sant evenings than at all the houses of fashionable people in this country put together; and to their kindness and hospitality I am indebted for many of the happiest hours of my life. The day returns, my bosom burns, Ne'er summer sun was half sae sweet. Than kingly robes, than crowns and globes, greatly shocked to find this little spot, that ought to have been held sacred, almost gone to decay. The pane of glass on which the Poet had written his well-known" Lines" was removed; the floor was covered with straw; the door thrown open; and the trees that had been planted at the entrance to this interesting place, were broken down and destroyed by cattle. Such was the late proprietor, Capt. Smith's neglect of a spot on the window of which ROBERT BURNS had traced, with his own hand (which still remains), this tender tribute to the memory of a departed Friend. "To Riddell, much lamented man! This ivied cot was dear; Wanderer, dost value matchless worth? How While day and night can bring delight, Comes in between to make us part, How different the reverence of a poor old woman cottager, living in a wretched hut, in the immediate neighbourhood of Ellisland. On being asked if she kenn'd Burns? "Kend him! Aye did I! He was a graat man for pomms, and makin o' beuks, an' the like o' that; but he's deed now, puir man!” THE GABERLUNZIE-MAN.* THE Gaberlunzie-Man is supposed to commemorate an intrigue of James the Vth. Mr. Callander of Craig forth, published some years ago, an edition of Christ's Kirk on the Green, and the GaberlunzieMan, with notes critical and historical. James the Vth is said to have been fond of Gosford, in Aberlady Parish, and that it was suspected by his cotemporaries, that in his frequent excursions to that part of the country he had other purposes in view besides golfing and archery. Three favourite ladies, Sandilands, Weir, and Oliphant; (one of them resided at Gosford, and the others in the neighbourhood,) were occasionally visited by their royal and gallant admirer, which gave rise to the following satirical advice to his Majesty, from Sir David Lindsay, of the Mount, Lord Lyon.† Sow not your seed on Sandylands, Spend not your strength in Weir, For spoiling o' your gear. * A wallet-man or tinker, who appears to have been formerly a jack-of-all-trades. ↑ Sir David was Lion King-at-Arms, under James V. The pawky auld carle came o'er the lee, My daughter's shoulders he 'gan to clap, O wow! quo' he, were I as free, And O! quo' he, ann ye were as black As e'er the crown of my dady's hat, "Tis I wad lay thee by my back, And awa' wi' me thou shou'd gang. And O! quo' she, ann I were as white, As e'er the snaw lay on the dike, I'd clead me braw, and lady like, And awa' with thee I'd gang. Between the twa was made a plot; And fast to the bent are they gane. She gaed to the bed where the beggar lay, For some of our gear will be gane. Since nathing's awa', as we can learn, And bid her come quickly ben. The servant gade where the daughter lay, The sheets was cauld, she was away, And fast to her goodwife gan say, She's aff with the Gaberlunzie-man. |