precisely 1
what we might expect from a character which tre oer the closing scenes of his life. The in
rather sought to develop itself by eloquent ac- j flueiice of Washington maybe regarded, as
tions. ami retained the other modes of expfes- ; thoroughly interwoven with littf political desti
sion. the marks of its strength, by preserving a : uies. As it was exerted in the early and elern
nervous Conciseness amidst the grandeur of sen- eutury history of our country and gave to other
tinient and elevati n of language produced by ; institutions their decisive tone and character, so
occasions no Icbs august, than that in which a in our latest epoch posterity will trilec its effects
warworn army is harangued by its veteran lea- : widely diffused as the spreading millions of our
j der, or a nation receives the paternal benediction
of its political founder. .
i 1 he character of Washington, thus admiro- -
bly formed in the s.diool of hardy action, was
successfully developed in the fieid of national .
enterprise ; called to command at an age when ;
the facul ies are fully matured, he engaged in a
most arduous course of military action, and by
his consummate address supplying his country's
deficiency of fore, he overcame every obsticle
to the vindication of her rights. The simple
reci'al of the events of the revolutionary war,
while it affords the fullest evidence, of his men
tal resources and transcendent moral excellence,
almost supersedes the. necessity of comment on
his absolute ami unremitted influence.
It is there that we behold Washington uis- ,
playing the able field disciplinaiian, ami the se-
verelv tried command, r. in the operations of the '
(Campaigns oi Ush; the enterprising warrior
and consummate general, in the battles of Tren
; ton, Princeton, and Monmouth, the officer of
true fortitude, conquering adversity itself in the
event of Brandy wine and Germantown ; the
magnanimous soldi r, moderate iu success as
at Vorktown : and throughout his whole career,
the inflexahle patriot, who disregarded the cor-
nipt artifices-of those he served, and, with an
I shaken trust in Heaven, and a single view to the
' glory of his country, rose superior to external !
. K .. .... mhiAD ryf Vl 11 111 .1 T '
vireuutaLaiicep, or t'l'iioiiijf wio,.! v.
cthn. It was Washinoton. whi prescribed to
Congress the only efficient mode of raising and
orgnizing un army. w"ho often kept the army j
united' by his soul pers nal influence, inspired t
its ardor amidst its most trying sufferings and
t discouraging prospects, who guided the discip- j
(lined and managed the lawless of his ill ip-
pointed forces, am', mediated between them atid
Tim veomaiirv Iron, u.lm tliov uvrf
ohiiged
to extort nrovifimn ! nr.. K wh i ,-almd the "
j tamulU of the people; too impatient for their
promised liberty and who when he had success
t uily terminated the noble conflict again display
ed tue n residtab.e influence of his char:u:ter, by
do.'teniug the indignation of his officers, exas
perated at the delay of Congress to relieve per
sonal. wants, and distrt.o-es incurred by their
patriotic 'inherence to the o inmon cause in
short we behold in him the guiding genius of
the Revolution, and feel that nobly as they ac
juittcd the. i. selves in subordinate - station,
yet it is no disparagement to the host of wor
thies who aide 1 him, to pronounce that none
would have displayed the a:ne consummate skiil
aud enterprise, so tempered with judgment and
so graced and diguided with all that elevates the
iiuiuau cuaracier, ami w.us irom an impartial
l'r -Verity the free tribute of admiration. Nor
j was his iuflueuc ein the formation of our admi-
raole institutions of government of less impor-
i ...... ii
Mi.s.K. .13 woe tt o1' en i ti a i . u iu pro- ( .I,,- nnallv that the dramas should copv nature
nouuee on the character of the old confedera- ; in our peculiar manners and sentime'nts and
turn, so uo one was so confi lent in declaring its borrow its dignity from the moral sublime of the
complete incompetency, not only for supporting Revolution. To'accomplish all this in a worthy
