The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-09-15
THE B%LUE.EYED LASSIE.

a Reminiscence or Two of Robert BURNS.
In the course Of his perambulations he
was occasionally welcome visitor at the
hospitable manse ofthe Rev. Mr.. Jeffrey, the
worthy minister of the parish of Lockmar-
ben. One Of the daughters of this good man,
named Jean, happened to do the honors of
the tea-table upon the poets first visit.
JEANNE vas just II, of sweet, winning
manners, with waving golden tresses and
rosy cheeks; but above all, a pair of laugh
ing blue eyes. Burns al charmed with her
artless manners, and particularly with her
" twa sweet GEN." his susceptible heart was
fred with admiration for the daughter OF
his host.
The next morning at breakfast he pre-.
scented her with the song which she little
dreamed was to give her immortality, It
was the ssng Of the 4Blue-eyed Lassie." :
The lue-eyed lassie bloomed into
womanhood, and, captivating the heart Of
james Renwick, a young merchant from
New York, who Glanced to be in Scotland
upon business, she married him and soon
removed from this old manse at Lockmar-
ben to take up her residence in that city,
where her husband became q prominent
merchant of the highest responsibility.
Mrs. Renwicks house was q favorite re-.
sort OF Washington Irvine, who was o firm
friend Of her son James, afterwardth emil
nent professor ssof chemistry in Columbia
college, and author OF some scientific and
biographical works.
When Irving built his beautiful residence
at Sunnyside he was indebted to Mrs. Rem
wick for the ivy which now so lu%xuriously
embowers that delightful abode. Procur-
ing the slip at Melrose Abby, she planted it
with her own hands, and often afterward
had the pleasure Of seeing it beautify the
home Of one Of the most charming authors
which America has procured.
Mrs. Renwick retained much Of Burns's
delightful portrait of her, even to her ma
turer years. George Thompson, son Of the.
publisher OF the music and sons of aThe
Blue eyed Lassie, who visited her in 1892.
and wrote his father an account Of his r..
terview, said the atwa sweet cen " whichIgo
fascinated the poet were still clear and fnlI
OF deep expression; that she had great suay-
ity Of manners, and much good sense. She
told him 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 freside.
listening to the brilliant sallies Of conver.
sation.
Many a time" said she, shave 1 seen
DuIns enter my Iatherss dwelling on 8
cold night after o long ride over the moors.
On such occasions one of the family would
help to d~isencumber him Of his
dreadnought and boots, while an
other brought him q pair Of
slippers and made lin a warm dish of tea.
It was during these visits that he made him
self perfectly happy. md opened his whole
soul to us; repeated and often sang many of
his admirable songs, and enchanted oil
present with his many luminous observa-
tions and his frankness of manner. I new
er could fancy that he ever had followed
the rustic occupation Of the plow, because
everything he said or did had a gracefulnegs
n charm that were in an extraordinary de-
gree engaging"
None Of Mrs. Renwick's children of whom
the late Commodore Wilkes married q
daughter, survived her.
After her decease, a brief memoir, print
edpriyately for her family and friends, spoke
Of her at the age Of " as adjoining . high
socialpositionw with all those sweet and q B
tiyating amenities Of manner which had In
her youth, joined to great personal attrac-
tons. rendered her one Of the most fasci-
mating maidens Of Annandale."
How Th0ddAu1 Nfnvnnc Came IN seGuoor