swered the rather embarrassing question with,
"Let us consult the barometer."

[Illustration: {THE BOYS CONSULT THE BAROMETER.}]

The barometer, too, wore a cloudy face, and frowned at them, as though
it meant never to predict fine weather again.

But, after waiting awhile at the station, there were signs of lifting
clouds and clearing skies. A weather-wise old Scotchman promised the
party a fair day, and bid them "God speed" for the home of "Robbie
Burns." Presently, the sun began to shoot his lances through the mist,
and the tourists set out for their first walk, which was to be a
two-mile one, to Burns's cottage.

[Illustration: BIRTHPLACE OF ROBERT BURNS.]

The cottage was indeed an humble one. It was built by the father of
Burns, with his own hands, before his marriage, and originally
contained two rooms.

In the interior of the kitchen, a Scotchwoman showed to the party a
recess where

"The bard peasant first drew breath."

The simplicity of the place and its ennobling associations seemed to
touch all except Tommy, who remarked to Frank Gray,--

"I was born in a better room than that myself."

"But I fear you never will be called to sing the songs of a nation."

"I fear I never shall," said Tommy, meekly.

From the cottage, the party went to the Burns monument.

From the base of its columns, the beauties of Scottish scenery began
to appear.

"It is the way in which one ends life that honors the place of one's
birth," said Frank to Tommy.

"So I see," said Tommy, as the sun came out and covered the beautiful
monument, and illuminated the record of the poet's fame.

The tourists, under the direction of a Scottish farmer, whose
acquaintance Master Lewis had made, next proceeded to an eminence
commanding a view of the mansion house of Coilsfield, the
romance-haunting Castle of Montgomery.

"There," said the Scotchman, "lived Burns's first sweetheart."

"Highland Mary?" asked several voices.

"Yes."

"They were separated by death," said Master Lewis. "Can you tell us
the story?"

"As Mary was expecting soon to be wedded to Burns, she went to visit
her kin in Argyleshire. She met Burns for the last time on a Sunday in
May. It was a lovely day, and standing one on the one side and one on
the other of a small brook, and holding a Bible between them, they
promised to be true to each other for ever.

"On the journey, Mary fell sick and died. You have read Burns's lines
'To Mary in Heaven'?"