LINK WITH BURNS

Evening Star, Issue 20586, 11 September 1930, Page 3

LINK WITH BURNS

GRAVES IN A GLOUCESTERSHIRE VILLAGE Not long ago 1 was staying, with some friends in a pretty little Gloucestershire village not a hundred miles from Cheltenham (writes Priscilla E. Moulder in the ‘ Weekly Scotsman ')■ One morning while waiting to go into the town to do some shopping. 1 took up a volume of Robert Burns’s poem? which happened to he on the table, and idly turned over the leaves. My triend coming into the room, noticed the book “Are you fond of Robert Burns’s poetry?” “ Yes, 1 have read it off and on ever since I was a girl in my ’teens.” “ Did you know that one of his granddaughters and his great-grand-daughter were buried in our village churchyard ?” “ Indeed, 1 did not. Surely, you are not joking?” “ No. They lived in Cheltenham for many years, and having a iancy for this village, they chose to be bunod here rather than in the town cemetery. Before you go 1 shall take you through tho churchyard, and you will see the tombstone for yourself.” However, the day before 1 left my friend developed a bad cold, and so 1 went alone to the churchyard after being given very minute instructions as to where I should find the tombstone. It was a very picturesque country churchyard, nestling under the shadow of the Cotswold Hills. Most of tho graves were adorned -with natural flowers, the birds were singing gaily, the bleating of lambs could bo heard from the meadows adjoining, and tho whole scene spoke of peace. I followed the winding paths north, south, cast, and west, but could not find the grave 1 was seeking. A young man came round one ol the turnings, and 1 addressed him. “WHO WAS ROBERT BURNS?” “ Can you tell mo, please, where to find tho grave of Robert Burns’s granddaughters?” The young man lifted his cap and gave me a puzzled stare. “ Robert Burns’s granddaughters,” ho repeated. “ Who was Robert Burns ? ’ ’ “ Can’t you remember? Robert Burns was the national poet of Scotland, and his granddaughter and her daughter are buried here.” Tho young man shook his h’6ad. “ Never hoard of the gentleman before, so I’m afraid 1 can’t help you in tho matter,” and ho went on his way, the puzzled look still on his face. I tried another path, and this time was successful in my quest. Hero was the grey granite tombstone, and it was with deep interest that I read tho inscription : Sacred to the memory of Sarah Burns Hutchinson, widow of Berkley Hutchinson, M.D., and daughter of Lieutenant-colonel James Gleneairii Burns. Died 32th July 1909, aged 87 years. Also of Margaret Constance Burns Hutchinson, Her Daughter. Died Bth December, 1917, aged 57 years. This was followed by a quotation from one of Burns’s poems:— When soon or Into they reach the coast, O’er life's rough ocean driven, May they rejoice, no wanderer lost, A family in heaven.—Burns. Sarah, of course, was tho favourite | granddaughter of ,Jeau Armour, and is a bonny child, shown in the wellknown picture with the wile of Robert Burns. It is lather a curious fact that mother and daughter did nob wish to sleep their last sleep among their own kith and kin in far-away Scotland, but instead they chose the quiet little Gloucestershire village churchyard in which to “ rest from their labours.”