Page 1.-HOME, SWEET HOME!-The following additional verses to the song of "Home, Sweet Home!" Mr. Payne affixed to the sheet music, and presented them to Mrs. Bates in London, a relative of his, and the wife of a rich banker :

To us, in despite of the absence of years,
How sweet the remembrance of home still appears!
From allurements abroad, which but flatter the

eye,

The unsatisfied heart turns, and says with a sigh, "Home, home, sweet, sweet home! There's no place like home!

There's no place like home!"

Your exile is blest with all fate can bestow;
But mine has been checkered with many a woe!
Yet, tho' different our fortunes, our thoughts are

the same,

And both, as we think of Columbia, exclaim,

"Home, home, sweet, sweet home! There's no place like home! There's no place like home!" -Life and Writings of John Howard Payne, 4to, Albany, 1875.

Page 3.-THE COTTER'S SATURDAY NIGHT.The house of William Burns was the scene of this fine, devout, and tranquil drama, and William himself was the saint, the father, and the husband who gives life and sentiment to the whole. "Robert had frequently remarked to me," says Gilbert Burns, "that he thought there was something peculiarly venerable in the phrase, 'Let us worship God!' used by a decent, sober head of a family, introducing family worship." To this sentiment of the author the world is indebted for the "Cotter's Saturday Night." He owed some little, however, of the inspiration to Fergusson's "Farmer's Ingle," a poem of great merit.

-Burns's Poetical Works, 8vo ed., Philada.

,1

Page 7.- MATRIMONIAL HAPPINESS.-Lapraik was a very worthy facetious old fellow, late of Dalfram near Muirkirk, which little property he was obliged to sell in consequence of some connection as security for some persons concerned in that villainous bubble, "The Ayr Bank." He has often told me that he composed this song one day

when his wife had been fretting over their misfortunes. Robert Burns.

Page 10.-THE MARINER'S WIFE.-This most felicitous song is better known as "There's nae Luck about the House." It first appeared on the streets about the middle of the last century, and was included in Herd's Collection, 1776. The authorship is a matter of doubt. A copy of it, like a first draught, was found among the papers of William Julius Mickle, and the song has hence been believed to be his, notwithstanding that he did not include it in his own works. On the other hand, there has been some plausible argument to show that it must have been the work of a Mrs. Jane Adams, who kept a school at Crawford's Dyke, near Greenock; it is not, however, included in her volume of Miscellany Poems, published as early as 1734. Jane Adams gave Shakespearian readings to her pupils, and so admired Richardson's Clarissa Harlowe that she walked to London to see the author. Toward the close of her life she became a wandering beggar, died in the poorhouse of Glasgow on April 3, 1765, and was "buried at the house expense."—Notes and Queries, Third Series, vol. x.

Notwithstanding the weighty authority of Notes and Queries, I am inclined to ascribe its authorship to Jean Adam (not Jane Adams). Mickle never lived near a seaport, and never wrote anything as good as this poem. The remarkable statement that the poem does not appear in any of the published works of either claimant is, as far as it goes, an argument in favor of Miss Adam. She was poor, and probably published but one edition of her poems, which had a sale so small that the industrious Allibone does not mention her name in his Dictionary of Authors, while the scholarly translator of the Lusiad published many volumes of poems, some of which ran into several editions; and the fact that he never included "The Mariner's Wife" in any of them should determine the question of its authorship in her favor.

Page 11.-THE EXILE TO HIS WIFE.-Joseph Brennan (b. 1829, d. 1857) was a native of the north of Ireland. He joined the Young Ireland party in 1848, and was one of the conductors of

the Irish Felon. He was imprisoned for nine months in Dublin, afterward edited the Irishman, and in October, 1849, being implicated in an insurrectionary movement in Tipperary, fled to America. He was for three years connected with the New Orleans Delta, and died in that city in May, 1857.-Single Famous Poems.

