The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-11-08
III sfrIln . .


Burns Highlend Mary.
We have had in our possession the
identical pair of Bibles presented by the
immortal Burns to the dearest object of
his affections, Highland Mary, on the
banks of tho winding Ayr,Whcn he spent
with her "one day of parting love"
They are in remarkably good preserva-
tion, and belong to a descendant of the
family Of Mary's mother, Mrs Camp
bell, whose property they became OH the
death of her daughtcr-and subsequent
ly Mrs. Anderson, Mary's only surviving
sister, acquired them. The circumstance
OF the Bible being in two volumes seem
cd at one time to threaten its. dismcm-
bcrmcnt.- Mrs Anderson having pre-.
scntcd a volume to each of her two daugh-
ters-but,on their approaching marriage,
their brother William prevailed on them
to dispose Of The sacred volumes TO him
On the first blank leaf of the fast vol
ume is written in the handwriting of the
immortal bard, And yc shall not swear
by my name fa'.cly---lr am the Lord.
Levitt 18th chap. 18th verse !" and on
the corresponding leaf Of the second
volume, " Thou shalt rot forswcar thy
self, but shalt perform unto the Lord
thine oath. Matt 5,h chap. 33I verse )
On the second blank leaf of each vol
umc there are the remains Of Robert
Burns. Mos,gicl," in his hand writing,
hcncath which is drawn a Masonic en-
blem. At the end Of the first volume
there is n lock OF Highland Mary's hair.
There is q niournful interest attached
to these sacred volumes from
their contents, and sacred from having
been pledge of love from the most
gifrcd If Scotlaud's bards to the artlcss
object of lis affections, from whom he
was Separating, 10 more to meet on this
side nf the grave. The life of Burns
was full of romance. but there is not one
circumstance in it all so romantic and
full Of interest rs those which attended
aud followed the gift Of these volumes.
lie WAS young when he woocd aud won
the affections Of Mary, whom he de-
scribeS as "a warm hearted. charming
young creature as ever blessed man
with generous love" The attachment
was mutual, and forms the subject Of
many oi lis earliest lyrics, as well as of
the productions of his later years which
shows that it was very deep rooted. BE-
fore he was known to fane, stccped in
poverty to tie very drcgs, aud mcdiia-
ting an escape TO the West Indies, from
tho .remorsolcss fangs of hard-hcartcd
creditor, be addressed to his "dcar girl :"
the song which begins:
Mill YOU so to tho Indies, my Mary,
And leave auld Scota's shore
win you so TO the Indies, my Mary,
And cross the A.lsniic's rcar1
But neither Burns lor III, Mar were
doomed to "cross tie Atlantic's roar"
nor to realize thos1 drca1S of mutual
bliss which passion or enthusiasm had
cngcndered in their youthful inagina-
tious. Burns was called to Edinburgh.
there to commence his career of fame,
Which was TO terminate in chill poverty,
dreary disappointment, and despair
while Mary's happier lot after tran
silent glcam Of the sunshine of life, was
to be removed to better and happier
world. Her death shed sadness over
his whole future life, and spirit of sub
ducd grief and tenderness was displayed
wherever she was the subject of his con-
v'rsation or writings Witness as fol-
lows:
Yc hanks an braes an streams around
The castle of Montgomerie,
Green he your words an fair your flowers,
Your waters never drumlic
There simmer first unfolds her robes,
An there they Largest tarry, !!
For there took my last farewell
o. my sweet neland Mary
In note appended to this song. Burns
says;
This was composition Of mine in
my early life. before | was known at all
to the world. My Highland lassie was
a warm.hearted, charming young crca.
turc. as ever blessed man with genor-
Gus love. After a pretty long trial Of the
most ardent reciprocal attachment, We
met by appointmnt en- the second Sun.
day of May in sequestered spot on the
banks of the Ayr where We spent day
in taking a farewell before she would ON.
bark for the West HighlaAds,to arrange
matters among her friends for our pro-
jected change Of life. At the close Of
tho autumn following, she crossed the
sea to meet me al Greenock, where she
was seized with malignant fever which
hurried my dear girl to the grave in, q
few days, befo'e / could even hoarof heI
illness s-~ an s.-- ..E..
1t was at this romantic and interest
ing meeting on the banks Of the Ayr,tba
the above mentioned Bibles were pro