Janet Little and Robert Burns: An Alliance with Reservations

JanetLittleandRobertBurns: AnAlliancewithReservations MOIRAFERGUSON Thelateeighteenth-centuryScottishpoet,JanetLittle,isanexceptional individual,articulating,inversenoless,thedynamicbetweenthe eighteenth-centuryScottishlaboringworldandmiddle-andupper-class society.Shevoicesaperspectiverarelychronicledbyalaboringclass female,butonesheshareswithhermorefamouscontemporary,Robert Burns.HercareerintersectsBurns'lifeandtext,contextualizingBurns' poemsinaspecialway.Littleprotectsacomplexclassandcultural positionbyextendingmandatedpolitenesstopatronsandemployersfrom themiddleclassandgentrywhilecommendingBurnsinverse.She understandsatfirsthandthatlifeisnotexperiencedataharmoniouslevelby richandpooralike.Atthesametime,asanupholderoftheKirk,Little questionsBurns'relationshipwithwomenbyobliquelycritiquingpower- basedgenderrelationsinseeminglybenignconventionallyricsandpoems. Insodoing,shenotonlyrepresentswomenofhereconomicclass,but womenofallsocialstratawhobreachtheculturalarenadespiteembedded contemptforthetalentsofthesex.Little'spersonalattractiontoRobert Burnsfurthercomplicateshertext.Putbluntly,JanetLittle'squietchal- lengetoBurnsisfreightedwithunstatedfeelingsforthepoetwhose attentionstowomenshesovehementlydeplores.Herpoliticsofclass, nationalandgenderedidentity,moreover,directlyrelatetoherbackground. Bornin1759,thesameyearasRobertBurns,JanetLittlewasthedaugh- terofGeorgeLittle,ahiredfarmlaborerorcottarinNetherBogside,near EcclefechaninDumfrieshire.1Afterashorttimeinservice,shewashired 155 156/FERGUSON bytheReverendJohnstoneandremainedinhishouseholdforseveralyears asafamilyservant.Shebeganwritingpoemsduringthistime.Subsequently ,asachambermaidor"bairn's-woman"(drynurse),sheenteredthe serviceofFrancesDunlop,herpatron-cum-employer,whowasalsoapatron andcorrespondentofRobertBurns.EnergeticallyencouragedbyMrs. Dunlop,JanetLittlecontinuedtowritepoemswhileatDunlopHouse.2 DunlopremainedherinformalpatronafterLittleleftDunlop'sservice sometimeafter1786tobecomeachild'snurseandeventuallysuperintendent ofthedairyatLoudounCastleinAyrshire.Thebusinesswasleasedby Dunlop'sdaughter,Susan,followingthesuicideoftheearlofLoudoun,3 fatheroftheyoungcountesstowhomLittlededicatedhervolumeofpoems. Thispositionasdairysuperintendent,highlyvaluedforitsfinancial security,waspreciousinadecadewhendeathpromptedsubstantial emigration"fromtheLowlands...[ofScotlandand]mainlyfromthe Borders"whereLittlegrewup.4Little'sjobledtoheridentificationonthe titlepageofher1792volumeofpoemsastheScottishmilkmaidor "Scotch"milkmaid,acognomenbywhichshebecamepopularlyknown.5 Atthattime,Scottishlaboring-classpoetsenjoyedawideaudienceamong working-andmiddle-classcommunities,aswellasgentrylikeFrances Dunlop.Theirpoemsweremuchindemand.RobertBurns,especially renownedinScotland,wasinvariablycalledtheploughmanpoet.6The "poeticalmania"oftheperiod,aswellasBurns'ownfameafterthe Kilmarnockeditionofhispoemsappearedin1786,inspired"ahostof shoddyimitators...much...intributetohim."Burnsevencomplained aboutthe"servilityofmyplebeianbrethren."Little'svolumewastheben- eficiaryofboththispoeticfashionandaristocraticpatronage.7 OntheshrewdadviceofJamesBoswellwhomsheinitiallyaskedtobe herdedicatee,JanetLittlededicatedhervolumeofpoemstotwelve-year-old FloraMureCampbell,countessofLoudoun.8Thepowerofthecountessof Loudoun'sname,RobertBurns'assistanceinfillingupthesubscription