the national dignity, at Lome and abroad, but manner, it is hardly ueedful to observe that
even for the purposes of uuiou uud self preser- j mtn of genius must arise scarcely less tr:n-vat'oa-
"I scendent in energy of thought, than was VVash-
Ile had bitterly experienced the futility of the ington- in all that ex ilM the hero, an 1 all that
syst. in of State requisitions ; he well knew the ennobles the patriotic statesman It were injns
necessiiy 01 coufeir ng o i the general govern- tice to suppose that the influence of WasHISo-
ineiii amine ani u.roct powers, and he was
otreuuous in urging on the distinguished civil
ad.iir.- aud the leading men of the times the ne
cessity of forming a new constitution. lie pre
vai.ed. ills success iu these efforts though it
does not strike tha wondering multitude with
that impo-iiiig brilliancy, which is sprea 1 around
his mi.it iry chaioctir, has conferred on his
eouu.ry toe blessings of civil lileity, secured
by sound and energetic goverumeut, and his
enable J her to rise to the uroudest elevation, in
Sli that G .tnh.i.uted to render a nation truly re-
( spectauie una ptruiaiuniiy nappy Washington
waa next calh d to try the eovt rnment he had
proposed, fur the country he had saved : it was
here too that he was to bring his own firmness
o. principle and strength of mind to the seve
rest ir.a;. iu adjustiug the rviuaiuing difficul
ties wiiU Uritaitt, his preference of ultimate na
tional a ivautage to the gratification of present ;
r-t tumult and prejudice, exposed him to thc I
clamor of party deiuajfngucs, and even in some j
instances to the unjust suspicious of those who
had witnessed his magnanimity iu the most try
ing scenes of the Revolution. It was even sug
gested that he had yielded to foreign influence
iu this negotiation, but the suggestion arose
from a party of men, who were blind euough to
yield their unwarrantable assertions while they
refused to believe ii proposition, of all others
the least to be doubted, by an intelligent obser
ver of facts, that Washington, was on' every
principle of his soul, in every act of his life,
an American patriot. This truth was fully il
lustrated in the la-St great natiodal affair, which
o.cupied his thoughts and feelings, the manae-
.. . . . V ?
generosity by most of his contemporaries, and
a in .st p.ira-ned by posterity. Washington
wa fully aware of this, he heard the clamors
taised y this seady adherence to the prin ioles
which his jiidumeut approved. He was not ig
norant that by violating the neutrality of the
laws of good faith required America to observe
iu the contest between Frmoe and England, he
iiiigui purcuase me most etitliusiastic praise as
n gfcatl'ul and disinterested friend, a chivalrous
avenger ot the wrongs of his late ally. But
obeyed with alaci icty the call of his country,
.noe more to defend her rights. He was as usu
al equal to the occasion, and just to his elevated
cuar-itter. Iu his spir.ted determination to
meet the enemy at the very shores ; we behold
the o!d heroic hre of the Revolutionary patriot.
kindling for the last time and throwing it 1ns-
population, au l a n-ibly felt as the sun beams, or
the fcrtil.zing deus of Heaven. Such hopes
should not be regarded as chimerical, merely
because we speak the lauguage of another couu-
try. This by no means excludes the idea of an
original national spirit. We have manners, opin-
T 1 - - ft
ions iiiiu uoiions as peculiar ami idiomatic as
any other country. We have superstitions and
traditions of our own, if these are necessary ;
and thanks to Washington and his illustrious
associates, we have had our heroic age, whose
: spirit, is by no means extinct, whose events and 't
characters possess a most powerful hold on the
prepossessions and associations of the people,
and present a rich and almost unbroken field of
I literary enterprise.
Is it esteemed an advan
tage to h ive the great national hero known onlV
by darit traditions, that bis virtues may berepre- i
seuted as god. Ike, and bis actions related with
tlie iu irvelous eiuoellishmeuts of poetical fancy?
