The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-17

bears. among other heraldic devices.
two laurel leaves and the motto,
'Virtus semper viridis" Below the
grandfather's marriage stone is cut
IN the Intel the following:
Except the Lord build the house.
they labor In vain Who build It."
Annie was married when she was
twenty-eight years Of age. The Fer
gusons are a much older family. as
families are reckoned. than the
Lauries, anG their home stood about
five miles distant from Maxwelton.
The Ferguson family still occupy
Craigdarrock.
Sir Robert Laurie, Annie's father
was bitter enemy Of the Covenanters
and the Fergusons were stanch Cow
enanters. and Annie. if we may Judge
from her marriage. must have been
skillful enough 20 effect a comprom-
Use, for it is said that che worshiped
with her husband IN the old parish
kirk, which was burned only a little
more than fifty years ago. the gables
OF which are stu standing.
The Laurie and Ferguson families
are buried in a little kirkyard near
their old homes. A ponderous monu-
ment marks the grave of Annie's
grandfather. but the burial place Of
the Fergusons is singularly lacking
in early monuments. and no stone
marks the place OF Annie's rest
At Craigdarrock House IS kept An
nie's viii. which reads as follows:
7 Annie Laurie, spouse 10 Alex
ander Fergusone. Of Craigdarrock.
Forasmuch as I considering II de-
Vote upon everie persone whyle they
are in health and sound judgment so
TO settle yr. worldly affairs that yrby
all anim0sities betwixt friend and
relatives may obviate and also for the
singular love and respect I have for
the said Alex. Fergusone. in case he
survive me I do hereby make my let
ter VIII as follows:
First, I recommend my soul TO
God. hoping by the meritoriOus right
eoIsness Of Jesus Christ TO be saved;
secondly, 1 recommend my body be
decently and orderly inferred; and in
the third place nominate and appoint
the sd. Alexr. Fergusone 20 be my
sole and only executor, legator, and
UNIVERSAL intrOmettOr with my hail
goods, gear. debts. and soums Of
money that shall pertain and belong
70 me the TYNE Of my decease. OF
shall be dew 10 me by bill, bond. or
OyTway; with power 10 him 70 obtain
himself confirmed and decreed exr.
10 me and TO do everie thing for fixing
and establishing the right on my
spouse in his person as law requires:
in witness whereof their puts writ
ten by John Wilsone OF Chapel in
Dumfries) are subd. by me at Craig
darrock the twenty-eighth day Of
Apryle. III. before the witnesses the
sd. John Wilsone and John Nichol-
some his servitor."
Lady Scott. who composed the
music, was closely related 10 the late
Gen. Waushope. who was killed in
battle by the Beers, In 1900. She was
a great upholder OF. and encouraged
the observance Of old manners and
customs. She was also a liberal bene-
factor OF the poor, maintained a meal
mill as a relic Of old times, and was
a golden link connecting the past with
the present.
Perhaps the manner in which the
sentiment of Annie Laurie has been
universally accepted as a personal
expression by other men. is bsA It.
Illustrated in Bayard Taylor's famous
Song of the Camp, the first five
stanzas Of which are printed:
Give rs a song the soldiers cried.
The outer trenches guarding.
When the heated guns Of the camps allied
Grew weary Of 5ombarding
The dark Redan, Ia silent SCOT.
Lsy grlEn ard Threatening. under:
And the tawny mound Of the Maakof
No longer bclched It's thunder.
There was pause. guardsman slid
We storm tho forts tomorrow;
3ing while we may, another DAY
Win bring enough Of sorroW."
They lay along the ba;tegy's side.
Below tie smoking cannon;
Brave hearts froan severn and from CLYDE.
And from the banks Of Shannon.
They sang q love. and not Of fams:
Forgot was BrItains glory:
Each heart recalled a different uane
But an sang Annie Laurie"