1802.
Why heaves my mother oft the deep drawn sigh ?
Why starts the big tear glistening in her eye ?
Why oft retire to hide her bursting grief?
Why seeks she not, nor seems to wish, relief?
Tis for my Father, mould'ring with the dead,
My Brother, in bold manhood lowly laid,
And for the pains which age is doom'd to bear,
She heaves the deep drawn sigh, and drops the silent tear.
Yes, partly these her gloomy thoughts employ ;
But mostly this o'erclouds her ev'ry joy,—
She grieves to think she may be burthensome,
Now feeble, old, and tottering to the tomb.
Oh, hear me, Heav'n, and record my Vow,
Its non-performance let thy wrath pursue !
I swear—Of what Thy providence may give,
My Mother shall her due maintenance have.
Twas hers to guide me thro Life's early day,
To point out Virtue's path, and lead the way ;
Now, while her pow'rs in frigid langour sleep,
Tis mine to hand her down Life's rugged steep,
With all her little weaknesses to bear,
Attentive, kind, to sooth her ev'ry care.—
Tis Nature bids, and truest pleasure flows
From lessening an aged parent's woes. [1]
M‘Laren, in his Life, says—“While Tannahill's heart was bent to sorrowful reflection by the death of his father, he turned with anxious solicitude to the fate of his widowed mother, and, in the tenderness of his soul, wrote “The Filial Vow,” which was kept, with the sacredness of truth, to the last hour of his life. It speaks the filial affections of his heart, and will long remain an honourable testimony of his worth.”
Ramsay, in his Memoir of the Author, says—“Hugh having married, Robert alone was left with his widowed mother, and, in the fullness of his heart, wrote the “Filial Vow,” which he faithfully kept. No trait in our author's character is more calculated to interest the reader in his favour, than the unwearied regard which he displayed for the welfare of his surviving parent. She outlived him thirteen years, having died in 1823 at an advanced aged. It is gratifying to know, that the attentions of which she was deprived by his death were amply supplied by her surviving children.”
Note in 1846 Edition.—“This Poem was written shortly after the death of the Poet's father, and speaks the filial affections of his heart.”
[1] The Poet's eldest brother, Thomas, died in 1795, in the 29th year of his age, and his Father in December, 1801, or January 1802, in the 69th year of his age, when his Mother was in her 64th year. In these days Muslin flowering, Tambouring, Clipping, Fringing, and other light work, were given out by manufacturers to be executed at home, and thrifty wives and widows wrought at these employments, but principally young females. We concur with Mr. Ramsay and the other Editor in the strong filial affection of the Bard for his Mother and her maintenance ; but, she having a hale constitution and a spirit of independence, could not allow herself to remain idle, and she obtained as much employment as she required from the warehouse of Mr. William Burns, 98 Causeyside, foot of Brown's Lane, where her son James was foreman. After the death of the Poet, she was well attended to by her two sons, James and Matthew. Mrs. Tannahill lived to the venerable age of 84 years, and died on 19th August, 1822.—Ed.
[Semple 10]