en they were unable to attend
school he taught them himself, notwithstanding his exhausting labors on
the farm. The family as a whole were fond of reading. Among their
books the poet mentions certain plays of Shakespeare, Pope's
works,--including his translation of Homer,--the _Spectator_, Allan
Ramsay's writings, and several volumes on religious and philosophical
subjects. Probably in this list the Bible should stand first. He
himself studied the art of verse-making in a collection of songs. He
says: "I pored over them, driving my cart or walking to labor, song by
song, carefully noting the true tender or sublime from affectation or
fustian. I am convinced that I owe to this practice much of my
critic-craft, such as it is!" His first song, composed when he was
fifteen, was inspired by a young girl who worked at his side in the
harvest field.

Robert and his brother Gilbert had taken a farm at Mossgiel, not far
away, while their father was still living, and after his death they
removed there, taking with them the rest of the family. Unfortunately
the farm did not prosper. On reaching the age of twenty-seven the poet
determined to go to Jamaica where he had been promised a position as
overseer of an estate. In order to raise money to pay his passage he
published a volume of poems. The returns were small, but the fame of
the writer spread so rapidly that he was persuaded to remain in his own
country and publish a second edition of his poems in Edinburgh.

The two winters which he spent in the Scotch capital at this time form
an interesting episode in his life. He was the lion of the day in
literary circles. Many persons who met him have told how he impressed
them; but the most interesting account is that of Walter Scott, then a
youth of sixteen. He says of Burns: "His person was strong and robust;
his manner rustic, not clownish; a sort of dignified plainness and
simplicity. His countenance was more massive than it looks in any of
the portraits. . . There was a strong expression of sense and
shrewdness in all his lineaments; the eye alone, I think, indicated the
poetical character and temperament. It was large, and of a dark cast,
which glowed (I say literally glowed), when he spoke, with feeling or
interest. I never saw such another eye in a human head, though I have
seen the most distinguished men of my time."

In 1788 the poet married Jane Armour, and the following year settled
with her on a farm a