Child in the Manger

Author: Mary MacDonald

Mary MacDougal MacDonald United Kingdom 1789-1872. Born at Ardtun, daughter of a farmer and Baptist cleric, Duncan MacDougal, northeast of Bunessan on the Ross of Mull, she was a Gaelic poet who lived at Cancan, Bunessan on Mull, Scotland. She never spoke English. She married Neil MacDonald and settled into a life as a crofter’s wife. While at her spinning wheel she passed time by singing hymns and poems, some of her own composition. She was a devout Baptist. Some of her hymns reached beyond her locality. The tune of her best known hymn (same tune as hymn: “Morning has broken”) was an old Scottish melody she attached to her lyrics that helped popularize the hymn, translated from the Gaelic in 1888 by Lachlan McBean of Scotland… Go to person page >

Translator: L. Macbean

Born: November 6, 1853, Tigh-na-coille Kiltarlity, Invernessshire, Scotland. Died: January 24, 1931, Kirkcaldy, Scotland. Macbean edited The Fifeshire Advertiser in Kirkcaldy. He was actively involved in resurrecting almost forgotten Gaelic songs. His works include: Kirkcaldy Burgh Records Lessons on Gaelic Songs and Hymns of the Gael (Edinburgh, Scotland: 1888) Sources: Reynolds, p. 364 http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/m/a/c/macbean_l.htm  Go to person page >