Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-01-11
The Scottish Ballad, "Auld Robin
Gray.ss

Leigh Hunt once remarked that Robin
Gray had "suffused more eyes with
tears of the first water than any other
ballad that was ever written The
song was once very popular in England,
and it is still tavorite among those
people who have the gift of ballad
singing. 1t was written by Lady Anne
Barnard. who died in 1873. The his
tory of the composition is curious.
Lady Barnard thus relates the circum- |
stances under which it was produced, in
letter to Sir Walter Scott:
g Robin Gray so called from this |
being the name of the old herder at Bal |
carras, was born soon after the close of
| the year 177l. NY sister Margaret had |
married, and accompanied her husband
| to London. was melancholy, and en-
deavored to amuse myself by attempt
ing few poetical trihes. There was an
ancient Scotch melody. of which | was
passionateiy fond -, who lived
before your day, used to sing it to us at
Balcarras. She did not object to its
having improper words. though l did.
I longed to sing old Sophy's melody to
different words, and give to its plaintive
tones some little history of virtuous
distress in humble life, such as might
suit it.
While attempting to effect this in my
closet, called to my little sister. now
Lady Hardwicke, who was the only per-
son near me:
Il have been writing a ballad, my
dear: I am depressing my heroine with
many misfortunes. | have already sent
her Jamie to sea-and broken her
fathers armand made her mother fall
sick-and given her Auld Robin Gray
for her lover but | wish to load her
with a fifth sorrow within the four lines,
poor thing Help me to one
''Steal the COW, sister Anne" said the
little Elizabeth. The COW was imme-
diately lifted by me. and the song COM
pleted.
At our Preside, and among our neigh
bors, "Auld Robin Gray was always
called for. | was pleased in secret with
the appreciation it met with but such
was my dread of being suspected OF
writing anything, perceiving the shy
ness it created in those who could write
nothing that ] carefully kept my OVID
, secret.
Meanwhile, little as this matter seems
10 have been worthy of a dispute, it
afterward became a party question be-
: tween the sixteenth and eighteenth
: centuries. "Robin Gray" was either a
! very ancient ballad, composed perhaps
: by David Rizzio, and a great curiosity,
! or a very modern matter, and no curl
: osity at all | was prosecuted to avow
: whether had written it or not,-where
= l had got it. Old Sophy kept my coun-
= sci, and kept my own, in spite of the
y qualification of seeing a reward of TWEEN
! ty guineas offered in the newspapers to
the person who should ascertain the
point past doubt. and the still more
e hattering circumstance of a visit from
o Mr.. birmingham, Secretary to the Anti
IS ouarian Society, who endeavored to en-
u trap the truth from me in manner
u took amiss. Had he asked me the
le question obligingly, should have tolc
e him the fact distinctly and confden
d TALLY The annoyance, however, of THU
e important ambassador from the antigua
u ries was amply repaid to me by the no
D. bic exhibition of the ballad of AulC
e Robin Grays Courtship." as performed
Q by dancing dogs under my window. l
y proved its popularity from the highes
: to the lowest, and gave me pleasur
y while Rugged myself in my obscurity
- "AuLD ROBIN GRAY"
4 When the sheep in the fauld. when the com
as when a the weary world to quiet rest game.
- The woes of my heart s. in showers fra my ee,
Il ITnkend by my gudeman. who soundly sleeps by me
O Young Jamie loo'd me weel, and sought for h
But saving ae crown piece he'd nathng else beside.
1t To make the crown pound, my jamie gaed to sea-
of And the crown and the pound ., they were bath
mel
e Before he had been game twelvemonth and day.
he My father brak his arm, our COW was stown away
r. MY mother she fell sick-my jamie was at sea
And Aud Robin Gray, q, he came acquiring me-
ID My father coudna work. my mother eou'dna spin
Id Aud Rob maintained them BATH and wi tears in
an Said Jenny, 0, for their sakes will you marry
III Ny Heart it said Ma and looked for Jamie back
of Rs ssip II 's wracI Why ddna jamie dee?
ut Or wherefore spar'd to cry out, Woe is met
no Ny father argued sair-my mother didns speak.
e But she looked in M face till my heart was like
They gied him my h ad but my heart in the Sc
os' and 80 Aud Robin Gray. he was gudeman to me.
!, hadna been his wife week but only four.
III; When mournfu' as sat the stane at my door,
ror saw my JAMES ghaist-I cou'dns think it he,
- Till he said. I'm come hame. my love. to mar
Tie o. ssr sar did we greet and mickle say of a.
to- Ae kiss we took. nae mair-I bad him gang ava
- wish that were dead, but I'm no like to dec
IL For 0. am but young to cry out. " Zoe Is me T.
ny l gang like ghaist. and carena much to spin,
&C. I darena think o jamie for that wad be sin.
But will do my best q guide wife aye to be-
For Aud Robin Gray, o. he is sac kind to mel
Four EVILS Whoever habitual
uses any alcoholic preparations as &
appetizer will be likely to suffer flo
Try four evils, viz. an overplus of food
10. the stomach. impaired ability to dige
en- it, the pangs of dyspepsia, and dc
on tors bill DR.. WALKERS VEGETAB
re- VINEGAR BIrrERs, the great Teetot
at Restorative of the age, without owe
We; stimulating the palate or irritating Il
OF stomach, imparts a healthful appetii
to promotes digestion, regulates the liv
ary and bowels, purifies the blood, al
aef thus, instead of entailing four evils, CO
me fers four inestimable benefits.-Com.
"a UNRIvALLED YET" Blood will tell
says the horse fanciers, in estimating the
en- durance of fine animal; and the motto is
good one outside of the sporting world.
al, pure article-intrinsically gooG-must d
no lance all competition, eventually. 7