Soars the sky-lark-soar thou; leaps the stream-do thou leap; Learn from nature the splendour of action, Plough, harrow, and sow, or thou never shalt reap; The red sun has rolled himself into the blue, The wild bee is fencing the sweets of his realm, To spring comes the budding; to summer the blush ; To winter repose, meditation and hush; But to man every season's condition : He buds, blooms, and ripens, in action and rest, Then withers, and wavers, chin drooping on breast, THE TOWN-KIRKINTILLOCH. Since first I wandered hence, the grave Not one now fills his native shade; To mock the scattering hand of Time; Ah, comrades! were you here awhile, Where Kelvin rolls his tremulous flood, And love's old vintage warm our blood: Again our laughter and our glee And spill the poison from his cup: And where is he, dear son of song," Of men, the first and mightiest born? The beauty of his mortal youth: God loved him most-the sweet lamb-souledAnd took him to his starry fold. One joy the less, one grief the more, Are mine, since Life's pale shadow, Death, Met him on fame's illusive shore, Wailing to heaven a passionate breath- Said Death-"So be it; yet thou must die A sudden and a fearful phrase, With double scope, and doubly true; * David Gray. He sleeps between his native streams, In that "Auld Aisle" that fronts the south, He woo'd his darling Poesy, John Gibb, Artist, Was born about 1833, and lived to manhood in the cottage at Merkland, next to that of the parents of David Gray, the poet, who was his companion in youth. He was educated in the Cowgate School, Kirkintilloch, under Mr. Aiton, teacher. When a youth he served his apprenticeship as a joiner with the late Mr. David Marshall, wright, and was taken to Innellan by the late Mr. George Bennett, builder, to erect a number of villas, as his foreman. Mr. Gibb, however, became a joiner and builder on his own account at Innellan. From his boyhood he had an enthusiastic love of art, and for some years of his manhood followed it as an amateur. His liking for it, however, was so great that he latterly took to it as a profession, and his success has marked his genius. He excels in marine subjects, and while at Innellan his pictures were often purchased by the Art Institute of Greenock as prizes. In 1875 Mr. Gibb went to New Zealand, where he now resides, and where his reputation is gradually growing. In that colony he is now accounted one of the principal artists, and received the largest price for one of his pictures yet realised by any painter in that country. He depicts the beautiful scenery of New Zealand, his productions being occasionally sent to London and Melbourne for exhibition, where they are much prized, and over £100 is no uncommon price paid for a single one of his pictures. Among the talented sons of Kirkintilloch Parish it is gratifying to record the name of John Gibb. Bellfield Cottage, Kirkintillocb.* WHAT native of Kirkintilloch, now in the "sere and yellow leaf," does not remember the familiar names daily and hourly in use among the inhabitants "when we were young? Mr. Thomson of Bellfield, Mr. Bartholomew of Broomhill, Major Berry of Unthank (now Waverley Park), Mr. Inglis of Walflat, Bailie Freeland, Bailie Gemmil, and Bailie Dalrymple?" the last-named gentleman being now the only survivor. The beautiful suburb of Bellfield--which was named by Mr. Thomson after an aunt whose maiden name was Bell-although not then studded with handsome villas, had visitors who were afterwards known to fame. Fortunately Dr. Hedderwick was one of these, and he has given us his reminiscences : "What a host of happy recollections rise to my mind at the name of Bellfield Cottage, Kirkintilloch! It was a hospitable abode, and its proprietor, Mr. William Thomson, a liberal, sagacious, and unique landlord. He was a bachelor, lame, and limping in his gait, delighting in the society of young people of parts, and Backward Glances," by James Hedderwick, LL.D. keeping a singularly open table. At every week's end, from Saturday till Monday, he had seldom fewer than ten or a dozen guests. To be an artist, a musician, or a man of letters, was an "open sesame" to Bellfield. Of his numerous circle Mr. Thomson was himself the autocratic ruler, very precise and stern in his household regulations, but outside of these allowing the largest amount of freedom, and, even latitude. Daniel Macnee, pushing to the foremost rank as a portrait-painter, and already renowned for his social qualities, was one of Mr. Thomson's frequent visitors. His rich geniality, and the amazing collection of stories which he told with a dramatic effect amounting to genius, rendered him the delight of all societies. In one of his anecdotes he described himself as brought professionally into contact with a plain-spoken Scotch farmer. A neighbouring gentleman had his horse at the farm, and it was arranged that Macnee should make a sketch of it, with a plough boy on its back, so as to make the effect more picturesque. On presenting himself, the artist was thus accosted :— "Is't you that's come to tak' aff oor Jock an' the meer?" A reply in the affirmative was of course given. "Man," continued the farmer, "ye're a big buirdly chiel; ye micht le workin'. The only painter ever I kent was a bit humphy-backit cratur. There was some excuse for him ; but as for you, ye micht be haudin the pleugh.”* * On one occasion he was standing at a way-side railway station in the north, when a cattle-dealer approached him, and said-"Man, ye're a gudelookin' chap; I wager, noo, ye'll weigh about saxteen stane." "You are quite correct, my dear fellow," said the president with a humorous twinkle in his eye. Ay, I thocht sae!" was the self-satisfied rejoinder. I'm never very far wrang, for I'm the best judge o' swine in the country." |