Page:Life of Robert Burns.pdf/6

 6 without an assisting confidant. I possessed a curi- osity, zeal, and intrepid dexterity, that recom- mended me as a proper second on these occasions, and I dare say I felt as much pleasure in being in the secret of half the loves in the parish of Tar- bolton, as ever did statesman in knowing the in- trigues of half the courts of Europe." While thus occupied, a number of his pieces were composed, chiefly those which relate to love, a passion of which Burns was extremely susceptible. A part of his nineteenth year was spent at Kirkoswald, whither he had gone to learn mensuration, geome- try, &c. Kirkoswald, which lies on the sea coast, was at that time a great resort of smugglers, and Burns did not escape some contamination from the society he met with there. His brother Gilbert says, he observed from that period a change in his habits. “ About this time," says Gilbert, he and I had for some years taken land of our father, for the pur- pose of raising flax on our own account; and in the course of selling it Robert began to think of turn- ing flax-dresser, both as being suitable to his grand view of settling in life, and as subservient to the flax-dressing." Burns, accordingly, in pursuance of this resolution, went to a relation of his mo- ther's, a flax dresser in Irvine, with the view of learning this trade, and for a time applied himself with great diligence. But on a new year's morn- ing the shop caught fire, and was totally consu- med, and lie was left, in his own words, like a true poet, not worth a sixpence." Three days before this unfortunate fire took place, he address- ed a letter to his father, which contained much good sense and pious reflection. Among other things, he says, I am more pleased with the