Talks about authors and their work . ^friends, because he was so jolly, and could makesuck fine verses. When he was going out into theworld to try his fortune he wrote a poem aboutit, which, he says, described his feelings at thetime. My father was a farmer, Upon the Carrick border, And cheerfully he bred me In decency and order. He bade me act a manly part. Though I had neer a farthing, For without an honest, manly heart. No man was worth regarding. Then out into the world,My course I did determine;Though to be rich was not my wish,Yet to be great was charming;My talents they were not the wor
Talks about authors and their work . ^friends, because he was so jolly, and could makesuck fine verses. When he was going out into theworld to try his fortune he wrote a poem aboutit, which, he says, described his feelings at thetime. My father was a farmer, Upon the Carrick border, And cheerfully he bred me In decency and order. He bade me act a manly part. Though I had neer a farthing, For without an honest, manly heart. No man was worth regarding. Then out into the world,My course I did determine;Though to be rich was not my wish,Yet to be great was charming;My talents they were not the worst,Nor yet my education,Resolvd, was I, at least, to mend my situation. TALKS ABOUT AUTHORS. 21 Then he tells of his misfortunes which hap-pened, as he saj^s, by Mischance, mistake, or by neglect,Or my good natured folly;But come what will, Ive sworn it still,Ill neer be BURNS BIRTHPLACE. At this time, Burns had all the eagerness of aboy for travel and adventure, although he hadreached manhood. He started off to Edinburghwith enough poems to make a book. The bool<:was published in Edinburgh and brought him 22 TALKS ABOUT AUTHORS. many friends, and from its sale he received quitea large sum of money. His family felt proudof him when he returned home and told themof his fine reception in the great city, but hewas ready to share all his money with the folksat home. He finally settled down on a farm, atEllisland, with wife and children, and was madeexcise man of the district. His duties were tocollect the revenue taxes, and as he rode on horse-back among the hills and vales, his mind wasmore often on poetry and the beauty of nature,than on the taxes. But with all his rich genius and good pros-pects for a happy life there were many in thosedays who called him Poor Bobby Burns, andmany do it yet. Yes, with all his wealth of mind,he was poor in will-power
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