Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-09-24
Betsy Bell and Mary Gray.

we nave llOre tuau OuCe dHuueu W Lue CoIi-
trovers, in reference to the names and associa-
tons of the hills near Stanton, called from
time immemoria ''Betsy Bell and Mary Gray"
Many years ago an elaborate tale was published in
city periodical, and copied into the Spectator,
purporting 10 give the origin of the names. 1t
was professedly written by traveller stop
ping then in Sraunton, who obtained the
story from an old man whom the writer &C.
cidently encountered on the road side in the Vi
cinity of Betsy Bell The gist of the tale was
that two girls named Betsy Bell and Mary Gray,
in the early settlement of the county, fed to
these hills from the Indians, but were overtaken
and massacred Whether the tale was purely
fictitious, and gave rise to the so-called "legend
which used to be repeated in our childhood
or whether the "legend" suggested The nara
ratve we cannot say. After dilligent search
however, we are unable to find that there is any
truth in the story. The author is entirely I'M
known to us.
On former occasion we showed from salts
factory evidence that there were two considsra-
BILE mountains called "Bessy Bell and Mary
Gray" in Tyrone county, Ireland, near the town
of Newtown Steward. Since then gentleman
who had just travelled extensively in Great
Britain, informed US that he found two noun
tains of the same names in the vicinity of Aber-
deem, Scotland According to the Scotch legend
Bessy Bell and Mary Gray were two beautiful
girls, who, to escape the plague which several
centuries ago almost depopulated Aberdeen,
took refuge in the mountains, and died there
This legend probably gave rise to the story in
connection with our hills.
But our object at present is to introduce the
original song of 'Bessy Bell and Mary Gray"
snatches of which survive in the old Scotch Irish
families Of our county. 1t was copied from an
old Scotch music book, "printed and sold by T.
Preston, York Place, Edinburg, December,
1901" and which yet remains in distant coun-
ty of this State, in the family of the first owner,
who more than thirty years ago often sang the
song in hearing of the Staunton hills Allen
Ramsey, who revived the song, was the author
of "The Gentle Shepherd" and many songs and
ballads blinking his name to immortal verse. -
He was born in 1856, and died in 1868.
BESSy BELL AND MARY GRAY.
BY ALLEN RAMSEY
Oh Bessy Bell and Mary Gray,
They are twa bonnie lasses,
They biggit bower on yon burn brae,
And theekit it Ger with rashes,
Fair Bessy Bell lood yestreen,
And thought ne'er could alter,
But Mary Grsy's twa pawkey cen
They gar my fancy falter.
Now Bessy's hairs like lint-tap,
She smiles like May morning,
wnen Pheobus starts frae Thetis' lap,
The hills with rays adjoining,
White is her neck saft is her hand,
Her waist and feet's fee gently,
With ilka grace she can command,
Her lips! o WOW they're dainty.
And Mary's locks are like the craw,
Her cen like diamonds glances
She's aye sac clean, red-up and brae
She kills wheneer she dasces;
Rlithe as kid, with wit lat WILL
She blooming, tight, and tails
And guides her airs sac graceful still,
Oh Jove She's like thy Pallas!
Dear Bessy Bell and Mary Gray,
Ye unco sair Cypress us,
Our fancies jee between you twae,
Ye are sic bonnie lasses!
Waes me, for bath Gamma get
To one by law we're stinted,
Then I'll draw cuts, and TAX my fate,
And be with one contented