the annals of the parish-第12章
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tearing off and stealing the green serge lining of my lord's pew； to make； as they said； a hap for their shoulders in the cold weathersaving； however； the sin； we paid no attention at the time to the mischief and tribulation that so unheard…of a trespass boded to us all。 It took place about Yule； when the weather was cold and frosty； and poor Jenny was not very able to go about seeking her meat as usual。 The deed； however； was mainly done by her daughter； who； when brought before me； said； 〃her poor mother's back had mair need of claes than the kirk…boards；〃 which was so true a thing； that I could not punish her； but wrote anent it to my lord； who not only overlooked the offence； but sent orders to the servants at the castle to be kind to the poor woman； and the natural； her daughter。
CHAPTER XV YEAR 1774
When I look back on this year； and compare what happened therein with the things that had gone before； I am grieved to the heart； and pressed down with an afflicted spirit。 We had； as may be read； trials and tribulations in the days that were past； and in the rank and boisterous times of the smuggling there was much sin and blemish among us； but nothing so dark and awful as what fell out in the course of this unhappy year。 The evil omen of daft Jenny Gaffaw and her daughter's sacrilege； had soon a bloody verification。
About the beginning of the month of March in this year； the war in America was kindling so fast that the government was obligated to send soldiers over the sea； in the hope to quell the rebellious temper of the plantations； and a party of a regiment that was quartered at Ayr was ordered to march to Greenock； to be there shipped off。 The men were wild and wicked profligates； without the fear of the Lord before their eyes； and some of them had drawn up with light women in Ayr； who followed them on their march。 This the soldiers did not like； not wishing to be troubled with such gear in America； so the women； when they got the length of Kilmarnock； were ordered to retreat and go home； which they all did but one Jean Glaikit； who persisted in her intent to follow her joe； Patrick O'Neil； a Catholic Irish corporal。 The man did； as he said； all in his capacity to persuade her to return； but she was a contumacious limmer； and would not listen to reason； so that； in passing along our toll…road； from less to more； the miserable wretches fell out； and fought； and the soldier put an end to her with a hasty knock on the head with his firelock； and 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！
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 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 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。
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 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 t
