The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

i^kye Bards. 699
were sent. Lachlan here was easily dux, not only in the
acquiring of a sound knowledge of Latin and Greek,
and the other branches taught, but in all athletic exercises
and feits of strength. During the three years he remained
in the school, he composed several English ditties, which,
howe\er, are not to be compared with those he afterwards
composed in Gaelic. It is to be regretted that such an
able man did not write more of his songs.
When he was t\\ent\'-three )-ears of age he married
Flora, daughter of Campbell of Stroud in Harris. From
his chief he rented Breakish and Pabbay, and here he
lived peacefully and contented, respected by all, till the
death of his beloved wife, some years afterwards. Her
death was a severe blow to him. He could no longer stay
in the place, and he removed to Kintail. This was but
jumping from the fr}-ing-pan to the fire, and four x^ears
after he returned to Skye. While on a \isit to Inverness
twelve years after his wife died, to see some of his old
school companions, he was prevailed upon to marr\- a
widow of the name of Mackintosh. This wife seems to
have been proud, peevish, and cross. The marriage was a
very unhappy one, and the rest of his days were full of
grief and misery. He died in the year 1734, aged 69
years. His funeral was the most numerously attended
ever witnessed in Skye. Most of the Highland chiefs,
with their retinue, were there, and seven pipers followed the
bier to the old Churchyard of Cillchrist (Cille-Chriosda).
Four of his songs appear in the " Beauties of Gaelic
Poetry," and a few in other collections, notably " Cumha
Mhic Leoid Thalascair," in " The Gaelic Bards," a song
composed to John 2nd of Talisker, who was married to
Janet, only child of Alexander Macleod of Grishornish.
One verse only will serve as a specimen :
—
Gun robh thu ciuin is macanta,
Gun scraing, gun chais, gun chriona.
Gun tnu, gun fheall, gun seacharan,
'S tu scapach, pailt is crionnta.