DEATH OF A NIECE OF THE POET BURNS.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1585, 15 April 1887, Page 3

DEATH OF A NIECE OF THE POET BURNS.

On 27th December last there died, at her residence, Bridgehouse Cottage, near the Eacecourse, Ayr, Isabella Burns Begg, last near relative of the poet Robert Burns. She died on her Blst birthday. Deceased was a daughter of Burns's youngest sister, and has for many years been an object of much interest to the numerous summer visitors to the locality hallowed by memories of the poet. Americans especially took a great interest in her, and she has numbered among her host of visitors from the United States many of the most eminent men in art, literature, and science, who invariably went away much impressed with her strong common-sense and intelligence, and her undoubted ability as a conversationalist. Her sister died some years ago, aud Miss has uerer been in the same health since. She had lived in Bright'aouse Cottage for 40 years, and, t'aanks to the efforts of some interested people in Ayr, sufficient funds were, about 20 years Bgo, contributed in India, America, and this country, which placed her and her sister in comparatively easy circumstances, and she has lived comfortably ever since, spending most of ber time in the reception of visitors, to whom she was very affable and communicative. She has left a number of Burna relics, including two autograph letters.

A bishop, reproving his delinquent page, said, " Wretched boy ! who is it that sees and hears all we do, and before whom even I am but a crushed worm ?" The boy replied, " The missus, my lord." His lordship Hid (hut ww npt the right answer.