Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

composed the following poems. If images of nature that are beautiful and new, if sentiments warm from the heart, interesting and pathetic, if a style chaste with ornament and elegant with simplicity, if these and many other beauties of nature and of art are allowed to constitute true poetic merit, the following poems will stand high in the judgment of men of taste.”

The writer has to acknowledge his indebtedness to the Library Committee of the Edinburgh University for their permission to copy the letters of Rev. John Logan, and for the privilege of publishing them, as is now done for the first time.

It was the intention of the late Rev. Dr William Mackelvie to have published a second edition of the Life and Works of Michael Bruce, which he had in preparation, largely corrected, with further evidence in support of the claims of Bruce. But during his serious illness this volume was taken from his library by some unknown person and has not been heard of since.

The writer knew the late Dr Mackelvie and has listened to his interesting statements regarding Bruce; and having been brought up within sight of Kinnesswood, and ultimately associated with that locality, he has been enabled to apply his local knowledge to the present purpose out of regard for the claims and fame of the poet Michael Bruce ; also as a token of his esteem for the late Dr Mackelvie for the zeal and interest he displayed on the poet's behalf.

[graphic]

"THE COTTAGE," KINNESSWOOD, where Michael Bruce was born 1746,

and where he passed to the "Higher Life," July 1767.

6

CHAPTER I

THE PARENTS AND HOME OF MICHAEL BRUCE

The poet's parents-Their home-Occupation-Religious observances— The young poet's surroundings-The description of Alexander Bruce -David Pearson's letter regarding him-The poet's sketch of his father-The father's poem on his son-The letter to David Pearson. ALEXANDER and Ann Bruce were the names of the young poet's parents. Although the wife's name was the same as her husband's, they were not previously related. The house in which the poet was born stands in what is known as the "Loan to the Hill," and originally consisted of one storey. Like the other dwellings among which it stood, it was covered or thatched with reeds, while the door was entered from the street. Sometime afterwards an additional storey was built upon the former walls, reached by a small stair outside, so as to attain to the higher ground at the back of the cottage, from which the door of the new portion was made to

enter.

Alexander Bruce was a weaver by trade, and has the credit of having turned out his work in a superior style, though some have asserted he was fonder of

reading than of weaving. His wife ably performed her share of the domestic duties, the frequent birr of her wheel as she filled the "pirns" to aid her husband revealing to the neighbours her ceaseless industry. She was known to be a woman of a superior mind, and like her husband was highly religious. In this particular they helped each other, and both were highly esteemed by their neighbours for their social and religious qualities.

The date 1748 is engraved on the "pate stone," but this was done when the additional storey to the house was erected. Before the door of this upper house was their little garden, stocked in the usual way with useful herbs and vegetables. Formerly there was a large tree growing there, under the shade of which the poet was wont to sit or recline, while the woodbine and roses were trained on the outer walls of the cottage, and the sweet thyme with lilyof-the-valley grew in abundance all around.

Before the labours of the day began, and when these were concluded, the whole family were wont to gather round the hearth, and family worship was reverently conducted. The home was indeed "a Bethel," and the heads of it may without exaggeration be termed as having been among "the princes of God's people." The whole surroundings were fitted to aid the development of a Christian poet born under such circumstances; while the situation of the village, nestling under the shade of the

« VorigeDoorgaan »