How lofty, sweet Afton, thy neighbouring While o'er their heads the hazels hing, Winter winds blew loud and cauld at our Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee, parting, Fears for my Willie brought tears in my Warring sighs and groans I'll wage I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy, Naething could resist my Nancy; But to see her was to love her ; And waft my dear laddie ance mair to Love but her, and love for ever. Clyde, her father, Dr James Baillie, being minister of that parish. He was afterwards professor of divinity in the University of Glasgow. Her mother was a sister of the celebrated anatomists, Drs John and William Hunter, after the former of whom Joanna was named. Few places in Scotland are a meeter "nurse for a poetic child" than the romantic surroundings of Bothwell Castle, the once famous stronghold of the Douglasses; and here and at Hamilton, about three miles distant, Joanna Baillie spent the first ten years of her life. In 1778, her father died at Glasgow; and in 1784, she went with her mother and her sister Agnes to live with her brother, Dr Mathew Baillie, who succeeded to the London house and the practice of his uncle, Dr William Hunter, on the death of that well-known physician. Here, in 1790, she published anonymously her first volume of poems, which met with a very indifferent reception. In 1798, she published her first series of dramas, with the view of illustrating her theory of the action of the passions, each passion being the subject of a tragedy and a comedy. Her theory, which advocates stricter adherence to nature in the dramatic art, she maintains in a lengthy introduction, which shows her to have been an original and vigor ous thinker. This venture, which was also anonymous, created an immediate impression, and a second edition was required in a short time. In 1802, she continued the subject in a second volume; and in a third, in 1812. In 1804, she produced a volume of miscellaneous dramas, and in 1810 the "Family Legend," a tragedy founded on Highland tradition. It was acted at Edinburgh, through the influence, and under the oversight, of her friend Sir Walter Scott. The only other of her plays that was put upon the stage was "De Montfort," which was brought out at Drury Lane in 1800. On the marriage of Dr Baillie, his mother and sisters went for some time to Colchester; but about 1801, they fixed their abode permanently at Hampstead Heath. Here their mother died in 1806, and here the two affectionate sisters continued to reside and receive the visits of almost all their contemporary celebrities till Joanna's death, on the 23d February 1851. Agnes lived for other ten years, dying in 1861, in the hundredth year of her age. Joanna's Address to Agnes on her Birthday is one of the most simply beautiful pictures of sisterly affection extant. LINES TO AGNES BAILLIE ON HER BIRTHDAY. Dear Agnes, gleamed with joy and dashed with tears, O'er us have glided almost sixty years Since we on Bothwell's bonnie braes were seen, By those whose eyes long closed in death have been Two tiny imps, who scarcely stooped to gather The slender harebell ог the purple heather; No taller than the foxglove's spinky stem, That dew of morning studs with silvery gem. LINES TO AGNES BAILLIE ON HER BIRTHDAY. 661 Then every butterfly that crossed our view With joyous shout was greeted as it flew; And moth, and lady-bird, and beetle bright, Well may it please me, in life's latter scene, To think what now thou art and long to me hast been. 'Twas thou who wooedst me first to look In sheeny gold, were each a wondrous Upon the page of printed book, sight. Then as we paddled barefoot, side by side, Among the sunny shallows of the Clyde, Minnows or spotted parr with twinkling fin, Swimming in mazy rings the pool within, A thrill of gladness through our bosoms sent, Seen in the power of early wonderment. A long perspective to my mind appears, Looking behind me to that line of years; And yet through every stage I still can trace Thy visioned form, from childhood's morning grace To woman's early bloom-changing, how soon! To the expressive glow of woman's noon; And now to what thou art, in comely age, Active and ardent. Let what will engage Thy present moment-whether hopeful seeds In garden plat thou sow, or noxious weeds From the fair flower remove; or ancient lore In chronicle or legend rare explore, I from the busy world had shrunk aside. On helpful errand to the neighbouring And now, in later years, with better grace, poor Active and ardent, to my fancy's eye Thou still art young, in spite of time gone by. Thou help'st me still to hold a welcome place With those whom nearer neighbourhood has made Though oft of patience brief, and temper The friendly cheerers of our evening IT WAS ON A MORN. The change of good and evil to abide, As partners linked, long have we, side by It was on a morn when we were thrang, side, Our earthly journey held; and who can say How near the end of our united way? Will she remain-the lonely pilgrim left. Or who, of wonted daily kindness shorn, And if I should be fated first to leave may grieve, And he above them all, so truly proved There is no living wight, of woman born, Thou ardent, liberal spirit ! quickly feeling The touch of sympathy and kindly dealing The kirn it croon'd, the cheese was making, And bannocks on the girdle baking, When ane at the door chapp't loud and lang. Yet the auld gudewife, and her mays sae tight, Of a' this bauld din took sma' notice, I ween; For a chap at the door in braid day light Is no like a chap that's heard at e'en. But the docksie auld laird of the Warlock Glen, Wha waited without, half-blate, half cheery, And lang'd for a sight o' his winsome dearie, Raised up the latch, and cam crousely ben. His coat it was new, and his o'erlay was white, His mittins and hose were cozie and bein; But a wooer that comes in braid daylight With sorrow or distress, for ever sharing Is no like a wooer that comes at e'en. The unhoarded mite, nor for to-morrow |