File:The book of British ballads (1842) (14802805183).jpg

Identifier: gri_33125012902363 (find matches)
Title: The book of British ballads
Year: 1842 (1840s)
Authors: Hall, S. C. (Samuel Carter), 1800-1889
Subjects: Ballads, English
Publisher: London : J. How
Contributing Library: Getty Research Institute
Digitizing Sponsor: Getty Research Institute

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son addressed his celebratedletter on the formation of a Library. She survived her husband eighteen years, andleft no issue. The mystery connected with the poetical production that makes hername immortal was cleared up by Sir Walter Scott, who printed — as a contributionto the Bannatine Club — the ballad, with a letter acknowledging the authorship, andtwo continuations, one of which we shall print, although very inferior to the ori-ginal. The story of its production is simply this: — It was written about the year1772. Lady Ann was, to use her own expression, passionately fond of an ancientScottish melody, called the Bridegroom grat when the sun gaed down. The airwas sung to her by an aged person at Balcarres, with the old and rather free spokenwords. Her sister Margaret had just married, and left Balcarres with her husbandfor London ; she was melancholy thereat, and sought consolation from the Muse. Ilonged to sing old Sophys air—thus writes Lady Barnard to Sir Walter Scott in
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415 1823 — to different words, and give its plaintive tones some little history of virtuousdistress in humble life, such as might suit it. In pursuance of her simple plan, there-fore, she proceeded to create a heroine — oppressed her with many misfortunes, senther Jamie to sea, broke her fathers arm, made her mother fall sick, and gave her AuldKobin Gray (a herd at Balcarres) for a lover. She wished then to load the unhappymaiden with a fifth heavy sorrow; and while thinking over what it should be, in hercloset, she called to her little sister (afterwards Lady Hardwicke), who was in anotherroom, to help her to another misfortune. Steal the cow, sister Anne, said the littlegirl; so the cow was lifted, and the song was finished. Auld Robin Gray becameimmediately popular. At the fire-side of Balcarres, and among the neighbouring pea-santry, the song was always called for. In process of time a new air was written — byMr. Leeves of Clevedon, near Bristol — to the words. It found it

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