bill,probablyatDunlop'srequest,andFrancesDunlop'svigorousdrum- mingupoftakersattractedaboutsevenhundredsubscriptions.Thecountess herselfpurchasedtwelvecopies,Dunlopandherrelativestwentycopies. Littleopenshervolumewithatribute"TotheCountessofLondoun"that precedesthetextproper.Shedelineatesthearistocrat'ssuperiorclass positionandtheconducivenessofLoudounCastletoartandjoy:"Will gentleLoudoundeigntolendanear...WithinyourwallsmyhappinessI found...Luxuriantflourish,liketheplantsaround:/Blitheasbirds...I pour'dthewillinglay"(25).Thespeakerrejoices(sheclaims)inher situationatthecastle,expressingappreciationforthecharityandlessonsin virtueaccordedbyaristocratstotheagedandtheruralpoor:"ev'rycomfort rurallifeaffords"(26).Sheenjoysherselfsomuch,shewrites,"Mylifein carelesseasemightrun,/Myagesupportedbymymaster'sson." Somewhatambiguously,withawhisperofself-satisfaction,shecontrasts theimmortalityofherhumblelineswiththelyinglowintheearthof LittleandBurns/157 "honor'dPatrons"(25).Sadnessfurtherreignsinthehouseholdbecausea childhasdied.Onlythespeaker's"sadverse"can"grantthatshelter"which the"goodandgreat"nolongercangive(27).AlthoughLittleapologizes fortheanguishherlinesaboutmortalityelicit,sheintimatesthatherverse is,bycontrast,eternal.InlaterpoemsLittlealsogracefullyandsensibly acknowledgesFrancesDunlop.Oneisentitled"ToaLady,APatronessof theMuses,onHerRecoveryfromSickness."Theother—"Verses.Written onaforeigner'svisitingthegraveofaSwissgentleman,buriedamongthe descendantsofSirWilliamWallace,guardianofScotlandinthethirteenth century"—eulogizesDunlop'sancestor,WilliamWallace,oneofScottland's nationalheroes. Disguisedascommendationstoaltruisticbenefactors,Little'spoemsof praiseamounttoastandardappeal,addressedtousefulpatronsofthearts, whocaneasilyfacilitatetheculturalascentandmodesteconomic advancementofasociallydisadvantagedwoman.Butpatronagecutstwo ways,especiallyinthesetumultuousrevolutionarytimes.Nottoputtoo fineapointonit,thepatronageextendedbytheconservativebourgeoisie andthearistocracyiscomplicatedbyacollectivefearofrepublicanvalues thatwerepopularlyheldamongtheScottishpeasantryandurbanworkers. ApplaudingJanetLittlepartiallypurchasedsocialabsolutionatatimewhen theFrenchRevolutionwasinspiringworkingpeopletoassertthemselves. Little,inturn,iskeenlysensitivetocontradictionsatworkinherown life:employersandpatronstreatherwellandrespectherneeds,butsheis permanentlycondescendedtoandpatronized.Sherespondsthroughsocial verseandculturalconfrontations.Herpoetryaboundswithreferencesto poverty,woe,thetoughnessoflaboringwomen,andtherealityoflifeatthe castle,albeitobliquelyrendered.Throughthisunspokencontrast,the customarytropeofcommendationthatendearsJanetLittletoahighly desirableaudience,forbotheconomicandculturalreasons,speaksforitself. Hervolumeofpoetrymayconstituteaculturaldeclaration,butitisalsoan economicproposition.HerpoemonJanetNicol,"APoemonContent- ment"isacaseinpoint.Itssubtitlereads"InscribedToJanetNicol,A PoorOldWanderingWoman,WhoLivesBytheWallAtLoudounandUsed SometimesToBeVisitedBytheCountess."LittlecongratulatesJanet Nicolonnothavingthepainofbeingawriterorapersoncrossedinlove. Insteadshewishesthat ...blithlymayilkneighbourgreetyou; Maycakes,andscones,andkibbocksmeetyou; Andmaytheyweelilkpocketcram, Andinyourbottleslipadram. Mayyourweeglass,yourpipeandspecks, Beaypreserv'dfraedolefulwrecks. Mayyourweehouse,baithsnugandwarm, Besafefraeev'ryrudealarm. (177) 158/FERGUSON JanetNicol,assertsJanetLittle,neednotworryforthearistocratwill