It is surely a much greater advantage to have
j one whom faithfu; history places far above such
redoubled champions, whose actions shine with
. one bright splendor wheu delineated with the
j strictest truth. It is true that the tspunish, the
most truly national of all literature, has its ori
i giu in a remote aud uncertain age, and that the
! Cid is to be regarded more as a poetical, than
' a historical character. But it should not be for-
gotten that the most truly national portion, of
tllA P 1 1 fr 1 1 f . T -1 1 1 1 1 t ttia flli.inmu in .r 1. w.U
mv-uiawns m nmui
fhakspeare has represented their heroic and
glorious age, take its rise in a period of consid-
erable advancement in letters, and relates to
well known characters and events. The favor
ite era of unr history is by no means too recent .
to furnish dignified subjects for the various de
depnrtiuents of literature. , Our materials are
abundant, but almost untouched. That s little
has hitherto been effected, we are to, attrihute.
that the brightest talents of our countrv instead
of being - combined with profound ' erudition,
have beeti too early -directed to political, profes
sional, or commercial pursuits, that our writers
from this cause, half educated and neither ex
elusive scholars or authors, have idly dreamed
of intellectual excellence without industry, have
neglected nature and truth to imitate the man
nerism in poetry, and mysticism in prose, which
are the very symptoms of declining literature
in England an 1 above all have deplorably neg
lected subjects of national interest. We hnve
hail abundance of empty declamations on these
subjects'; but this hati given" tis no honorable
advancement. It is required that true noefrv
should find A corporeal habitation among the
traditions, and recollections of the people; that
history should choose as its favorite theme, the
forming period of our national existence," the
i actions of our early patriots ; that eloquence
j should persuade by their illustrious example
i ... r. .... . ... r
ton's character were confined to a single coun
try or period; we could point odt its effects on
distant nations and remote events. We could
follow Lafayette, and his brave compeers, re
turning to the Old World, with the remem
brance of his generous virtues, and declaring
how he had asserted and preserved the sacred
liberties of his country. " We might r-'m irk the
influence of this example in raising the tremen
dous storm of Revolution, where there was no
Washington t guide it. and where its effects
were as terrible and desolating as the more im
mediate result of his actions h id been g'orious
and happy. But we should still n5sTgn too nar
row limits to oar subject. To follow the exten
sive and operative influence of Washington's
character, were we write the history of every
grand effort for freedom which the world has
witnessed 6ince America was liberated.
J. J. W.
Ashland, February 15, 1853.
A VISIT TO THE BIRTH-PLAGE OF BURNS.
' BT CRACK GREEN WtfbD.
Dene M : I left lielfast on the evening of
the 23d of September, with my friends, Mr. and
Miss N L. for a short tour in Scotland. We
lauded at Androssan, a port of no particular
note, and from thence took the railway to Ayr.
Thro last la a fine, flourishing town,- bat aside
from the "ra brigs," containing no objects of
peculiar iuterest as associated with Rums.
lleie we took a droskey, and drove over to the
old parish of Alloway. I cannot tell you how
sadly 1 missed you from my side; iffy dear
M , when approaching with the true spirit
of a pilgrim, the birth-place of that noble poet
of Love and Nature, whose sweetest Songs I had
learned from your lips, almost with my cradle-
h vnins
As i gazed around on the scenes once.
dear and fi miliar t bis eyes, my heart, if not
all a-glow with its earliest piftftie enthusiasm,
acknowledged a deep sympathy for, and did hon
or to him who. while his soul was lilted into the
divine air of poesy, withdrew not his heart from
his fellows who shared humbly in their humble
fortunes, ami felt intensely their simple joys
aud bitter sorrows who. with all his faults was
holiest and manly; with alt his wants and pover
ty, proud and free, and nobly independent
who, amid all his follies and errors, acknowl
edged God and reverenced purity.
