needs a welcome to that shore, for well my thought might say,
'Twere better than that brow to face that I were leagues away.
But no, not so! what fears should daunt,--for what welcomes e'er outran
The welcome that I bring with me, my call from God and man?
Nor vain my trust! my helmsman, He who sent me, now is steering,
And, by His power, the wave-worn craft the shore in calm is nearing,
And scarce my foot was on the beach when two hundred echoes spake
Their welcome, and a hundred hands flew forth my hand to take.
And he, believe me, has his best protection by his side
Who bears the call of God and man, from the reef, the crag, the tide;
And, for welcome on the shore, give me the flashing eyes that glow'd,
When I told the men of Hirt the news I brought them from their God!
DUNCAN KENNEDY.
Duncan Kennedy was born about the year 1758. His father was gardener to
Mr M'Lachlan of Kilanahanach, in the parish of Glassary, Argyleshire. In
his youth he enjoyed the advantage of attending the parish school, which
was then conducted by an able classical scholar. At an early age he was
qualified to become an instructor of youth in a remote part of his
native parish, and there he had frequent opportunities of becoming
acquainted with "Iain Ban Maor" the Gaelic poet, and enjoyed the
privilege of listening to the eminent Daniel Campbell and other pious
ministers in the surrounding parishes. He was promoted to the parish
school of Kilmelford about the year 1784, and soon thereafter published
his collection of "Hymns and Spiritual Songs." During his summer
vacations he travelled over the districts of Kintyre, Argyle, and Lorn,
in search of legends concerning the Fingalians, and was successful in
collecting a mass of information, which in Gaelic verse he styled "Sean
dana." The MS. of his researches he intrusted to the perusal of a
neighbouring clergyman, from whom he was never able to recover it, a
circumstance which led him afterwards to inveigh against the clerical
order. From Kilmelford parish school, Kennedy in 1790 removed to
Glasgow, where he was engaged, first as an accountant, and afterwards in
mercantile pursuits. At one period he realised about L10,000, but he was
latterly unfortunate and indigent. During his old age he was allowed a
small pension from "The Glasgow Merchants' Home." Several years
subsequent to 1830 he resided at Ardrisaig in Argyleshire. His death
took pla
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