New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-07
BURNSS BLUE-EYED LASSIE.
From The Boston TRANSCRIPT.

From, The Boston Transcript
In the course of his perambuIati ions he occa-
sionally welcome visitor at the hospitable manse
OF the Rev. Mr. jeffrey, the worthy minister of the
parish of Lochmarben. One of the daughters of
thIs good man, named Jean, happened to do the
honors of the ea-table upon the poets first visit
Jeanne was just seventeen; of sweet winning
Manners with waving golden tresses and rosy
cheeks but above all, pair of laughing blue eyes.
Burns was charmed with her artless manners and
particularly with her twa sweet eenP his suscep-
uble heart was fired with admiration for the daugh
ter of his host.
The next morning at breakfast he presented her
with the song which she little dreamed to give
her immortality. IL was the song of " The Blue
eyed Lasse.' The blue-eyc ed laSse bloomed
INTO wOmanhood, and, captivating the heart of Mr..
james Renwick, a young merchant from New
York, who CHANGED to be IN Scotland upon business
she married HIM, and soon removed from the old
manse at LochmarDsn to take up her residence in
that city, where her husband became a prominent
merchant OF the highest respeetability.
Mrs. Renwicb's house was favOrite resort of
Washington Irving, " no was firm friend of her
chemistry in Columbia College and author of some
scientific and biographical works.
When Irving built his beautiful residence at SUM-
nyside, he was indebted To Mrs. Repwick for the
ivy which now so luXurously embOweTs that de-
lightful abode. Procuring the slip at Melrose
Abbey she planted II with her own hands, and
often aferward had the pleasure of seeing il beau
utv the home OF one of the most charming authors
which America has produced.
Mrs. Renwick retained much of Burnss delight
full portrait of her, even TO her maturer years Mr.
George Thompson sou of the publisher of the music
and song of " The Blue-eyed Lassie." who visited
her in 1872, and wrote his father account of his
fascinated the poet still clear and full of deep
expression; that she had great suayitv of Manners
and much good sense. She told hun that she often
looked back with pleasant memory TO the many
evenings spent IN the company of the great bard IN
the social circle of her fathers hreside, listening to
the brilliant salles of his delightful conversation.
Many time, said she, " have seen Burns enter
nv fathers dwelling a cold rainy night after a
long ride over the moors, On such occasions one
of the family would help to dsencumber him of his
dreadnonght and boots, while another brought him
pair of slippers and made him a warm dish of tea.
1t was during these visits that lie made himself
perfectly happy, and opened his whole soul 20 as
repeated and often sang many of his admirable
songs, and enchanted all present with his manly,
luminous observations and his iraullness of manner.
never could fancy that he ever had followed the
rust occupation Of the plough, because everything
he said did hal graceiulneSs and charm that
in an extraordinary degree engaging"
None of Mrs. RenwiclSs children, of whom the
late Commodore Wilkes married daughter, sur
vived her.
After her decease, brief memoir printed pri-
vatey for her family and friends, spoke OF her at
the age of seventy seven rs ADJOINING high social
position with all those sweet and captivating
amenities of manner which had in her youth joined
to great personal attractions, rendered her one Of
the most fascinating nlaidens Of Annandale."