The cottage in which liurns was born, and
which his father built, was originally what is here
called a "clay bigging." conSiStiug oiilyoftwo
su'iall apartments on the ground floor a kitch
en and sitting room. The kitchen ha it recess
for a bed. and here the poet first opened his be
wildered baby eyes on a m st unjenial world.
This room, it is supposed, Vas the scene of "The
Cott- r's Saturday NighL" I was somewhat dis
appointed to find this cottage btanding on the
road, and that it had been built on to, aud white
washed out of all character and veuerablent ss.
It is now occupied as au ale-house, which be
seemeth it little as the scenes ot the beautiful
religious poem above named. A few rods from
the doof stands the" ."auld haunted kiik," thro'
onfe of Whose windows luckless Tam O'Shanter
took his daring observation of Did Nick and the
witches, as they appeared when enjoying
themselves." This Is it picturesque, fu tiess
faftless edifice, in a good state of preservation.
In the pleasant old church yard rests the father
of the poet, beneath the tombstone erected and
inscribed by one whose days slpu d have been
"long in the land" according to the promise, for
Burns truly honored his father and hia mother.
From the kirk we went to the monummt.
which stands on the 6ummitof the eastern bank
of the Doon. aud near to the "auld brig, on the
"key-stone" of whi;h poor Tam O'Shanter was
delivered from his weird pursuers, and his gray
mare "Meggie" met with a loss irreparible.
This monument, of which the prints give you a
very good idea, is of graceful proportions and a
graceful style of architecture. The grounds a
bout it, though small iu extent, are admirably
kept, shaded with fine shrubbery, and made
more beautiful by hosts or rare and loveiy now
ers. There seemed to me something peculiarly
and touchingly- fitting in thus surrounding an
' edifice, sacred t the genius of Burns, with the
leafy haunts of the birds beloved, iu whose songs
alone would his tuneful memory live, .and with
the sweetness and brightness of. flowers, fmni
whose glowing hearts he would have drawn deep
meanings of love and pure breathings of passion,
or on whose frail, fragrant leaves he would have
read holy Sabbath truths, - lexsoi.s of modesty
aud meekness, and teachings of the wondrous
wisdom of Him who planted the daisy on the
lonely hill side, and the P0"1 ia a weary world
the one to delight the eyes, the otherto charm
and cheer the souls, of his creatures. . .
Within the monumeut, we -saw .that most
touching relic of Burns, the Bib'e which hegavi
to "Highland Mary at their solemn betrothal
It is in two volumes. On the fly leaf of tin
first, in the handwriting of the poet, is the texl
And ye shall not swear by my name falsely
1 am the Lord." , In the second. "Tlwrt hba
not forswear thyself, but ahalt perform nto th
Lord thine oaths." In both volumes is the nam
if Burns, with his Mason's mark, and in one i.-
j a lock of Mary's owo beautiful golden hair u
soft, glos-iy cuil, which in that last tender part
ing may have been smoothed down by the car
es-ing hand, may hi.ve waved in the breath, or
j laiu against the breast of the poet-lover.
