Page:Facts and Fancies about Our "Son of the Woods", Henry Clarence Kendall and his Poetry (IA factsfanciesabou00hami).pdf/53

 In his despondent moods he always used to say "the public would look after his wife and children and that it would be a good thing for her (the wife) and the children if he were to die."

But when actually dying, perhaps, he was not so assured of this, for all his anxiety then was on account of those he was leaving behind, unprovided for.

That he was an affectionate father, and tender and thoughtful in his regard for their helplessness, there was no doubt, any more than there was a shadow of question as to his being a faithful husband, in the affectionate and moral sense of that word. His wife recognised all that fully; and his worst enemy had no opportunity of laying to his charge the frailty of his mature either as it regards what is termed the "moral" life of a man, or as it regards his most strict honesty and integrity of purpose in his business relations with his fellow men. In his position—a position of trust at Camden haven, and afterwards as Inspector of Forests when residing at Cundleton—he was conscientious in the discharge of his duties. Perhaps when he was Inspectors of Forests at £500 per annum, had he been less scrupulous, and more careful of his own health, leaving those under him to do the more arduous work (for which his delicate frame was scarcely fitted, though he was a good horseman and fond of riding), he might have taken more care of himself and left the "sleeping out on the ground in all weathers" and general "roughing it" to others, and not have met his death so early in life.

But all these virtues. and the difficulties under which he wrote his poetry, some of his least generous critics passed over, even though admitting his genius as undeniable.

He was far too sensitive, himself, regarding his own shortcomings (if any) for others to have needed to remind him of what would have been better for him, and all concerned to forget, especially after his decease, since there was really nothing on his part that needed our forgiveness, though much, that we should regret, in our general attitude towards him. He owed us nothing. We were, are, and will ever remain his debtors.