Grampian Club > Monuments and monumental inscriptions in Scotland > Volume 1

491
SOUTHERN NECEOPOLIS.
In this cemeteiy rest the remains of Hugh Macdonald, an in-
genious and short-lived poet. Born at Bridgeton, Glasgow, on the
4th April, 1817, he was, after a short attendance at school, ap-
prenticed in the block-printing works of Monteith and Co., Barrow-
field. He afterwards opened a provision shop at Bridgeton, but the
venture did not succeed, and he returned to his trade. From his
house at Bridgeton to the block -printing works at Colinslie, near
Paisley, where he was now employed, he walked every morning, a
distance of eight miles, and after twelve hours' labour again walked
home. During these long journeys he improved himself by reading
and reflection, and he began to send contributions, both in prose
and verse, to the public journals. During a visit to Edinburgh in
the summer of 1846, he met with a kind reception from Professor
Wilson, who commended his verses. In 1849 he became sub-editor
of the Glasgow Citizen. In the columns of the Citizen he com-
menced his " Eambles Pound Glasgow," a series of interesting and
amusing sketches, which, subsequently collected in a volume,
established his reputation. In 1855 he accepted the editorship of
the Glasgow Times; he contributed to that journal a series of
papers descriptive of the scenery of the Clyde, which he afterwards
published with the title of " Days at the Coast." Joining the
literary staff of the Morning Journal, a daily newspaper started at
Glasgow in June, 1858, he continued in this connection till his
death, which took place on the 16th March, 1860. His poetical
compositions were in 1865 published at Glasgow in a duodecimo
volume. Mr. Macdonald is commemorated by a short inscription
on a tombstone which he erected to the memory of his wife. She
died on the 25th October, 1855, and is by her husband celebrated
thus : —
" The blighted flower shall bloom again,
The fallen star shall rise
Triumphant from the gloom of death
To glory in the skies."