Allan Ramsay. [A biography.] - National Library of Scotland

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FAMOUS SCOTS
the New Year festivities of 1 7 1 2. A woman, at once of
considerable personal attractions, sound common sense
and practical knowledge of the world, a capital housewife
withal, and though not devoid of a certain modicum
of literary appreciation, by no means a blue-stocking,
such, in brief, was the lady who for thirty years was to be
the faithful partner of Ramsay's fortunes, rejoicing with
him in success, sympathising with him in reverse—one
who merited to the full the glowing lines wherein he
described her. The song of ' Bonny Chirsty ' was
;;< written after nearly seven years of wedded life. The
sentiments therein expressed speak better than comment
as to the happiness of Ramsay's marriage. One
verse of it may be quoted
—
* How sweetly smells the simmer green !
Sweet taste the peach and cherry
Painting and order please our een,
And claret makes us merry :
But finest colours, fruits, and flowers,
And wine, though I be thirsty.
Lose a' their charms and weaker powers,
Compared wi' those of Chirsty.'
About a year before his marriage, Ramsay had left
the shop in the Grassmarket, where he had commenced
business in 1707, and had established himself in the
High Street in premises already described, and which
exist to this day. There, under his sign of the ' Flying
Mercury,' he toiled and sang, and chatted and cracked
jokes with all and sundry, from sunrise to sunset, his wit
and his humour, and, as time rolled on, his poetic genius,
bringing many customers to his shop. Verily, a sunny-
souled man, in whom ' life with its carking cares ' could
never extinguish his cheery bonhomie and self-confidence.
;