annals of the parish(教区年鉴)-第15章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
marched on after his comrades。 The body of the woman was； about half
an hour after； found by the scholars of Mr Lorimore's school； who had got
the play to see the marching； and to hear the drums of the soldiers。
Dreadful was the shout and the cry throughout the parish at this foul work。
Some of the farmer lads followed the soldiers on horseback； and others ran
to Sir Hugh； who was a justice of the peace； for his advice。Such a day as
that was！
60
… Page 61…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
However； the murderer was taken； and； with his arms tied behind him
with a cord； he was brought back to the parish； where he confessed before
Sir Hugh the deed； and how it happened。 He was then put in a cart； and；
being well guarded by six of the lads； was taken to Ayr jail。
It was not long after this that the murderer was brought to trial； and；
being found guilty on his own confession； he was sentenced to be
executed； and his body to be hung in chains near the spot where the deed
was done。 I thought that all in the parish would have run to desperation
with horror when the news of this came； and I wrote immediately to the
Lord Eaglesham to get this done away by the merciful power of the
government； which he did； to our great solace and relief。
In the autumn； the young Laird Macadam； being ordered with his
regiment for the Americas； got leave from the king to come and see his
lady mother； before his departure。 But it was not to see her only； as will
presently appear。
Knowing how much her ladyship was averse to the notion he had of
Kate Malcolm； he did not write of his coming； lest she would send Kate
out of the way； but came in upon them at a late hour； as they were wasting
their precious time； as was the nightly wont of my lady； with a pack of
cards； and so far was she from being pleased to see him； that no sooner did
she behold his face； but； like a tap of tow； she kindled upon both him and
Kate； and ordered them out of her sight and house。 The young folk had
discretion： Kate went home to her mother； and the laird came to the
manse； and begged us to take him in。 He then told me what had
happened； and that； having bought a captain's commission； he was
resolved to marry Kate； and hoped I would perform the ceremony； if her
mother would consent。 〃As for mine；〃 said he； 〃she will never agree； but；
when the thing is done； her pardon will not be difficult to get； for； with all
her whims and caprice； she is generous and affectionate。〃 In short； he so
wiled and beguiled me； that I consented to marry them； if Mrs Malcolm
was agreeable。 〃I will not disobey my mother；〃 said he； 〃by asking her
consent； which I know she will refuse； and； therefore； the sooner it is done
the better。〃 So we then stepped over to Mrs Malcolm's house； where we
found that saintly woman； with Kate and Effie； and Willie； sitting
61
… Page 62…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
peacefully at their fireside； preparing to read their Bibles for the night。
When we went in； and when I saw Kate； that was so ladylike there； with
the decent humility of her parent's dwelling； I could not but think she was
destined for a better station； and when I looked at the captain； a handsome
youth； I thought surely their marriage is made in heaven； and so I said to
Mrs Malcolm； who after a time consented； and likewise agreed that her
daughter should go with the captain to America； for her faith and trust in
the goodness of Providence was great and boundless； striving； as it were；
to be even with its tender mercies。 Accordingly； the captain's man was sent
to bid the chaise wait that had taken him to the lady's； and the marriage
was sanctified by me before we left Mrs Malcolm's。 No doubt； they
ought to have been proclaimed three several Sabbaths； but I satisfied the
session； at our first meeting； on account of the necessity of the case。 The
young couple went in the chaise travelling to Glasgow； authorising me to
break the matter to Lady Macadam； which was a sore task； but I was
spared from the performance。 For her ladyship had come to herself； and
thinking on her own rashness in sending away Kate and the captain in the
way she had done； she was like one by herself。 All the servants were
scattered out and abroad in quest of the lovers； and some of them； seeing
the chaise drive from Mrs Malcolm's door with them in it； and me coming
out； jealoused what had been done； and told their mistress outright of the
marriage； which was to her like a clap of thunder； insomuch that she flung
herself back in her settee； and was beating and drumming with her heels
