The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-10-27
From the Western Continent.
JESSIE,
THE FLOWER OF DUMBLANE.

vi LIZ EN- vi DOmbIANE.
The fair object of this song was a bounie lassie
in Dnmblane. Her family were of poor extraction,
and Jessie herself was con;ented with a peasants
lot. When Tannahill became acquainted with
her, she was in her :" teens,' slight. dimpIe-
checked happy lassie: her hair yellow colored and
luxuriant; her eyes large and full to overfOwing
with The voluptuous languor which is so becoming
In young blue eyes with golden lashes. Tannahill
was struck with her beauty, and, as in all things,
he was enihusiastical, became forthwith her ardent
worshlpper. But her heart was not to be won.
Young, thoughtless, and painting TO know and sec
the world, she left her poor amourante to con
songs To hs mistress eyebrows" while she reck-
lessly rambled among the fiowery meads Of Dunn
blame. or of an evening sang his inspired verses to
him with the most Notifying nonchaiance. This
was a tw0-fuld misery to the sensitive poet. A
creature so sweetly elegant. so dear TO him, SO
very lovely and innocent, and yet, withal, so en-
cased in insensiblliiy, as apparently neither to be-
conscious of the beauty Of the verses trembling on
her dulcet tongue. nor caring for the caresses of
her lover. Twas too much 10 mark all this,
and feel it with the feeling of a poet was the acme
OF misery. But the " Flower Of Dumblaoe'' was
not that unimaginative being which Tannabiil pic
iured her. She was a creature all feeling, all
Imagination, although the bard had not that in his
person or manners to engage her attention or To
arrest her fancy. The Young affections are moi to
be controlled Love-all mighty love must be free.
OipC ~ NthSCo W " W NtldH Wd DidlD III
his person and uncouth in his manners, and felt
and expressed discomfort at the cruel disappoint-
ment which it had heen his UNHAPPY fate almost
invariably To- encounter. Jessie. on the CONTRARY,
looked upon the world as a brilliant spectacle vet
to be seen and enjoyed-as a vast paradise full Of
The beauty of Heaven and earth, where men walk
ed forth in the image Of their Creator, invested
with his attributes, and women trode proudly amid
The lovely creation an angel venerated and adored.
To express dissatisfaction under all these circum-
stances was. to her mind, the extravapance of n
misanihropP, the madness Of a real lover of
misery, and sufficient cause fI her moi tn res
pect him. Both viewed the world through a
false medium, and their deductions, although at
variance, gave color TO their minds and accelera-
ted their fate. Jessie could not comprehend what
appeared TO her the folly Of her suitor. She rel
lshed not his sickly sentiment, and, as all woman
kind ever did and do, she scorned a cooling lover,
The bard was driven to despair, and, summoninp
up an unwonted energy Of mind. departed, and
and left his adored to her youthful Alterations
Soon after this period the song Of Jessie, the
Flower Of Dumblane, - together with the music.
was published il became a public ~favorile; it
was sung everywhere, in theatres and at parties;
\ world Of praise was showered upon il from wo-
mans 1atteung lips. and men became mad 10 know
the adured subject Of the lay. In a short period il
was discovered. Jesse MOnteith, the pretty pea-
SAINT Of Dnmblsne, was the favored one. From all
quarters young men and bachelors Hocked TO SEQ
her. and her sex were curious and critical. Many
promising youths paid their addresses to her. and
experienced the same reception as her first lover.
Nevertheless, at last poor Jessie became really
enamored. A Tskish spark, from Midlothians,
adorned with education. being of polished man
mere, and confident from wealth and superiority