said he did not greatly admire the monument-but there was one thing that did greatly draw his attention-and that was, a well-beaten path, that led to the grave; and ended there! Trodden by the feet of countless pilgrims, to whom the West Kirk is nothing-and Greenock is nothing—only as they contain the dust of HIGHLAND MARY! How many hearts have echoed the thought If on this earth there is a spot To which my soul admiring turns, It is the Land of Robert Burns! And worship at her thousand shrines ! Three years after Mary's death, (on the very anniversary of her decease,) BURNS penned his immortal ode, “To Mary in Heaven." His wife, wondering that he did not come in for his evening meal, found him, where in the Autumn gloaming he had flung himself down in the stackyard, gazing at the evening star, entirely oblivious to everything around. He shortly after came in; and going straight to his desk, wrote down as if from memory, "To Mary in Heaven." On 14th November, 1792, from Dumfries, he writes to Mr. George Thomson, publisher, Edinburgh, as follows MY DEAR SIR,-I agree with you that the song Catherine Ogie is very poor stuff, altogether unworthy of so beautiful an air. I tried to amend it; but the awkward sound Ogie recurring so often in the rhyme spoils every attempt at introducing sentiment into the piece. The foregoing song (Highland Mary,) pleases myself; I think it is in my happiest manner; you will see at first glance that it suits the air. The subject of the song is one of the most interesting passages of my youthful days, and I own that I should be much flattered to see the verses set to an air which would ensure celebrity. Perhaps, after all, 'tis the still glowing prejudice of my heart that throws a borrowed lustre over the merits of the composition. Of other effusions of his Muse, relating to Mary Campbell, "My Highland Lassie, O," is avowed by BURNS to relate to her. It has some sweet lines, and breathes a fine spirit. It is less known, and less used, than it deserves to be. This song was evidently written in 1786. "Will ye go to the Indies, my Mary?" was also written at this time. The poem "Powers Celestial, whose Protection," was named by BURNS himself, "A Prayer for Mary." The beautiful song "Afton Water," Gilbert Burns (his brother, and to a large extent his confident,) tells us was composed by Burns on his long and dearly-loved HIGHLAND MARY that BURNS told him so! There is no possible reason for doubting Gilbert Burns's truth and reliability in the matter; and very little for supposing he might be mistaken. And though the song is attributed by most of BURNS's editors-following Dr. Currie, who probably had his information from the household at Dumfries-to a desire on BURNS's part to compliment Mrs. Stewart of Afton Lodge, until I get better proof, I choose to follow Gilbert Burns, that the Poet wrote it in honour of his long-loved and ever-remembered HIGHLAND MARY. I recall no other of BURNS's heroines on whom he lavished, not two, three, nor four-but SIX immortal poems: two of them the sublimest and tenderest love-pieces that ever were written ! One of the minor blessings of our own day is the art of Photography. None now so poor but they may carry with them a likeness of those they love. Vastly different was it a hundred years ago; and, as may be supposed, no likeness exists of HIGHLAND MARY. Sir Noel Paton's painting of "Highland Mary" is, I conclude, wholly a "fancy" portrait; as none of the connections of Mary Campbell know anything of any relative ever sitting" for it. 66 For years and years-ever from a boy-dreaming in the shade, or on some maple bank, or fishing in some nameless stream-I wondered "If ever I could write anything like BURNS?" or "What Highland Mary looked like?" and I am glad I can give something of an answer to the latter question. I have a photograph of Mary Anderson, Annie Campbell's eldest daughter, whom she named after her sister MARY, (Highland Mary,) and who was said by everybody to be "the perfect picture" of her celebrated namesake. But there was no photography in her youth; and she was perhaps forty-five when the picture was taken; and so I managed to further obtain a photograph of Margaret Robertson, her daughter, who was young--and in her turn a perfect image of her mother. And she, though one generation further away-being a grand-niece of HIGHLAND MARYpresents the best likeness the world has yet seen of Highland Mary; and all we shall ever have! And we are thankful for that much! I am proud and happy to have been able to do even this. Annie, Mary Campbell's only sister, married on 6th August, 1792, at Greenock, when she was 18, (Burns was then living in Dumfries,) Mr. James Anderson, a young stone-mason. He died at Renton, 23rd March, 1828, aged 62. His wife died 23rd January, 1824. Annie Campbell (Mrs. Anderson) had, like her mother, two daughters; and like her she named them "Mary " and " Annie.” On the point of the niece resembling the aunt, I present the testimony of all Annie Campbell's descendants. And I present the distinct testimony of Mr. Matthew Turnbull, of Rothesay, who married the younger of Annie Campbell's daughters. In answer to my question, "Did Mrs. Robertson (Mary Anderson) resemble Highland Mary?" his answer was, [I quote from his letter,] "She was said to be very like her, and was called after her." "Was Mrs. Turnbull [his own wife] like her aunt?" Mr. Turnbull very candidly answered, "It was said, No." Through The Andersons are a handsome race. We would all be pleased to think that MARY CAMPBELL, their relative, was a beautiful girl, with pale golden hair, and sparkling blue eyes -the personification of modest worth and womanly affection. And it is not all fancy to say so, and believe it. the dreamy melancholy of the face of her niece and namesake, Mary Anderson (Mrs. Robertson,)—who had domestic sorrows of her own, poor woman-we think we can discover a shadow of what MARY must have been; and in Margaret Robertson's picture we have doubtless a close presentation of the face of BURNS's heroine. A copy of this picture which I sent to the late Dr. Charles Rogers, was placed by him in the Kilmarnock Monument, among the other relics and mementos of BURNS. All through the family-connection runs the full rounded chin, with a slight dimple; long, rather than short-reminding one of the Empress Eugenie. A rather long straight nose; the classical rounded jaw; the peculiar eyelids, folding down over the eyes with no wrinkles at the corners, and with scarcely a crease; the fair hair, combatting the darker Anderson tint, even in the third generation; and the flashing of the eye-seen in Margaret Robertson's picture. It is all the world will ever know of HIGHLAND MARY'S face! Mrs. Kilgour writes me from Chicago, "My mother, if she had been alive, would have been able to give you a great deal in regard to Mary Campbell. It is only what I can remember hearing her say that I know. Highland Mary was rather tall-fair complexion-light yellow hair-blue eyes— quite retired- of gentle, amiable disposition." دو Mr. Turnbull writes, in answer to my enquiries about HIGHLAND MARY's personal appearance, that "Her complexion was fair—reddish ; eyes blue. Of her hair, he says the long lock of pale gold in the Monument at the Doon has changed a little since it left his house, now near 60 years ago. Hair does fade. He says also that Mrs. Robertson's hair" was said to be quite like it." 66 Mrs. Campbell got over her dislike to BURNS sooner than did her husband-who probably never changed. BURNS visited the family, probably only the once but the mother had not quite come round." He begged some memento of his lost love-“a handkerchief," or anything; but the mother refused, though he asked it with tears streaming down his face ! But the old woman lived to think better of him; and even to sing the song of "Highland Mary," and others in which he had celebrated his Highland lassie. 66 Chambers says, when she was asked "If she thought MARY would have been happy with BURNS, if she had lived?" She thought her sweet lassie could never have been happy with so wild and profane a man as BURNS." But she would immediately add, as she remembered the visit he had paid her, "But he was a real warm-hearted chiel!" |