Page 21.-LADY ANNE BOTHWELL'S LAMENT.— The subject of this pathetic ballad the editor once thought might possibly relate to the Earl of Bothwell, and his desertion of his wife, Lady Jean Gordon, to make room for his marriage with the Queen of Scots. But this opinion he now believes to be groundless; indeed, Earl Bothwell's age, who was upward of sixty at the time of that marriage, renders it unlikely that he should be the object of so warm a passion as this elegy supposes. He has been since informed that it entirely refers to a private story. A young lady of the name of Bothwell-or rather Boswellhaving been, together with her child, deserted by her husband or lover, composed these affecting lines herself.-Percy's Reliques.

Page 22.-THE ANGELS' WHISPER.-A superstition of great beauty prevails in Ireland, that when a child smiles in its sleep it is "talking with the angels."—Lover's Lyrics of Ireland.

Page 27.-GOLDEN TRESSED ADELAIDE.-The gifted child of the poet, Adelaide Anne Procter.

Page 34-THE MITHERLESS BAIRN.-An Inverary correspondent writes: "Thom gave me the following narrative as to the origin of 'The Mitherless Bairn;' I quote his own words: When I was livin' in Aberdeen, I was limping roun' the house to my garret, when I heard the greetin' o' a wean. A lassie was thumpin' a bairn, when out cam' a big dame, bellowin', "Ye hussie! will ye lick a mitherless bairn?" I hobbled up the stair and wrote the sang afore sleepin'.'"

Page 41.-THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD.-The subject of this very popular ballad (which has been set in so favorable a light by The Spectator, No. 85) seems to be taken from an old play, entitled "Two Lamentable Tragedies; the one of the murder of Maister Beech, a chandler in Thamesstrecte, etc. The other of a young child murthered in a wood by two ruffins, with the consent of his unkle. By Rob. Yarrington, 1601, 4to." Our ballad-maker has strictly followed the play in the description of the father's and mother's dying charge; in the uncle's promise to take care of their issue; his hiring two ruffians to destroy his wards, under pretence of sending them to school; their choosing a wood to perpetrate the murder in; one of the ruffians relenting and a battle ensuing, etc. In other respects he has departed

| from the play. In the latter the scene is laid in Padua; there is but one child, which is murdered by a sudden stab of the unrelenting ruffian; he is slain himself by his less bloody companion, but ere he dies he gives the other a mortal wound, the latter living just long enough to impeach the uncle, who, in consequence of this impeachment, is arraigned and executed by the hand of justice, etc. Whoever compares the play with the bailad will have no doubt but the former is the original: the language is far more obsolete, and such a vein of simplicity runs through the whole performance that, had the ballad been written first, there is no doubt but every circumstance of it

would have been received into the drama; whereas this was probably built on some Italian novel.

Printed from two ancient copies, one of them in black-letter in the Pepys Collection. Its title at large is, The Children in the Wood, or The Norfolk Gentleman's Last Will and Testament, to the tune of Rogero, etc.-Percy's Reliques.

Page 75.-WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE.-This song owes its existence to the following incident: The author some years since was riding out with a friend in the suburbs of New York City, and when near Bloomingdale they observed a cottager in the act of sharpening his axe under the shadow of a noble ancestral tree. His friend, who was once the proprietor of the estate on which the tree stood, suspected that the woodman intended to cut it down, remonstrated against the act, and, accompanying the protest with a ten-dollar note, succeeded in preserving from destruction this legendary memorial of his earlier and better days. -Frederick Saunders's Festival of Song.

Page 81.AULD LANG SYNE.-Of the two versions of this song, we adopt for our text that supplied to Johnson in preference to the copy made for George Thomson. The arrangement of the verses is more natural; it wants the redundant syllable in the fourth line of stanza first; and the spelling of the Scotch words is more correct. The poet transcribed the song for Mrs. Dunlop in his letter to her dated 17th December, 1788, and it is unfortunate that Dr. Currie did not print a verbatim copy of it, along with that letter, instead of simply referring his reader to the Thomson correspondence for it. Thomson's closing verse stands second in Johnson, where it seems in its proper place, as having manifest reference to the earlier stages of the interview between the long-separated friends. Many of our readers must have observed that when a social company unites in singing the song before dispersing, it is the custom for the singers to join hands in a circle at the words, "And there's a hand," ete. This ought to conclude the song, with the chorus sung rapidly and emphatically thereafter. But

Page 87.-ODE TO AN INDIAN GOLD COIN.-This remarkable poem was written in Cherical, Malabar, the author having left his native land, Scotland, in quest of a fortune in India. He died shortly afterward in Java.-Frederick Saunders's Festival of Song.

