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enefit of their Claelic-speakinp; servants, besides, her father often made her and her sister read some verses from the Gaelic bible, so they soon came to know it very well. Another friend who helped to encourage her in her poetical aspirations was the Rev. Mr Macrae, Carloway (still living), to whom she composed some lines in 1876, which she never publisiied. For several years after going to Carloway she composed numerous pieces, some of which were never written down. In 1885, Mr Munro Ferguson of Novar and the late Dr. Mac- Donald contested Ross-shire and had a hot fight * Her maternal uncle, the late Alex. MacLeod, Struan, Skye was a poet of some local repute, so she has inherited the poetic gift from both sides of the house. t Nom de plume. J See also an article by the author on " Màiri Laghach," in the October number of the Celtic Monthly, 1898. — This is an appropriate place to mention some other members of " Màiri Laghach's" descendants who possessed the poetic gift. The late Mrs Kenneth MacKenzie, Stommvay, eldest daughter of " Màiri Laghach," was no mean poetess. She composed a considerable number of spiritual songs remarkable for their musical and felicitous expression, some of them being still preserve;! by Miss MacDonald's eldest brother, who also has composed several jjoems. This gentleman, Charles Norman MacDonald, divinity student, has got in MS. several touching pieces, though he of it. She had then a secret admiration for "Novar," and composed a poem to him which appeared in the " Ross-shire Journal," and for which she was afterwards personally thanked by Mr Ferguson himself. After her father's death in 1892, she composed an elegy on his death, whicli appeared in the " Oban Times," and was repeated by " Fionn" before the Lewis and Harris Association in Glasgow in the same year. The above was the last poem she has written. The only other literary production since then was " A Ramble through Skye," by a visitor, published in the " Oban Times," in 1894. Miss MacDonald has composed no less than fourteen more poems, besides " My native Hills for Me." They ai"e : does not affect courting of the muse ; these are : " Winter in the tomb," " Lines on the death of a friend," and " Carved names." Her youngest brother also, David Roderick, now in Dakota, U.S.A., has often been heard singing his own ditties. Her eldest sister, who is called after " Màiri Laghach," before her marriage composed some verses on her then lover, the late Mr Angus MacPhail (" ^Eneas Paulus")t who was himself a poet of great ability, and who left behind him some beautiful poems. The Rev. Wm. John MacDonald, of Free St. Brycedale Church, Kirkcaldy, also a grandson of "Màiri Laghach," seems to have inherited the poetic gift, for not long ago he composed some beautiful verses to his wife on the anniversary of their marriage, full of " In memory of R. G. MacFarlane," 1881 " ; To beauty and tenderness. Another sister of our a loved one," 1881 " ; Our own fireside," 1881 poetess is married to the Rev. Peter MacDonald, ; " To the young reserve militia of Lews being Stornoway, late of Free St. Columba Gaelic called out,"" 1882; "To ye Bard," 1890: "In Church, Edinburgh. The whole of " Màiri memory of H. Woodham," 1887 " ; On seeing a Laghach's " family must have been possessed of friend die," 1884 " ; To Novar," 1885 " ; 'Twas considerable ability. Her second son, Roderick, only a ilreani," ISSiS " ; An adventure witii tlie was editor of the Picton Observer ; another, Bernera hulls." Issii " •, Two acrostic love poems," Alexander, was captain of an East Indiaman. 1889; "Ami .iii i Ik mi still the same as in those Two of them were merchants in Stornoway, and years," isiiii ; "In memory of the Rev. Dr. Mac- the youngest, Donald, was the father of the Donald," 1892 " ; In memory of my Father," subject of our sketch. t Another of her grandsons, 1892. the Rev. N. C. MacFarlane, now of Juniper Two of her poems, one in Gaelic and the other Green, Edinburgh, composed a beautiful elegy on in English, are appended for our readers to the death of his father ; all being sufficient evi- judge of this new bardess' poetic powers. Miss dence of the hereditary transmission of poetic MacDonald is still young, and there is every genius. A brother of Màiri Laghach's also had probability of our hearing of her again, at Avhich, the poetic gift, having composed some beautiful I am sure, all the members of the clan will verses, which forces us to conclude that here we rejoice.* She has not yet recovered from a iiave a very remarkable and talented family. severe attack of influenza she iiad last year. " To the young Militia and Reserve of Lewis on hearing a rumour that they were to be called out in 1S82" :— Ged dheanainnsa rann a sheinn, Cha togar learn fonn no ceòl, Tha m' inntinn 'am breislich 's an am 'S mo chridhe gu trom fuidh bhròin. —