The view from the summit of the monument
is exceedingly beautiful aud interesting, embra
cing, as it does, many of thi scenes of thc life
and song of Burns. The scenery of air is not
graild, surely; not etrikingly picturesque; but
this vieW is totely, qtiiet and pleacant, beyond
description truly, a untiling landscape. Per
haps something was owing to the rich sunshine
and soft air of the day, and more to the won
drous charm of association ; but I never remem
ber to hnve felt a more exquisite sense of beau
ty, a ielight more deep and delicious, though
s aadowed with sad and regretful memories, than
while sitting or strolling on the lovely batiks of
the Doon. half cheatif ! by excited fancy with
the hope that I might see the rustic poet lean
ing ovi-r the pietut-esqde "auld br'.g." following
with his great, dark, dreamy eyes, the windings
of the stream below, or, with glowing face up
raised, revelling in the clear deep blue, and fair
floating clouds above : or, perchance, walking
slowly on the shore, coming down fr ra the plea
suit "Braes o'B illochmyle," raus'.ng, with fold
e 1 arms and drooping bead, "on "the bontiie
lass" who had there unconsciously strayed
cross the path of poet, and chanced upon im
mortality. The Doou seemed to roll by with the
melo lious flow of his song now with the impet
uous sweep of passitfn : now with the fine spar
kle of pleasant wit; now, under the solemn shad
ows of sornw; uow out into the clear, sunlight
of exu't.int joy ; now with the Soft gurgle aud
silver trickling of love's light measured: now
with the low. deep murmur of devotion. As I
lingered there, countless snatches of the poet's
songs, and stanza after stanza of long forgotten
poems, sprang to my lips: rare thoughts, the
sweet, fresh flowers of his genius, seemed sud
denly to blossom out from ull the hidden nooks
and still shaded places of memory, and the fair
children cf his fancy, who had sung themselves
to sleep in my heart long ago, stirred, awoke,
and smiled into my fare again.
Happily for me, my companions fully under
stood and sympathized with my mood: so lit
tle was said, that touch might be felt. One
sung
Ye banks and braes o'bonnie D on!"
and whether it was that his voice, in its deep,
i patbetio tones, w peculiarly suited to the
' mournful words and air, or that the scene itself
mingled its melodious tkcmory with the s'.nging,
I know not; but never before had I been so af
fected by the song.
" On our way hack to Ayr, we called to see the
sisU-r fcid nieces of Burns Mrs. Beggs aud tier
daughter who we had been assured were most
kindly accessible to visitors. This visit was aU
together the most interesting and gratifying e
veut of the day. Mrs. Beggs lives in a simple
but charming little rose -embowered cottage
about a mile from her birth-place, where all who
seek her with respectful interest, receive a cour
teous and cordial welcome. Mis. Beggs is now
about eighty years of age, but looks scarcely
above sixty, and shows more than the remains
of remarkable beauty. Her smile could hardly
have been sweeter, or her eyes finer, at twenty.
Her sight, hearing, and memory, ttem uu m
paired: her manners are graceful, modest, and
lady-like, and tdie converses with rare intelli
gence and animation, speaking with a slight,
sweet Scottish accent. Her likeness to Nay
smith's portrait of her brother is very marked
her eyes are peculiarly like the idea we have
of his, both by pictures and description large,
dark, ludrous, aud changing. Those eyes
hone with new brightness as 1 told her of our
love for the memory of her beloved brother, our
sympathy in his sorrows and our honor for bis
free aiid fnahly Spirit" when 1 fold her that the
New World, as the Old. bowed to the mastery of
his genius, and were swayed to smiles or tears
by the wondrous witchery of his song. But
when I spoke my admiration of the monument,
and said, "what a joy it would have been to him.
could he have foreseen such noble recognitions
of ' is greatness!" she smiled mournfully, and
shook her head, saying. "Ah. madam, iu his
proudest moments, my poor brother never dream
ed of such a thine;" then ad led that hisdeath
chamber was darkened, ami hia death agony
. deepened by want and care, and torturing fears
for the dear ones he was to leave. I was re
minded by her words of the expression of an
: old Scotch dame, in our country, on hearine of
'the completion of this mouumcnt: "Puir Rob !
! he asked for bread, aud now they gie him a
i t"tae."
I Mrs. Beggs says that Kaysmith's portrait of
her brother is the best, but that no picture could
j have done full justice to the kindling and vary
' ing expression of his face. In her daughters.
who are pleasant and interesting women, you
can trace a strong family resemblance to the po
et. The three sons of Burns are yet living
two in the army, and one has a situation under
Government at Dumfries. All three are widow
ers. When I saw her. Mrs. Bgzs was expec
ting daily the two youngest, the soldiers, who
as often as possible visit Ajt. and cherish as
tenderly, as proudly, the memory of the'rfatlifr.
