Page:Life of Robert Burns, the Ayrshire Bard.pdf/9

Rh Burns, Robert and Gilbert, who had for sometime foreseen the storm that was thickening round their father's dwelling, came to the resolution of taking the farm of Mossgiel, in the neighbouring parish of Mauchline, with the view of providing the family with a shelter. It was stocked with their joint property and savings, but notwithstanding all their exertions, they could make litt out of it. It was during their residence at Mossgiel, which continued four years, that Burns composed some of his most celebrated pieces. Among these were, The Holy Tuilzie, or Twa Herds; Holy Willie's Prayer; the Epistle to Davie; Death and Doctor Hornbook; the verses to the Mouse and Mountain Daisy; the Cottar's Saturday Night, &c.

Perceiving that the farm at Mossgiel would at best furnish no more than the bare means of subsistence to so large a family, he came to the resolution of trying his fortune in the West Indies; and, through the influence of a friend in Irvine, procured a situation as assistant overseer on a plantation in Jamaica. To defray his outfit, and other expenses, he was advised to publish his poems. An edition was accordingly printed at Kilmarnock, of 600 copies, and the poet, after paying all expenses, cleared about £20. He had taken farewell of his friends, and was about to