Page 103.-WALY, WALY, BUT LOVE BE BONNY.-Nothing is known with certainty as to the authorship of this exquisite song, one of the most affecting of the many that Scotland can boast. It had been supposed to refer to an incident in the life of Lady Barbara Erskine, wife of the second Marquis of Douglas; but the allusions are evidently to the deeper woes of one not a wife -who "loved not wisely, but too well."-Illustrated Book of Scottish Song.

Page 112.-THE NUT-BROWN MAID.-Henry,

Montgomery, afterward Earl of Eglinton. In notes to the Museum, Burns says of the present song: "This was a composition of mine before I was known at all to the world. My Highland lassie was a warm-hearted, charming young creature as ever blessed a man with generous love. After a pretty long trial of the most ardent reciprocal attachment, we met by appointment on the second Sunday of May in a sequestered spot on the banks of the Ayr, where we spent the day in taking a farewell before she should embark for the West Highlands to arrange matters among her friends for our projected change of life. At the close of the autumn following she crossed the sea to meet me at Greenock, where she had scarce landed when she was seized with a malignant fever, which hurried my dear girl to her grave in a few days, before I could even hear of her illness." Cromek adds a few particulars of the final interview of the youthful lovers: "This adieu was performed with all those simple and striking ceremonials which rustic sentiment has devised to prolong tender emotion and to inspire awe. The lovers stood on each side of a small purling brook, they laved their hands in the

Margaret Percy his wife, are the originals of this ballad. Lord Clifford had a miserly father and ill-natured stepmother, so he left home and became the head of a band of robbers. The ballad was written in 1502, and says that the "Not

browne Mayd" was wooed and won by a knight who gave out that he was a banished man. After describing the hardships she would have to undergo if she married him, and finding her love true to the test, he revealed himself to be an earl's son, with large hereditary estates in Westmoreland.— Percy's Reliques (Series II.).

Page 120. HIGHLAND MARY. "Highland Mary," says the Hon. A. Erskine in a letter to Mr. George Thomson, "is most enchantingly pathetic." Burns says of it himself, in a letter to Mr. Thomson: "The foregoing song pleases myself; I think it is in my happiest manner; you will see at first glance that it suits the air. The subject of the song is one of the most interesting passages of my youthful days; and I own that I should be much flattered to see the verses set to an air which would ensure celebrity. Perhaps, after all, 'tis the still-glowing prejudice of my heart that throws a borrowed lustre over the merits of the composition."-Illustrated Book of Scottish Song.

The history, of this humble maiden is now known to all the world, and will continue to be remembered as long as Scottish song exists. Her name was Mary Campbell, and her parents resided at Campbelltown, in Argyleshire. At the time Burns became acquainted with her she was servant at Coilsfield House, the seat of Colonel

they pronounced their vows to be faithful to each other. They parted never to meet again." Cromek's account of this parting interview was considered somewhat apocryphal till, a good many sented by Burns to Mary Campbell, was discovered years ago, a pocket Bible in two volumes, prein the possession of her sister at Ardrossan. This Bible afterward found its way to Canada, whither the family had removed; and having excited the interest of some Scotchmen at Montreal, they purchased it (for its possessors were unfortunately in reduced circumstances), and had it conveyed back to Scotlaud, with the view of being permanently placed in the monument at Ayr. On its arrival at Glasgow, Mr. Weir, stationer. Queen street (through the instrumentality of whose son, we believe, the precious relic was mainly procured), kindly announced that he would willingly show it for a few days at his shop to any person who might choose to see it. The result was, that thousands flocked to obtain a view of this interesting memorial, and the ladies in particular displayed an unwonted eagerness regarding it, some of them being even moved to tears on beholding an object which appealed so largely to female sympathies. On the anniversary of the poet in 1841, the Bible, enclosed in an oaken glass case, was deposited among other relies in the monument at Ayr. On the boards of one of the volumes is inscribed in Burns's handwriting, "And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, I am the Lord," Levit., chap. xix. v. 12; and on the other, "Thou shalt not forswear thy

self, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oath," St. Matt., chap. v. v. 33; and on the blank leaves of both volumes, "Robert Burns, Mossgiel." Burns's Works, Blackie & Son's ed.