It whs with deep emotion that I parted ft"n
this gentle and large-hearted woman, in' whose
kindred and likeness to the glorious peasant I
almost felt that I had seen kim. heard his voice
with all it searching sweetness, and had my j
soul Bounded by the deep divinings of his eyes.
I It seems, indeed, a blessed thimr. t tat after the
j sorrow which darkened hei youth, the beholding
j the pride of her house sink into the grave in
his prime, broken-hearted by the neglect of
friends, the contempt and cruelty of foes, b
care and poverty, and bitterest of all. by a wei
ry weight of self reproach that she has lived
to see his children happy and prosperous hit
birth-place and his grave counted among the
world's pilgrim shrines 1 be herself iKmored
and beloved for his 8 ike. and to sun her chilled
ge iu the noontide of his glory. Xational Era
T3.m WASHINGTON.
Gen. fierce 2nd tils Views Afjointmsnts. '
From a gentleman who accompanied Gen
ierce from Bi'timore to Wash ington. the edito
f t!i Journal of Commerce learns thot Mrs
ierce will remain at Baltimore tiU aftir th
' :c:teuient id" the Inauguration Miall have pa"
: way. ' General Pierce srated in conversation
. i ith this gentleman, that the only place wher
ie felt truly happy, was in the quiet enjoyment
f the home circle ; that the wisest thine he
ver did. wnS to resign his sent In the Caits-1
States Senate, und retire to private life ; that
he looked forward to hi presidential term na a
period of toil and difficulty, but. he added,
emphatically, if a man who has Attained to that
office, cannot free himself from cliques find act
independently, our Constitution is valueless."
Reference having been made to one of his , nep
relatives who might be expected to have a good
office, he replied, "My is a, thriving frm-r,
iu comfortable circumstances j I shall uot inter
fere with his happincs by offtringhim an cCice,
and believe he is too wise to ask for one."' ,'
A Washington Despatch to tho New York
Courier, eays : -
The present arrangement of the Cabinet is
considered only temporary. Cwl. Benton remon
strates against Marcy aud Cushing. The fal
lowing nominations will probab'y be made :
Hon: Mi. Buell, Michigan. Minister tl Berlin ;
R. K. Meade. Yirgihis; Minister Hi "Peru ; Bu
ihauan, Minister to Loudon . Nicholson, Teen..
Minister to Spuiu : Bcdinger, Va., Minister to
Central America ; D. K. Cartter. Commissioner
of Land Office. A large proportion of the office
seekers are the officers in tie Mex"cr.n war.
Thirteen officers of one regiment have waited on
Pr.s'd nt Pierce in a body, and linifieJ their
expectation of reward. It is understood that
the President is partial to this class of appli
cants. Senator Dixon, of Kentucky, is very ill.
and bis recovery is considered doubtful, t'ril
tendon will probably be his successor. There
are six vacancies in the Sei a'e.
AffcT having received a host cf jpcop'e at
the White House, General Pierce retired, and
the floors closed. Ex-President Fillmore took
up his quarters at three o'clock in the rocms nt
Willard's, vacated by his successor two hours
previously. A few "friends dined with Geutral
Pierce at tho White House, but. Mr. Fillmore,
consulting the General's repose, declined.- 1LJ
will dine together perhaps to-morrow.
rfsylegtSL tUii. '
MOW IT 11 VOVi ST SOU. .
The other evening we were at A party of a
friend of ours, and amongst the lot was a gy
young Misf, who had just returned from boara
icg school, where, after many solicitations iui
apologies she seated herself at the piano, rocked
to the right, then to the left, leaned fur ward,
then backward, and then t-egnn. She placed
her right hand about midway the keys, and Lor
left about two ctaes below them. She now
puts oft the right to a brisk canter upon the tre
ble notes nml her left after it. The left thra
led the wiit back, and right pursued it In like
manner. The right turn d and repeated Its
movement, but the left outrun it this time, hop
ped over it and flung it eutirely off the track.
