: His father, the Rev. James Laurie, was minister of Kirkmichael; his grandfather, the Rev. John Laurie, had been minister of Auchinleck; his great-grandfather, of NewtonStewart, in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright and his great-great-grandfather, so it is said, was one of the ministers who went to Ireland and was present at the founding of the Presbyterian Church there. The Rev. George Laurie was, therefore, the fifth minister in direct descent; nor did the line end there, for his son succeeded him in Loudoun, and his grandson became minister of the parish of Monkton. Mary Campbell, whom young George Laurie married, was a daughter of Dr Archibald Campbell, Professor of Church History in the New College of St. Andrews. In those days Newmilns was a weaving village, and the weavers worked in their own houses. From morning till night the clickclack of the shuttle might be heard, and both men and women wrought at the loom. The low cottages of the weavers, with their thatched roofs, straggled along the sides of the river, the church spire and the old tower being the only outstanding features of the place. From the Manse windows the village could be seen to the east, while to the south there were gently swelling hills in the near distance, with the river, glancing in the sun, lying between. In those days salmon were caught in the Irvine, and the haughty weavers turned up their noses when the royal fish appeared too often on their tables. The house already described is still the parish manse, although considerably modified from what it was when built almost a century and a half ago. Wings have been added with spacious rooms; the ceilings of two flats have been heightened and the attics have disappeared; new stairs have been built, windows have been enlarged, and one of the rooms has been utilised as an entrance hall. Still it is the old Manse, with Dr Laurie's initials above the door, the Manse where he lived and worked, sorrowed and joyed, the restingplace of many a wayfarer on the highway of life, to one of whom-footsore at the very threshold of life's journey -it seemed a perfect haven of peace and joy. The Manse of Loudoun, called St. Margaret's Hill in Dr Laurie's day, extended its hospitality to some of the best literary society of the times. Dr Laurie himself was no mean scholar. He was well read, an eloquent preacher, had a fine sense of humour, was a racy conversationalist, had great power of discriminating character, and his word had considerable influence in the Church Courts. Apart from the work for his pulpit ministrations, his special study was the early poetry and music of the Celts in Ireland and Scotland, and for true poetry of every kind he had the the most keen appreciation. Among his friends he numbered Principal Robertson, Dr James MacKnight, Dr Blacklock, Dr Hugh Blair, and many others eminent in the world of letters of the day. His wife was a woman of education and of culture. The Manse of Loudoun, therefore, must have formed a little centre of refinement for the whole parish. Newmilns and Darvel were both weaving villages, and the weavers took a keen interest in all political questions. The farmers were absorbed in their own concerns and cared for but little else. Many of them were descendants of Covenanters, and their religious convictions were of a cast-iron kind, rigid and unbending. Of books they knew but little, and their aspirations, as a rule, did not rise above the society of the like-minded whom they met at fairs and markets. Still, in every community there are a few who burst such bonds asunder; and St. Margaret's Hill, with its occupants of kind heart and large understanding, must have been a breathing-place of wider atmosphere for all aspiring souls in the neighbourhood. One young farmer knew well its hospitality, and the glimpses of more refined life he saw there made a great impression on him. He was a man, like Saul, head and shoulders above his fellows in mental stature. was Robert Burns. His name Dr Laurie had read his poems, pub lished in Kilmarnock, and had recognised his genius. invited the Poet to his home again and again. He Burns went, and was delighted with the occupants of the Loudoun Manse. The following well-known lines are from the pen of Gilbert Burns : "The first time Robert heard the spinet played upon was while on a visit at the house of Dr Laurie, then Minister of the Parish of Loudoun, a few miles from Mossgiel, and with whom he was on terms of intimacy. Dr Laurie had several daughters; one of them played, the father and mother led down the dance, the rest of the sisters, the brother, the poet, and the other guests mixed in it. It was a delightful family scene for our Poet, then lately introduced to the world. His mind was roused to poetic enthusiasm, and the stanzas were left in the room where he slept." The stanzas which Gilbert Burns referred to were as follows: The : O Thou dread Power, who reign'st above, I know Thou wilt me hear; When for this scene of peace and love The hoary Sire--the mortal stroke, To bless his little filial flock, And shew what good men are. She, who her lovely Offspring eyes Their hope, their stay, their darling youth, In manhood's dawning blush, Bless him, Thou God of love and truth, Up to a Parent's wish! The beauteous, seraph Sister-band, With earnest tears I pray, Thou knowest the snares on every hand, When soon or late they reach that coast, O'er life's rough ocean driven, May they rejoice, no wanderer lost, darling youth mentioned in the verses was Dr Laurie's son Archibald, who afterwards succeeded his father. The "hoary sire was Dr Laurie himself, who had reached the ripe age of fifty-seven! On the morning after the pleasant evening depicted by Gilbert Burns, Dr Laurie and his family waited in vain for Burns's appearance at the breakfast table. Weary of waiting, Archibald was sent by his father to knock at Burns's door and ask what detained him. The boy went bounding up the stair, but met Burns coming down. "Good morning, Mr Burns," he said, "I hope you slept well last night." "Sleep, my young friend, I scarcely slept at all-I have been praying all night. If you go to my room you will find my prayers upon the table." Young Mr Laurie went to the room and found the verses already quoted. The M.S. is pre served with pride and pleasure in the family of Dr Laurie's descendants until this day. The following letter to Archibald Laurie shews his intimate footing with the poet : 66 -! Dear Sir, I have, along with this, sent the two volumes of Ossian with the remaining volume of the Songs. Ossian I am not in such a hurry about, but I wish the songs, with the volume of the Scotch Poets, returned as soon as they can conveniently be despatched. If they are left at Mr Wilson, the bookseller's shop, Kilmarnock, they will easily reach me. My most respectful compliments to Mr and Mrs Laurie, and a poet's warmest wishes for their happiness to the young ladies, particularly the fair musician, whom I think much better qualified than ever David was, or could be, to charm an evil spirit out of a Saul. Indeed, it needs not the feelings of a poet to be interested in the welfare of one of the sweetest scenes of domestic peace and kindred love that ever I saw, as I think the peaceful unity of St. Margaret's Hill can only be excelled by the harmonious concord of the Apocalyptic Zion.—I am, Dear Sir, Yours sincerely, ROBERT BURNS. Mossgiel, 13th November, 1786." He had At that time Burns was only twenty-seven years of age, and open to impressions of every kind. lived much for such a young man, and the pity is that such a friendship as that of Dr Laurie had not dawned upon him ten years sooner. The whole current of his life might have been changed by such a glimpse of better things, but even as it was, the friendship of Burns with Dr Laurie was the means of altering the Poet's career. The story is almost too well known for repetition, but for the sake of connection we may glance at it here. Dr Laurie, in his admiration for the work of the young Poet, sent a copy of his poems to his friend Dr Blacklock, and warmly commended Burns to his favour. Weeks passed, and no reply came to his letter. Burns's affairs had reached their acutest stage, and he resolved to set sail for the West Indies, hoping there to redeem his fortune and reputation. Every preparation was made. His trunk was packed and on its way to Greenock, and Burns had even poured out his soul in a farewell song, when a letter came from Dr Blacklock full of encouragement and good cheer, and the poetic temperament which had breathed a farewell but a few days before to friends and |