on the floor； like a madwoman in Bedlam； when I entered the room。 For
some time she took no notice of me； but continued her din； but； by…and… by；
she began to turn her eyes in fiery glances upon me； till I was terrified lest
she would fly at me with her claws in her fury。 At last she stopped all at
once； and in a calm voice； said； 〃But it cannot now be helped； where are
the vagabonds？〃〃They are gone；〃 replied I。〃Gone？〃 cried she； 〃gone
where？〃〃To America； I suppose；〃 was my answer； upon which she again
threw herself back in the settee； and began again to drum and beat with her
feet as before。 But not to dwell on small particularities； let it suffice to
say； that she sent her coachman on one of her coach horses； which； being
old and stiff； did not overtake the fugitives till they were in their bed at
62
… Page 63…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
Kilmarnock； where they stopped that night； but when they came back to
the lady's in the morning； she was as cagey and meikle taken up with them；
as if they had gotten her full consent and privilege to marry from the first。
Thus was the first of Mrs Malcolm's children well and creditably settled。
I have only now to conclude with observing； that my son Gilbert was
seized with the smallpox about the beginning of December； and was
blinded by them for seventeen days； for the inoculation was not in practice
yet among us； saving only in the genteel families that went into Edinburgh
for the education of their children； where it was performed by the faculty
there。
63
… Page 64…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
CHAPTER XVI YEAR 1775
The regular course of nature is calm and orderly； and tempests and
troubles are but lapses from the accustomed sobriety with which
Providence works out the destined end of all things。 From Yule till Pace…
Monday there had been a gradual subsidence of our personal and parochial
tribulations； and the spring； though late； set in bright and beautiful； and
was accompanied with the spirit of contentment； so that； excepting the
great concern that we all began to take in the American rebellion；
especially on account of Charles Malcolm that was in the man…of…war； and
of Captain Macadam that had married Kate； we had throughout the better
half of the year but little molestation of any sort。 I should； however； note
the upshot of the marriage。
By some cause that I do not recollect； if I ever had it properly told； the
regiment wherein the captain had bought his commission was not sent to
the plantations； but only over to Ireland； by which the captain and his lady
were allowed to prolong their stay in the parish with his mother； and he；
coming of age while he was among us； in making a settlement on his wife；
bought the house at the Braehead； which was then just built by Thomas
Shivers the mason； and he gave that house； with a judicious income； to
Mrs Malcolm； telling her that it was not becoming； he having it in his
power to do the contrary； that she should any longer be dependent on her
own industry。 For this the young man got a name like a sweet odour in
all the country side； but that whimsical and prelatic lady his mother； just
went out of all bounds； and played such pranks for an old woman； as
cannot be told。 To her daughter…in…law； however； she was wonderful kind；
and； in fitting her out for going with the captain to Dublin； it was
extraordinary to hear what a paraphernalia she provided her with。 But
who could have thought that in this kindness a sore trial was brewing for
me！
It happened that Miss Betty Wudrife； the daughter of an heritor； had
been on a visit to some of her friends in Edinburgh； and being in at
Edinburgh； she came out with a fine mantle； decked and adorned with
64
… Page 65…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
many a ribbon…knot； such as had never been seen in the parish。 The Lady
Macadam； hearing of this grand mantle； sent to beg Miss Betty to lend it to
her； to make a copy for young Mrs Macadam。 But Miss Betty was so
vogie with her gay mantle； that she sent back word； it would be making it
o'er common； which so nettled the old courtly lady； that she vowed
revenge； and said the mantle would not be long seen on Miss Betty。
Nobody knew the meaning of her words； but she sent privately for Miss
Sabrina； the schoolmistress； who was aye proud of being invited to my
lady's； where she went on the Sabbath night to drink tea； and read
Thomson's SEASONS and Hervey's MEDITATIONS for her ladyship's
recreation。 Between the two； a secret plot was laid against Miss Betty
and her Edinburgh mantle； and Miss Sabrina； in a very treacherous manner；
for the which I afterwards chided her severely； went to Miss Betty； and got
a sight of th