Oir thàinig oirnn naigheachd 'bha truagh, 'S a chuireas an sluagh fuidh bhròin, 'S e naigheachd a bhuineas gu cruaidh Ri Eilean mo luaidhe-sa, Lebdhas. O Alba nan gaisgeach 'bha treun, 'S a sheasadh iad fein 's an stri, A nis dol a chogadh le cheil' 'N aghaidh nàimhdean nach geill 'an sith. Tha niuinntir Mhilitia 's Reserve, A nis air an eigheach a mach A sheasamh na rioghachd 's iad fein Ochain ! mo leireadh 's mo chreach ! Thaneul tiugh dorcha co-dhiii Is coltas ri diomb air Leòdhas, 'Nuair iha daoine 'bha soilleir o thiis A' briseadh a' chfimhnaint mhòir. 'S a' fàgailna h Eaglaise-Saoire, A sheas bho chionn nine gun ghò, 'S a' leantuinn gach buachaill' gun speis, 'Chuir sgapadh 'san treud gu mòr, ehaidh bhur fògradh thar chuan, Gu beam 'dheanamh suas 's gach ait, Tha niuinntir bhur daimhe 's bhur luaidh Gu muladach truagh fuidh phràmh. A' oaoidh nam fear ro shuairce A ehaidh 'thoirt uapa thar sàile A chosnadh urraim is buaidh 'S nach pill o'n chuairt ach pàirt. Is lionmhor màthair 's bean phòsda. Is piuthar fuidh bhròin a tà An diugh 's gach àite air feadh Leòdhais, A' caoidh gu niòr luchd an gràidh. Maille ri leannanaibh òga 'Thug geallanna pòsda gu bàs, An diugh air an sgaradh o cheil' Is cianail learn fein an càs. Agus nis Leòdhasaich mo riiin Is fàsaeh an diithaieh 'n 'ur deigh, Tha deur air iomadach sùla A' caoidh nam fiùghalan gleusd. Is ged nach tigeadh an la 'S am faighte 'san kite sibh fein, Tha mile beannachd luchd-g' àidh Is chàirdean gu bràth 'n 'ur deigh. 0, Shasuinn ! do bhratach tog suas, Le urram is uaill 's gach àite, Air Russia mhòr 'thoirt fuaime A' leagadh luchd d'fhuatha gu làr. Cobharthaich an neart is an uaill, 'Tha còmhnuidh 'san t-sluagh Uiidhd'làimh Na Gàidheil thapaidh o thuath, A choisinn a' bhuaidh 's gach biàr. Righ na glòire ta shuas, Nach cronuioh thu sluagh 'na thràth, O dhòrtadh fola mu'n cuairt, 'S o bhuaireadh casg an làmh. Bha feum gu mòr ach air truas, Is cobhair uailse o'n àird. Is teagaisg 'sa sith do t' shlnagh Chum do niholadh gu buan 's gu bràth. IN MEMORY OF MY FATHER, 1892. Dark day of gloom ! Beloved father ! when I saw thee go. that rent my soul in twain, And leave me in this world of grief and woe To me thy death was loss— to thee 'twas gain ; I watched the flickering light of life go down, My ear was quick to catch each hurried breath, I did not think the cruel hand of death Would lay thee low and njark thee for his own ; With quickening steps he laid his chilly hand On thy dear brow, I could not keep thee back. Oh father ! I would follow in thy track. And join tl ee with the hajipy glorious band That stand before the Throne, where all is light And endless bliss and love in that glorious sphere Where now thou art. We would not have thee here And leave that Home where all is pure and bright Thy place is empty now, a dismal void Is in our hearts and home that nought can fill Weak Nature wrestles, but Faith bids us be still And looking up, behold thee in thy joy. And Faith triumphant over Nature, sees Thy soul's bright gladness—Nature sees but gloom. Faith sees beyond the darkness of the tomb. And lifts our hearts, and gives us rest and peace : Sweet memories linger round each hallowed place Where thou wert wont to tread; the vacant chair Where ihnu didst sit, I still can see thee there With a bright smile upon thy peaceful face ; No silent tears nor heart distending sighs Will ever bring thee back to me again, I must be still, nor give thy spirit pain, There rest " Beloved " till we meet on High. ALISTAIR MAC DHOMHNUILL. ALISTER MACDONALD, INVERNESS. Alister MacDonald, the author of " Còinneach 'us Coille," is the son of Angus MacDonald, crofter, of Achnanconeran, Glenmoriston, a man of exceptional intelligence, still living, and a great great-grandson of Alexander MacDonald, one of the famous seven men of Glenmoriston who protected Prince Charlie for some days in the wilds of the Glen. Our poet was born at Achnanconeran on the 4th of Sept., 1860, and to his mother is due the credit of writing and publishing in the midst of very unsympathetic circumstances, the songs of Archibald Grant, the Glenmoriston bard. When 18 years of age Mr MacDonald removed to Inverness, where he entered the service of the Highland Railway Company as a clerk, and he is now assistant accountant of the company. Having taken several prizes at some of the competitions held some years ago under the auspices of the Gaelic society — ; :
Page 2 and 3:
O^ ^^l
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MACDONALD BARDS MEDIEVAL TIMES. KEI
Page 8 and 9:
INDEX. Page. Alexander MacDonald, B
Page 10 and 11:
Donald Donn p. 12, see also p. 95.