alwaysprovideforher,astatementthatismoreahopethananassumption. DoesJanetLittlebelievesuchprotectionisguaranteed?"Forageandwant, andwoprovides/Andovermiserypresides"(178).Althoughseemingly unalloyedtributestoaristocraticgenerosityandcharityvalidatethegeneral philosophicaltenorofherpoems,Littlepersistently,thoughsubtly, problematizestheideathatpatronsandemployersfosterhappylivesamong workers.Incontrasttothededicatorypoempraisingthecountess,thefirst poeminthevolume,"ToHope,"emphaticallydenotestheworldasan unmitigated"sceneofdoleandcare."Lifeisastruggleinwhichhearts bleed.Thenarratorisseverelydividedagainstherself,asifshestartedoff intendingtoplacateandingratiateherselfwithatleasttheconservativewing ofthereadingpublicandherTorypatrononlytobeconsumedbyrepressed feelingsofanger. Atahighlygeneralizedlevel,Littlediscernsdisappointmenteverywhere. Evidenceofanguishsaturatesthepoem,notleastwhenthespeaker announcesthathope'sfavor"shallever/alleviatemywo"(28).Hope illuminatesour"darkanddrearyway,...bend[s]ourstepstoheav'n,[and] stemfs]thetricklingtear."Hope,too,"decoratesthechain"ofmarriage. Thoughillusory,"weallthyflatt'ringtalesbelieve,/Enamour'dofthyart" (30).Everyonehopes.Sheendsbyfocussingonhope'spowertocancel theterrorofdeath—almostasacover-up—andanauthenticviewofan unhappyworld. ********* JanetLittlepartlyconstructsherculturalandclassidentitythroughher interactionwithRobertBurns,Scotland'snationalpoet.Thetwosharea knowledgeofpovertythatlocatestheminasimilarrelationshiptomiddle- andupper-classpeople.9LittlesideswithBurnsondemocraticprinciples andthepeople'srights.Asiftoaccentuatetheirclasssolidarityandlocate herselfinaScottishculturalcontinuum,JanetLittlewroteacordialpoem andletterofintroductiontoRobertBurnsin1789,exhortinghimtoperuse herpoems.Sheappealstohimasafellowlaborerwhoshouldfavorhis own:"Ifeltapartialityfortheauthor,whichIshouldnothaveexperienced hadyoubeeninamoredignifiedstation....Ishall,inhopeofyourfuture friendship,takethelibertytotranscribethem."10SomeonelikeJanet Little,evenlowerintheclassscalethanBurns—herfatherwasahired laborer,hiswasatenantfarmer—wouldhaveappreciatedthestruggleBurns enduredtobecomerecognizedasapoet.Hislifewasoneof"thwarted progressaswellasofsturdyrootedvitality."11RobertFizhughnotesthat Burns'sympathyfortheoldScotsroyalhousewhichhadwon independencefromEngland,hisnationalpride,hishatredoftyranny, andhisenthusiasmfortheRightsofManandforthePromiseof LittleandBurns/159 Liberty,Equality,andFraternityofferedbytheFrenchRevolutionthen developing—allformapersuasivesequence.ScotsWhaHaeisits ringingstatement,particularlystanzasFiveandSix,andanoble prelude[in1794]totheJacobincry,"Aman'samanfora'that."12 Burns'veneratedclass-levelingsong(1795)strucknocommonchordamong thosewhosympathizedwiththeoldregimeduringtheFrenchrevolutionary struggleafter1789anddeemedrankmuchmorethan"theguinea's stamp."13Althoughtheirfriendshipultimatelysurvived,FrancesDunlop stoppedcorrespondingwithBurnsforeighteenmonthsafterhemadelightof theroyalguillotiningsinFrance. InherpoemofintroductiontoBurns,entitled"AnEpistletoMr.Robert Burns,"JanetLittleapplaudsandupdatesthedistinguishedlineageof ScottishculturethatranthroughAllanRamsay,oneoftherecognized championsofvernacularpoetry,toBurns,itsnewembodiment.LittleextolsBurns'abilitytocaptivateanaudienceofdifferentclasses,andamplypraiseshissurpassingnaturepoems:"Tohearthysong,allranksdesire;/ Saewellthoustrik'stthedormantlyre"(161).ShealsosinglesoutBurns' dedicationtohisfriendandlandlord,GavinHamilton,whohadbeen censuredbytheKirkforbreakingtheSabbathandforcontumacy.14"In unco'bonny,hamespunspeech"(ibid.)inordertomockthelavish dedicationsof"servilebardswhafawnan'fleech,/Likebeggar'smessin." (ibid.)Theselinescontestherrelativelylavishdedicationtothecountess. SheacclaimsBurns'naturepoems,andadds,probablyinreferencetohis poeminpraiseof"ScotchDrink"andhis"EarnestCryandPrayer":"An' weelyepraisethewhiskeygill."Nomatterhowbluntherownquillmight becomeincomplimentinghim,thatpraise,sheinsists,willbeaccorded him"fraeilkahill"(162).Allshecando,shehumblyconfesses,is"blot thybrilliantshine"withher"rude,unpolish'dstrokes"(163). Withpatrioticspirit,LittlefurtherlaudsBurnsbyspeculatinghow Englishmenofletterspassionatelyenvyhispoeticgenius.Sheconjures uptheEnglishtradition,representedbyJosephAddison,AlexanderPope, andSamuelJohnsonwhoaredistraughtwithjealousyat"theplough-boy whosings,wi'throatsaeclear,/They,inarage,/Theirworkswada'in piecestear/An'Curseyourpage(162).Sheendsbyassertingthatshewill stopveneratinghistalents.Insteadshewillprayforallmortalstodispense blessings"withanindulgentcare/ToRobertBurns"(163). Extendinghernationalistsentiment,Littleforegroundshergratitudeatthe honorBurnsbringstoScotlandinapoementitled,"GiventoaLadyWho AskedMetoWriteaPoem."Afterdiscussingthedifficultyofwriting"in royalAnna'sgoldendays,/Hardwasthetalktogainthebays,"she launchesintothosewho"gotnear[Parnassus']top:thatlittlefellowPope, Homer,Swift,Thomson,Addison,an'Young." Almostimmediately,sheoptsforScotsafterstatingthatSamuelJohnson showedthemallup: 160/FERGUSON ButDoctorJohnson,inarage, Unto posterity did shew Theirblundersgreat,theirbeautiesfew. Butnowhe'sdead,weweelmayken; Forilkaduncemaunhaeapen, Towriteinhamely,uncouthrhymes; An'yetforsooththeypleasethetimes. (114)15 PatrioticallyparodyingandavengingJohnson'scritiqueofScottishsociety, shedenotesBurnsasanoverreacher"sous[ing]hissonnetsonthecourt." HereLittleusesaconcreteimageforheractivitiesasadomesticservant.In additiontoitsmeaningof"pouring,"sousealsomeanssloshingfromapail orabucket.Itmayalsohaveforcefulassociationsfromthedialectsenseof "souse,"meaningtostrikeablow.Thensherapidlyreversestheinitial negativereactionfollowedbyaself-eulogy.IfJohnsonwerestillalive,she protestsself-mockingly,hewouldhavegleanedcapitalforanotheranti- Scottishdiatribe: An'whatisstrange,theypraisehimfor'it. Evenfolks,wha'reofthehigheststation, Ca'himthegloryofournation. Butwhatismoresurprisingstill, Amilkmaidmusttakupherquill; An'shewillwrite,shamefa'therabble! Thatthinktopleasewi'ilkabawble. Theymaythankheav'n,auldSam'sasleep: Forcouldheancebutgetapeep, He,wi'avengeancewadthemsen' A'headlongtothedunces'den. (114) UnlikeBurns,sheconcludes,a"rusticcountryqueen"likeherselfclaimsno suchversatility,herself-parodynotonlyintacttothelastlinebutturning itselfinsideout.Indirectly,throughheruseofqueen,acommonwordfor girlinnortheastScots,LittlereferstothedebateoverwritinginScots.She challengesanyideaofthevernacularasinferior,pooh-poohingpotential anxietiesaboutmeasuringuptoanidealcorrectEnglishusage,"pernicious Anglicizing."16HerstateddetachmentfromBurnsonlyservestoenhance herconnectiontohimasherreferencepoint,whileherfirmuseof"wise" affirmsadeep-rootedsenseoffemalecapacity:"Doesshe,poorsillything, pretend/Themannersofouragetomend?/Madasweare,we'rewise enough/Stilltodespisesicpaultrystuff(115).Burns'talent,she stresses...