Page:Life of Robert Burns.pdf/5

 5 master, Mr Mardoch, having established himself in the town of Ayr, Robert for some time attend- ed him there, and learned a little of English gram: mar, Latin, and French. In the meantime, he read with great avidity every book chance threw in his way. The removal of the family to Loch- lea took place when Burns was in his sixteenth year; a little before which period, according to his own account, he first committed the sin of rhyme." " In one of his epistles he says :- "I mind it weel, in early date, do When I was beardless, young, and blate--

F'er then a wish, I'mind its power, A wish that to my latest hours to com Shall strongly heave my breast: That I, for poor auld Scotland's sake, Some useful plan or book could make Or sing a sang, at least; The rough, bur-thistle spreading wide Amang the bearded bear, I turned the weeder-clips aside, And spared the symbol dear." While at Lochlea, Robert and his brother were employed by their father as regular labourers, and received £7 each a-year. Robert was remarkable for his personal strength, and worked very hard at all the tasks of the farm. "In my seventeenth year," he says, “ to give my manners a brush, I went to a country dancing-school;" and after- wards, At the plough, scythe, or reap-book, I feared no competitor, and thus I set absolute want at defiance; and as I never cared farther for my labour than while I was in actual exercise, I spent my evenings in the way after my own heart A country lad seldom carries on a love adventure