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CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
BOYHOOD-1759-1774
Genealogy-Parentage-Connection with Jacobitism
-Alloway-Influence of his Father-Murdoch's
School-Mount Oliphant-Love of Books-Early
Companions - Farm Drudgery - Solitude - The
Seeds of Poesy-Dalrymple-Ayr—"The First of
Human Joys"-"Handsome Nell"
PAGE
I
-
CHAPTER II
EARLY MANHOOD-1774-1780
Kirkoswald Study of Mankind - Taverns - Peggy
Thomson - Love and Trigonometry - Dancing
Schools Offends his Father Dissipation
Sociality Love Adventures Lack of Aim-
Stirrings of Ambition - Lochlea - Tarbolton
Bachelors' Club-Foppery-Disputes with the
Orthodox-Miscellaneous Reading-Early Poetry
19
CHAPTER III
IRVINE AND ITS RESULTS-1781-1783
Desire to Marry-Elison Begbie - Jilted - Irvine
Partnership Hypochondria Destruction of
Shop-Town Life-Richard Brown-A Fashion-
able Failing-Return to Lochlea-Death of his
Father-First Common-Place Book-The Poet
on Himself - Freemasonry-Elizabeth Paton-
Penitential and Defiant Verses-"The Cutty
Stool"-"The Poet's Welcome "- Influence of
Fergusson.
31
CHAPTER IV
MOSSGIEL--1783-1786
Failure as a Farmer-Consciousness of Genius-Poetic
Hopes-Mauchline Young Men-Poetic Satires
-Burns and the Kirk-His Religious Belief—
Jean Armour-Chambers-Stevenson Fictions-
The Unlucky" Paper "-The Kirk and Marriages
-Mutilation of the Paper-Rage and Despair of
Burns-Mary Campbell-A Bachelor's Certificate
- Emigration Resolves - In Hiding - Poetic
Publications-The Kilmarnock Volume-Charac-
teristics of his Verse
52
CHAPTER V
EDINBURGH AND SCOTTISH TOURS-1787-1788
Reluctance to Emigrate-Feelings of a Father-A
Secret Wretchedness-"The Gloomy Night"—
Death of Mary Campbell - Proposed Second
Edition of Poems-Sets out for Edinburgh-
Reception on the Way-Arrival-Impressions—
Patrons The Crochallan Club-"The Brothers
of the Mystic Tie "-Personal Influence-Sub-
scriptions for the New Volume-Arrangement
with Creech-Publication-Southern Tour-At
Mauchline-Tour in the West Highlands –
Northern Tour-Love Adventures-Mrs. Macle-
hose
93
CHAPTER VI
ELLISLAND-1788-1791
Future Plans-Ellisland taken-Promised Commission
as Exciseman-Shelters Jean Armour-Recognises
her as his Wife-His Reasons for this-Last
Appearance before the Kirk - session — Life at
Ellisland Friendship with Mrs. Dunlop –
Captain Riddell - Burns and Farming-Poetic
Aims-Johnson's Scots Musical Museum-As Lyrist
-His English Verse-"Tam o' Shanter," etc.—
Untoward Circumstances-Becomes Exciseman-
Farm a Failure-Poetic Studies-Prepares to
leave Ellisland-Farm Sales
133
CHAPTER VII
DUMFRIES-1792-1796
Burns and the Excise-Declines Offer of Captain Miller
-Drawbacks of Excise and of Dumfries Life-
b
Social Habits-Excise Gag-Political and Social
Views - Discontent - Postponement of Poetic
Aims-Thomson's Scottish Airs - Character of
Contributions to Thomson's Work-Poetry of his
Later Years-Causes of Indifferent Health
Convivial Habits Burns and Mrs. Riddell -
Dumfries Gossip-Last Illness-Death-Legacy . 161