it seems evident that it is himself that he has set a-travel-
ling and a-talking in the person of Mr Lindsay.
But of Burns' share in the dialogue the reader is the
best judge. Some may hold that he is too like Hugh
Miller himself, — too philosophic in idea, and too pure in
sentiment. In regard to this, we can only remind such,
that Burns' prose was not like his poetry, nor his ideal
like his actual life.
Unquestionably my husband had a very strong sympathy
with many points in the character of Burns. His thorough
integrity, — his noble independence, which disdained to
place his honest opinions at the mercy of any man or set
of men, — his refusal to barter his avowal of the worth and
dignity of man for the smiles and patronage of the great,
even after he had tasted the sweets of their society, which
is a very different matter from such avowal before that time,
if any one will fairly think of it, — all this, with the
acknowledged sovereignty of the greater genius, made an
irresistible bond of brotherhood between Miller and Burns.
But to the grosser traits of the poet's character my hus-
band's eyes were perfectly open ; and grieved indeed should
I be if it could for a moment be supposed that he lent the
weight of his own purer moral character to the failings, and
worse than failings, of the other. Over these he mourned,
he grieved, — I believe he would at any time have given the
life of his body for the life of his brother's soul. Above all
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