Home of Burns. 251 



ing-place of the ploughman without dropping a tear 

 upon the grave ; for of all men he it was who nestled 

 closest to the bosom of humanity. It is true that of all 

 the children of men Burns is the best beloved. Carlyle 

 knew him well, for he said Burns was the ^olian harp 

 of nature against which the rude winds of adversity blew, 

 only to be transmitted in their passage into heavenly 

 music. 



I think these are the two finest things that have 

 been said about our idol, or about any idol, and I be- 

 lieve them to be deserved. So did Carlyle and Greeley, 

 for they were not flatterers. Of what other human 

 being could these two things be truly said ? I know of 

 none. 



Our friends, Mr. and Mrs. N., are the fortunate 

 owners of Friars Carse estate. They called upon us Sun- 

 day noon, and invited us to dine with them that evening. 

 A delegation from the party accepted, and were much 

 pleased with their visit. Friars Carse is a lovely spot. 

 The winding Nith is seen at its best from the lawn. 

 As we drove past, on Monday we stopped and enjoyed 

 a morning visit to our friends, who were exceedingly 

 kind. Mr. N. has earned the grateful remembrance 

 of every true lover of Burns by restoring the heritage 

 and guarding with jealous care every vestige of one of 

 the half dozen geniuses which the world will reverence 

 more and more as the years roll by. He has wisely taken 

 out the window upon the panes of which Burns wrote 