Page 13 and 14:
MacDonald Bards from Mediaeval Time
Page 15 and 16:
which stood the chapel and palace o
Page 17 and 18:
Ann I was ever since I was born, In
Page 19 and 20:
ander and Ronald. Alexander—Alasd
Page 21 and 22:
ilaughter of the Earl of Gowrie. He
Page 23 and 24:
nighean donn." poem, " 'S truagh, a
Page 25 and 26:
GILLEASBUIG NA CEAPAICH. (ARCHIBALD
Page 27 and 28:
Fonn (Chorus). 0, 'chruinneag, e 'c
Page 29 and 30:
— 'S daingeann a bhuail iad às g
Page 31 and 32: Some of our minor Scotch poets take
Page 33 and 34: — ! — Bha Iain gun teagaibh Gu
Page 35 and 36: — went down with her and took awa
Page 37 and 38: 'S mairg a mhol a' Mhòrthir robach
Page 39 and 40: — The late Thomas Pattison of Isl
Page 41 and 42: so is " Tearlach Mac Sheumais " (Ch
Page 43 and 44: Ma chaidh thu nunn thar linntichean
Page 45 and 46: — Mhac Mhic Alastair," and said t
Page 47 and 48: Latin Verses. Verses written by Sir
Page 49 and 50: — after bidding farewell to the R
Page 51 and 52: Translation by Mr L. MacBean of som
Page 53 and 54: The Alex. MacDonald above referred
Page 55 and 56: t Mrs Grant translates the verse as
Page 57 and 58: Och, aluchd-àiteacluiidli iia h-ua
Page 59 and 60: He ultimately married a young girl
Page 61 and 62: Here the merry lark ascends on dewy
Page 63 and 64: 'Mhuintir dh' an suaicheantas fraoc
Page 65 and 66: KAONAILD NIUHEAN MHIC NEIL. (RACHEL
Page 67 and 68: Yet 'mid the drift, wert thou but n
Page 69 and 70: Donald swept onward, spreading havo
Page 71 and 72: MAIRI NIGHEAN IAIN BHAIN (MARY, DAU
Page 73 and 74: Tha ùrnuigh nam bochdan, Do 'n a n
Page 75 and 76: Loch Moidart, Loch-nan-uanih, Loch
Page 77 and 78: His pibroch is a long one, and, I t
Page 79 and 80: Bhagair ar eascaird eitidh borb, Ma
Page 81: Another fine hymn of tMenty-nine ve
Page 85 and 86: Dòmhnuill," 1896 (a poem); (2) " T
Page 87 and 88: Lo ])rasgan de Ghaidheil, Làn àrd
Page 89 and 90: IAIN DOMHNALLACH AN BALL, OBAN. (BL
Page 91 and 92: who was a grand-danghter of Charlot
Page 93 and 94: all subsequent documents the name a
Page 95 and 96: Maidens ! softly touch the clàrsac
Page 97 and 98: Let, the free-born sons of the moun
Page 99 and 100: — fought with his brother Donald
Page 101 and 102: Ach gu'n caisg an Righ Mor e, Hi ha
Page 103 and 104: 'Nuair a thàinig e as a colainn, '
Page 105 and 106: — NIGHEAN MHIC AONGHUIS OIG. Besi
Page 107 and 108: Nach co-ion da 'blii 'caig rium Is
Page 109 and 110: In this elegy there are 13 verses,
Page 111 and 112: Gur a binn leam 'bhi leughadh Mu'n
Page 113 and 114: Latha Sliabh-an-t-siona, Bu churaid
Page 115 and 116: the silver-hilted sword—the windo
Page 117 and 118: and imprisoned. His papers were car
Page 119 and 120: On what she did, now many look, Won
Page 121 and 122: IAIN DOMHNULLACH (John MacDonald).
Page 123 and 124: 10. " Spaidsearachd Dlionuill Ghrua
Page 125 and 126: personal danger ; certainly not, fo
Page 127 and 128: Another beautiful poem by " Fear Gh
Page 129 and 130: De Chlann DòmhnuiU tlo-rireaclli,
Page 131 and 132: 9.—Because the great majority of
Page 133 and 134:
tional form, and as those who cheri
Page 135 and 136:
landers were accustomed to sing at
Page 137:
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