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248 the town, and on the high road to the "Land of Burns." On the west side of the road, and about two miles from Ayr. stands the cottage in which the poet was born; it is now used as an ale-house or inn. This cottage was no doubt the fancied scene of that splendid poem, "The Cottar's Saturday Night." A little further on, and we were near the old kirk, in the yard of which is the grave of Burns' father, marked by a plain tombstone, on which is engraved the following epitaph, from the pen of the poet:

"O ye whose cheek the tear of pity stains,

Draw near with pious reverence and attend;

Here lie the loving husband's dear remains,

The tender father, and the generous friend.

The pitying heart that felt for human woe,

The dauntless heart that feared no human pride,

The friend of man—to vice alone a foe;

'For e'en his failings leant to Virtue's side.'"

A short distance beyond the church, we caught a sight of the "Auld Brig" crossing the Doon's classic stream, along which Tam O'Shanter was pursued by the witches, his "Gray Mare Meg" losing her tail in the struggle on the keystone. On the banks of the Doon stands the beautiful monument, surrounded by a little plat of ground very tastefully laid out. The edifice is of the composite order, blending the finest models of Grecian and Roman architecture. It is about sixty feet high; on the ground floor there is a circular room lighted by a cupola of stained glass, in the centre of which stands a