It caftie in again, however, behind the left, on
its return, and passed it iu the same style. They
now became highly incensed tit each other, ami
met furiously ou the middle ground. Here
most awful lonflict (UMitdfor a short spa
wheu the right whipped off all of a sudden, as
we thought fairly tauquished ; trtit we were in
erroi in what Jack Randolph cautions us it had
only "fallen back to a stronger position." If
had mounted up two back keys, and commenced
the note of A rattlesnake. This bad a wonder
ful c fleet upon the lelt, and placed the doctrine
of snake charming beyond dispute. The left
rushed toward it repeatedly, but seemed invari
atdy panic Struck When ft came within six keys
of i, and as invariably retired with a trt mendi ue
roar down the bass keys ; continued its assults,
sometimes by a zigzag movement, but all its at
tempts to dislodge the right from its strong hold
proved ineffectual, it tame close up to its adver
sary and expired.
Anyone.- tx rather no one, can imagine what
kind of noises the piano made during the cot;1
flict; Certain it is that no one can describe thera
and therefore we sha!l not attempt it. The bat
t'c ended. Miss Jane moved as though she would
have risen, but his was protested agaiiist by a
number of voices at once. "One eoug my dear
Jane." "you must s'.ng that sweet little French
air you used to fing, an i which Madame Pig
gis jueaki is so fond of." Miss Jaue looked piti
fil! at h r mamma, and her mamma looked 'sing
it Miss Jane ;" accordingly she squared her.elf
for a 6ong. She brought her hands into a caput
th:s time in fine style, and they see ued to be per
fectly reconciled to each other, theu commenced
a kind of colloquy ; the right whispering treble
very sadly, aud left responding bass vory loud
ly. The conference had been kept up tini!. wa be
gan to desire a change upon the subject, whea
our cars caught, indistinctly, some very curious
sounds, which n-,pei rtd to loct i d fr ru tl.e lips
of M'ss Jane : tliey seemed to be a compound of
a dry cough, a grunt, a hiccough it appeared to
us, ns interpreters bi twen the right and left.
Things had progressed in this way frr about 15
seconds, when we happened to dir ct mr utttn
ttoft to Mr. R. His eyes were closed, bis head
swung gracefully from side to side, n beam of
heavenly complacency r s ed on his countenance,
and his wholeman gave irresistible deraonstrati'i:
that Miss Jane's music hail made him feel good
aU over. We resolved, fira this contemplation
of Mr. R's transport, to see Letlicr we could
extnet from the performance anything intelli-
gi-tble. when Miss Jane made a fly cutching
grab at hnlf-adozen keys in a row, and the same
instant ehe fetched a long dung hill cock crow,
at the conclusion of which the grappled at as
many keys with tho. left.. This came over R.
like a warm bath, and over us like a rack cf
h-imboo briars.
Our nerves were not recovered nnt'.ll Miss Jar
repeated the movement, accompanying it with
the squeal of a pinched cat. This threw us into
in ngue fit. but from reprct to the performer,
we maintained our tiOditir n. fhe now made a
third grap with hef ribt. Mid t the snuie tia.o
raised, oue of the most unearthly howls tht ever
sMMiel from the throat of unr ln man being..
This seemed tb signal for universal uproar and
b-strurtioN. he now threw away all reserve,
nd ehraed thepianno with her whole ft.te.
he boxed it, she clawed it. she s raped it.
ler neek veins dwelled, her chin flew tip. her
-op flushed, hfr eyes glared, her bosom heaved
he wrenmed, he howled, she yelled, she cck--I.
and wn in the act f dwelling upon the not
f a screech owl, when we took the St. Vititx'a
1'iiif anil rushed out cf the room, 'Good
e.-s!" said a bystander, 'if tliis to ber soic""
what must be fcer cry in 5 T"