The chronicle=news., 1913-01-25
WOMEN WHO INSPIREOBURNS
By Alexander Mcdonald

Back Ia the land the Ayrshire bard
drif,cd at last and married his Bon
ny Jean. and In the same year, Miss
Chalmers was united to Mr.. Lewis
Hay. banker Edinburgh. Though per-
force he had to pursue IL different
Path through life. Robcr, Burns
rover forgot the womanly charm
that had frightened the outlook OF
life OF this manifest Of men. Al Brow
on the Solway. nine days before his
death. he wrote with trembling hand
his last song. and IL was In praise of
Peggy Chalmers.
"Faircst maid ON Devon banks.
CRYSTAL Devon. winding Devon;
wit thou lay that frown aside
And smile as thou vert wont to do :
Fun well thou knowcst ! love thee.
dear
Couldst thou to malice. lend an ear:
q do not, love. cNclaim forbcar
Nor use u faithful lover so.
Thtn come thou faircst of tn. fair
Those wontcd smiles, oh let me share
And by thy bcautious self swear.
No love but thine my heart shall
know,
This iaircst maid survived ;hc
bard almost half n century and died
in the year OF the disruution OF the
church OF which Or. Blacklock. her
friend. and the poets. was n min
istcr.
Burns last letter, with song to
Peggy Chalmers. Is OF special inter
est. ms indicating his method with
the women who inspired him. Tho
Peggy Chalmers was then n married
women. and Burns knew that II few
days would end his earthly career.
n. addressed her Ms u lover. artcu'ly
pleading for her favor.
II was his WAY OF paving his re-
| spcc,s to good women. Love with him
meant no more than the homage he
! felt constrained TO pay To feminine
worth wherever he encountered IL.
| His manner WAS not always under.
| stood. In his own day. and by many
| misunderstood In our later time.
! Even Peggy stiffcncd her gait on re-
cciving the poets first "ffusions. and
~ good NJ said his love was not de-
sired. Whcrcupon he told her IL
was not offered In the sense she
meant and II she could not accent;
II In his sense. there need be no
| more said. Peggy. being q sensible
woman. saw she had biundered. and
calmcd tho offended genius.
Another. who In the same way
drew Off when addressed by the poet
was Miss Alexander of Baliochmyic.
Burns. going musing through the
forest. happened 10 see the young
lady passing. and addressed u song
to hcs-thc one which has immor-
| taii.cd her M THE Bonny Lass o.
lialloclmylc. Having sent 1t with
u very civil-wordcd request II she
would allow him to publish 4. In his
Forthcoming volume. the Hoity-toity
lady gave him no answer whatever.
She thought he wux not good enough
10 bc rccornixcd. In her later years
she had the poets MS. framed. dc.
clarinK that wherever she went. I,
must go too. What happened in
those far away DAYS. happens still
People reading Burns nmatory
songs and cpistlcs to the many NO.
men he met. run their own meaning
into what they read. and give tho
unfortunate poet the credit OF their
sStravagant ideas.
He was hopclcssiy Tightly. they
SAY. lie had no soiidity OF convic-
ton. even In his affections. The
reply to this Is found in his homes;
adhcrancc to Jean Armour. in spite
OF every effort made to wean him
from her.
Jessie I.cwars. the poets minister.
ing angel In his last sickness, was
born about the year l77S in Dunn
irics. In which town her father per-
formed the duties or supervisor of
excise. Her brother. John, also an
inland revenue official. had honour
OF being the poets instructor pre-.
Nious To taking up duty in the same
government department. On her
fathers death In 1859. Miss Lewars
| lived In family with her brother
their dwelling being immc,liatcly ~
/ opposite the residence OF the bard
In Mill Bral, now named Burns street
| The brother was n cherished friend
of the new exciscman and the sister
a special favora,e of the. bard and
Mrs. Burns. Possessed OF vocal pow
ers OF considerable range and sweet.
\ ness. this young lady delighted the
, poet with her songs In his leisure
hours. One air in particular attract
| ed his fancy. and In honor of the
| singer. he composed to the music.
| the well known song:
% vert hou in the cauld blast
| On yonder lea. on yondcr lea,
NV plaidic to the angry ART
I'd shelter thee, I'd shelter thee
This song came subsequently un-