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1759. His father was a poor farmer and Robert was brought up on the farm, gaining most of his education between his hours of work. The Bible and a few collections of poems were the books he read. His beautiful poem, The Cottar's Saturday Night, is a picture of his simple home in those early days. When he was 15 years old, he wrote his first poem, led to it by his love for a little girl who worked with him in the hayfield. Through all his life Burns had a great love for women, and many of his most beautiful pieces are love-poems. At 18 he went to school for a short time, and at this period wrote several short poems. A few years later, he and his brother took a farm, in order to support their parents, but he still kept writing bits of poetry, which were far more successful than his farming. Finding that he was not succeeding on the farm, he decided to go to Jamaica, and published a volume of poems to pay his way. This volume at once made him famous, and instead of setting out to Jamaica, he went to Edinburgh, where he remained a year and made many valuable acquaintances. He rented a farm, and was soon after given a small government office, with a salary of $350. Unfortunately, he was of intemperate habits, and had to give up his farm. He, however, kept on writing, but his love of drink and the disappointment of his hopes of success injured his health, and he died in his thirty-seventh year, in 1796. His poems are the most musical in the language. His humor is great; and many of his poems are very simple and touching, while others sparkle with life and wit. He is a poet of nature, and few have approached him in simple, clear and yet touching descriptions of nature's scenes, objects and life. In 1813 a monument was erected to his memory at the town of Dumfries, and his birthday is still celebrated among Scotchmen. More people visit Ayr than Stratford.

Burn'side, Ambrose Everett, an American general, born at Liberty, Ind., in 1824. He graduated at West Point in 1847. At the outbreak of the Civil War he held the position of treasurer of the Illinois Central Railroad. In 1861 he was appointed colonel of the First Regiment of Rhode Island volunteers, and commanded a brigade at the battle of Bull Run. After taking part in various engagements, he succeeded General McClellan as commander of the Army of the Potomac.

General Lee took possession of the heights of Fredericksburg, and in a vain attempt to drive him from his position Burnside was defeated with great loss. His resignation of the command was accepted, and he was given the generalship of the department of the Ohio. He drove the Confederates out of East Tennessee, for which he received the thanks of Congress. He was later besieged in Knoxville, until the siege was raised by the approach of Sherman with a part of Grant's army. He was then transferred to the Army of the Potomac, and took part in its closing campaigns. He resigned in 1865, and the next year was chosen governor of Rhode Island, and re-elected in the two following years. He was elected United States senator from Rhode Island in 1875 and again in 1880. He died at Bristol, R. I., September 13, 1881.

Image: GENERAL BURNSIDE

Burr, Aaron, third vice-president of the United States, was born at Newark. N. J., in 1756. He graduated at Princeton College, and entered the army, where he won distinction and attracted the favorable notice of Washington. Soon after, however, for some unknown reason he incurred Washington's dislike. After the Revolutionary War, he practiced law at Albany, and married the widow of a British officer. He was appointed attorney-general of New York, and in 1791 was returned to the United States senate. In 1800 he was elected vice-president of the United States by the Democratic party. Four years later he was the Federalist candidate for governor of New York; but many of the leading men of the party refused to support him, and he was defeated. This led to his duel with Alexander Hamilton, in which Hamilton was killed. Burr was tried for murder, and, though acquitted, never regained his place in popular opinion. The next year Burr set out on a journey to the southwest. He was suspected of plotting to found a new empire out of Mexico and a part of the present southern states, and was arrested and tried at Richmond, Va., but was acquitted. He went to Europe in the following year, but returned in 1812, and began again the practice of law in New York. He died neglected in 1836, his only child, Theodosia, having been lost at sea. His success was largely due to his attractive and polished manners.

Image: AARON BURR