Still o'er these scenes my mem❜ry wakes, Where is thy place of blissful rest? Hear'st thou the groans that rend his breast? HIGHLAND MARY. By ARCHIBALD MUNRO. REPRINTED FROM THE "SCOTSMAN," OCTOBER 20, 1891. THERE is probably no name in Scottish literature that has more tenderly touched the hearts of her countrymen than that of Mary Campbell. Though born of an obscure family, brought up in circumstances little fitted to attract general attention, and credited with no achievement that invests heroism with permanent or even temporary distinction, this Highland girl is a brilliant star in the galaxy of Fame, and has become the object of unmingled admiration. She died on the 20th of October, 1786. The lustre of Mary's name, like that of other stars and planets, borrows its fascination from a luminary brighter and greater than itself, and the very obscurity of her earlier condition enlarges by contrast the halo that now encircles her name. Moralists have landed her virtues, critics have lovingly dropped their satiric shafts when commenting on her life, and poets have exhausted their resources in their effort to convey their conceptions of her excellence; but all their contributions to the sum of her praise have taken their origin and complexion from the picture which inspired genius has given of her to the world. The interest created by the association of the heroine's career with that of the gifted lover who has procured for her the honour of poetical immortality is not, it is pleasant to know, confined to the country that gave her birth. In England, Ireland, America, and the Colonies her worth, unfortunate fate, and her premature death have found admirers and sympathisers as cordial and sincere as any that Caledonia has produced. Of the particulars of the life of Mary we have but a very meagre account, and, curiously enough, it happens that in the locality where from first to last she passed most of her days little is known and still less recorded of her; while the town where she spent but a few days of her existence has by the mere accident of her death there almost monopolised the attention of her biographers. Official documents, as well as consistent traditions, have assigned to Dunoon the honour of being her birthplace. Mary was born in the year 1768, in Auchamore or, by interpretation, Bigfield, a space of ground forming the south-western and south-eastern parts of Kirn and Dunoon respectively. A complete transformation in the aspect of the district from what it was, as I remember fifty years ago, has, with other antique buildings overtaken the plain but interesting but-an'-ben, where Mary drew her first breath. The spirit of modern improvement is answerable for the disappearance of the notable cottage. Mary's father, who in the earlier years of his manhood was a seaman in a Revenue cruiser, bought and commanded a small sloop for the coal trade between Campbeltown, Troon, and other small ports on the Firth of Clyde. Finding the residence of his family at Dunoon to be inconvenient for all parties, he had them removed to Campbeltown. At the time of his migration, Mary, the eldest of his children, was nearly eight years of age; and her unbroken connection with her new home extended over a little more than a similar number of years. Faithful to the instincts of clanships the Campbells took quarters in the immediate neighbourhood of one Elizabeth Campbell or M'Neill, a cousin of the head of the family. It is from Julia M'Neill, a daughter of Elizabeth Campbell, that the later inquirers into the history of Highland Mary, while resident in Campbeltown, have received whatever amount of information existed there regarding her. In my early school days I frequently saw Julia, as well as many others who were personally acquainted with the whole of the family to which Mary Campbell belonged. Mrs. M'Neill's house as well as Mrs. Campbell's, stood in Broombrae at the head of Saddell Street. It is only a few years since the tenement was removed to make way for the present more substantial erection. According to Miss M'Neill's statement, which has been corroborated by others who had knowledge of the case, Mary Campbell was a great favourite with every one that knew her-a distinction which she owed to her pleasant manners, sweet temper, and obliging disposition. Her figure was graceful; the cast of her face was singularly delicate and of fair complexion, and her eyes, which were bluish and lustrous had a remarkably winning expression. The readers of the brief account of her given by Burns's biographers are aware that sincerity was a feature of the maiden, on which her mother in after years used to dilate with peculiar complacency; and her school companions took special note of her love of peace. Possessed of good natural abilities, and faithful to her duties as a pupil, she was always able to gain a prominent position in her class; but should a dispute arise at any time as to her right to occupy it, she was prepared to surrender it with right good will in the interests of peace, and to pacify the probably unreasonable disputant. This spirit of conciliation was such a noticeable trait in her character, and was so highly appreciated by her schoolmates and others that, in accordance with the practice of the place, 66 where any one who is noted for qualities either good or bad, is known simply by his christian name, she came to be recognised by the distinction of Mary" only. It may be mentioned, though a matter of course, that in a district at that period almost wholly Celtic, she was not known by the name of Highland Mary; that distinction was reserved for another time and for a different locality. Liberality was also a ruling trait in Mary's character. Of the presents which her father was accustomed to bring home from the various ports he visited, his eldest child was sure to receive the most and best. These partial favours were offered her for, among other reasons, her assiduity and devotion to her mother in the discharge of domestic duties. It was not in the girl's power, however, to retain for her own use and pleasure the tokens of another's kindness to herself. Other hands than Mary's were often seen to handle and possess presents not originally intended for them. It thus became a common remark among the knowing ones of the neighbourhood that Mary was too good for this world, and could not live long. To the unutterable grief of the whole family it was arranged that she was to go to service in a household somewhat distant from home. Her new sphere of duty was in Coilsfield or Montgomery Castle, in the immediate vicinity of Tarbolton, in the county of Ayr. For this position she was indebted to a Campbeltown lady, the celebrated Miss Arbuckle, who became by marriage a member of the Eglinton family. At the adjacent Parish Church of Tarbolton, Mary used to worship on Sundays with other members of the Coilsfield household, although her acquaintance with the English language was somewhat imperfect; her pronunciation of it, indeed, was so tainted with the Gaelic accent |