Page 120.SALLY IN OUR ALLEY.-Carey says the occasion of his ballad was this: "A shoemaker's apprentice, making holiday with his sweetheart, treated her with a sight of Bedlam, the puppet-shows, the flying chain, and all the elegancies of Moorfields; from whence proceeding to the Farthing Piehouse, he gave her a collation of buns, cheese-cakes, gammon of bacon, stuffed beef and bottle ale; through all which scenes the author dodged them (charmed with the simplicity of their courtship), from whence he drew this little sketch of nature." The song, he adds, made its way into the polite world, and was more than once mentioned with approbation by "the divine Addison."-Chambers's Cyclopædia of English Literature.

Page 124.-To ALTHEA, FROM PRISON.-This excellent sonnet, which possessed a high degree of fame among the old Cavaliers, was written by Colonel Richard Lovelace during his confinement in the Gate-house, Westminster, to which he was committed by the House of Commons in April, 1642, for presenting a petition from the county of Kent, requesting them to restore the king to his rights and to settle the government. See Wood's Athenæ, vol. ii., p. 228, and Lysons's Environs of London, vol. i., p. 109, where may be seen at large the affecting story of this elegant writer, who after having been distinguished for every gallant and polite accomplishment, the pattern of his own sex and the darling of the ladies, died in the lowest wretchedness, obscurity, and want in 1658.-Percy's Reliques.

Page 126.-JEAN.-This song was written in celebration of the charms of Jean Armour, afterward the poet's wife.

"Of a' the Airts the Wind can Blaw" was the most universally popular of all Burns's songs, at least in the west of Scotland, and it is still a great favorite. The air is by Mr. Marshall, who in Burns's time was butler to the Duke of Gordon, and who composed several other fine airs. Only the first two stanzas were written by Burns. The last two have been ascribed to John Hamilton, music-seller, Edinburgh.-Burns's Works, Blackie & Son's ed.

| stick them in her sleeve, singing the whilst a Paternoster, and thus ensure that her dreams would that night present the person in question. Or, passing into a different country from that of her ordinary residence, and taking her right-leg stocking, she might knit the left garter round it, repeating:

"I knit this knot, this knot I knit,
To know the thing I know not yet,
That I may see

The man that shall my husband be,
Not in his best or worst array,
But what he weareth every day;
That I to-morrow may him ken
From among all other men."

Lying down on her back that night with her hands under her head, the anxious maiden was led to expect that her future spouse would appear

in a dream and salute her with a kiss.-Chambers's Book of Days.

Page 136.-LOCHINVAR.-The ballad of Lochinvar is in a very slight degree founded on a ballad called "Katharine Janfarie." (See Note to Katharine Janfarie.)

Page 137-AULD ROBIN GRAY.-This beautiful ballad, of which the authorship was long a mystery, was written by Lady Anne Lindsay, daughter of the Earl of Balcarras, and afterward Lady Barnard. It appears to have been composed at the commencement of the year 1772, when the author was yet a young girl. It was published anonymously, and acquired great popularity. No one, however, came forward to lay claim to the laurels lavished upon it, and a literary controversy sprang up to decide the authorship. Many conjectured that it was as old as the days of David Rizzio, if not composed by that unfortunate minstrel himself, while others considered it of much later date. The real author was, however, suspected; and ultimately, when her ladyship was an old woman, Sir Walter Scott received a letter from Lady Anne herself openly avowing that she had written it. She stated that she had been long suspected by her more intimate friends, and often questioned with respect to the mysterious ballad, but that she had always managed to keep her secret to herself without a direct

and absolute denial. She was induced to write the song by a desire to see an old plaintive Scottish air ("The Bridegroom Grat when the Sun gaed down") which was a favorite with her fitted with words more suitable to its character than the ribald verses which had always hitherto, for want of better, been sung to it. She had previously been endeavoring to beguile the tedium occasioned by her sister's marriage and departure for London by the composition of verses; but of all she