His words were so moving, and looks soft and kind,
    Convinced me the youth had nae guile in his mind;
    My heart, too, confess’d him the flower of the dale,
    Beneath the pretty hawthorn that blooms in the vale—­
                That blooms in the valley, &c.

    Yet I oft bade him go, for I could no longer stay,
    But leave me he would not, nor let me away;
    Still pressing his suit, and at last did prevail,
    Beneath the pretty hawthorn that blooms in the vale—­
                That blooms in the valley, &c.

    Now tell me, ye maidens, how could I refuse? 
    His words were so sweet, and so binding his vows! 
    We went and were married, and Jamie loves me still,
    And we live beside the hawthorn that blooms in the vale—­
      That blooms in the valley, that blooms in the vale,
      We live beside the hawthorn that blooms in the vale.

OH, BLAW, YE WESTLIN’ WINDS![27]

    Oh, blaw, ye westlin’ winds, blaw saft
      Amang the leafy trees! 
    Wi’ gentle gale, frae muir and dale,
      Bring hame the laden bees;
    And bring the lassie back to me,
      That ’s aye sae neat and clean;
    Ae blink of her wad banish care,
      Sae lovely is my Jean.

    What sighs and vows, amang the knowes,
      Hae pass’d atween us twa! 
    How fain to meet, how wae to part,
      That day she gaed awa’! 
    The Powers aboon can only ken,
      To whom the heart is seen,
    That nane can be sae dear to me
      As my sweet, lovely Jean.

[27] These verses were written as a continuation to Burns’s “Of a’ the airts the wind can blaw.”  Other two stanzas were added to the same song by W. Reid.—­See postea.

JOANNA BAILLIE.

Joanna Baillie was born on the 11th of September 1762, in the manse of Bothwell, in Lanarkshire.  Her father, Dr James Baillie, was descended from the old family of Baillie of Lamington, and was consequently entitled to claim propinquity with the distinguished Principal Robert Baillie, and the family of Baillie of Jerviswood, so celebrated for its Christian patriotism.  The mother of Joanna likewise belonged to an honourable house:  she was a descendant of the Hunters of Hunterston; and her two brothers attained a wide reputation in the world of science—­Dr William Hunter being an eminent physician, and Mr John Hunter the greatest anatomist of his age.  Joanna—­a twin, the other child being still-born—­was the youngest of a family of three children.  Her only brother was Dr Matthew Baillie, highly distinguished in the medical world.  Agnes, her sister, who was eldest of the family, remained unmarried, and continued to live with her under the same roof.