the annals of the parish-第17章

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hich　are；　that　some　of　the　neighbouring　lairds；　taking　example　by　Mr　Kibbock；　my　father…in…law　that　was；　began　in　this　fall　to　plant　the　tops　of　their　hills　with　mounts　of　fir…trees；　and　Mungo　Argyle；　the　exciseman；　just　herried　the　poor　smugglers　to　death；　and　made　a　power　of　prize…money；　which；　however；　had　not　the　wonted　effect　of　riches；　for　it　brought　him　no　honour；　and　he　lived　in　the　parish　like　a　leper；　or　any　other　kind　of　excommunicated　person。

But　I　should　not　forget　a　most　droll　thing　that　took　place　with　Jenny　Gaffaw；　and　her　daughter。　　They　had　been　missed　from　the　parish　for　some　days；　and　folk　began　to　be　uneasy　about　what　could　have　become　of　the　two　silly　creatures；　till　one　night；　at　the　dead　hour；　a　strange　light　was　seen　beaming　and　burning　at　the　window　of　the　bit　hole　where　they　lived。　　It　was　first　observed　by　Lady　Macadam；　who　never　went　to　bed　at　any　Christian　hour；　but　sat　up　reading　her　new　French　novels　and　play…books　with　Miss　Sabrina；　the　schoolmistress。　　She　gave　the　alarm；　thinking　that　such　a　great　and　continuous　light　from　a　lone　house；　where　never　candle　had　been　seen　before；　could　be　nothing　less　than　the　flame　of　a　burning。　　And　sending　Miss　Sabrina　and　the　servants　to　see　what　was　the　matter；　they　beheld　daft　Jenny；　and　her　as　daft　daughter；　with　a　score　of　candle　doups；　（Heaven　only　knows　where　they　got　them！）　placed　in　the　window；　and　the　twa　fools　dancing；　and　linking；　and　admiring　before　the　door。　　〃What's　all　this　about；　Jenny；〃　said　Miss　Sabrina。〃Awa'　wi'　you；　awa'　wi'　youye　wicked　pope；　ye　whore　of　Babylonis　na　it　for　the　glory　of　God；　and　the　Protestant　religion？　d'ye　think　I　will　be　a　pope　as　long　as　light　can　put　out　darkness？〃And　with　that　the　mother　and　daughter　began　again　to　leap　and　dance　as　madly　as　before。

It　seems　that　poor　Jenny；　having　heard　of　the　luminations　that　were　lighted　up　through　the　country　on　the　ending　of　the　Popish　Bill；　had；　with　Meg；　travelled　by　themselves　into　Glasgow；　where　they　had　gathered　or　begged　a　stock　of　candles；　and　coming　back　under　the　cloud　of　night；　had　surprised　and　alarmed　the　whole　clachan；　by　lighting　up　their　window　in　the　manner　that　I　have　described。　　Poor　Miss　Sabrina；　at　Jenny's　uncivil　salutation；　went　back　to　my　lady　with　her　heart　full；　and　would　fain　have　had　the　idiots　brought　to　task　before　the　session；　for　what　they　had　said　to　her。　　But　I　would　not　hear　tell　of　such　a　thing；　for　which　Miss　Sabrina　owed　me　a　grudge　that　was　not　soon　given　up。　　At　the　same　time；　I　was　grieved　to　see　the　testimonies　of　joyfulness　for　a　holy　victory；　brought　into　such　disrepute　by　the　ill…timed　demonstrations　of　the　two　irreclaimable　naturals；　that　had　not　a　true　conception　of　the　cause　for　which　they　were　triumphing。



CHAPTER　XXII　　YEAR　1781



If　the　two　last　years　passed　o'er　the　heads　of　me　and　my　people　without　any　manifest　dolour；　which　is　a　great　thing　to　say　for　so　long　a　period　in　this　world；　we　had　our　own　trials　and　tribulations　in　the　one　of　which　I　have　now　to　make　mention。　　Mungo　Argyle；　the　exciseman；　waxing　rich；　grew　proud　and　petulant；　and　would　have　ruled　the　country　side　with　a　rod　of　iron。　　Nothing　less　would　serve　him　than　a　fine　horse　to　ride　on；　and　a　world　of　other　conveniences　and　luxuries；　as　if　he　had　been　on　an　equality　with　gentlemen。　　And　he　bought　a　grand　gun；　which　was　called　a　fowling…piece；　and　he　had　two　pointer　dogs；　the　like　of　which　had　not　been　seen　in　the　parish　since　the　planting　of　the　Eaglesham…wood　on　the　moorland；　which　was　four　years　before　I　got　the　call。　　Every　body　said　the　man　was　fey；　and　truly；　when　I　remarked　him　so　gallant　and　gay　on　the　Sabbath　at　the　kirk；　and　noted　his　glowing　face　and　gleg　een；　I　thought　at　times　there　was　something　no　canny　about　him。　　It　was　indeed　clear　to　be　seen；　that　the　man　was　hurried　out　of　himself；　but　nobody　could　have　thought　that　the　death　he　was　to　dree　would　have　been　what　it　was。

About　the　end　of　summer　my　Lord　Eaglesham　came　to　the　castle；　bringing　with　him　an　English　madam；　that　was　his　Miss。　　Some　days　after　he　came　down　from　London；　as　he　was　riding　past　the　manse；　his　lordship　stopped　to　enquire　for　my　health；　and　I　went　to　the　door　to　speak　to　him。　　I　thought　that　he　did　not　meet　me　with　that　blithe　countenance　he　was　wont；　and　in　going　away；　he　said　with　a　blush；　〃I　fear　I　dare　not　ask　you　to　come　to　the　castle。〃　　I　had　heard　of　his　concubine；　and　I　said；　〃In　saying　so；　my　lord；　you　show　a　spark　of　grace；　for　it　would　not　become　me　to　see　what　I　have　heard；　and　I　am　surprised；　my　lord；　you　will　not　rather　take　a　lady　of　your　own。〃　He　looked　kindly；　but　confused；　saying；　he　did　not　know　where　to　get　one；　so　seeing　his　shame；　and　not　wishing　to　put　him　out　of　conceit　entirely　with　himself；　I　replied；　〃Na；　na；　my　lord；　there's　nobody　will　believe　that；　for　there　never　was　a　silly　Jock；　but　there　was　as　silly　a　Jenny；〃　at　which　he　laughed　heartily；　and　rode　away。　　But　I　know　not　what　was　in't；　I　was　troubled　in　mind　about　him；　and　thought；　as　he　was　riding　away；　that　I　would　never　see　him　again；　and　sure　enough　it　so　happened；　for　the　next　day；　being　airing　in　his　coach　with　Miss　Spangle；　the　lady　he　had　brought；　he　happened　to　see　Mungo　Argyle　with　his　dogs　and　his　gun；　and　my　lord　being　as　particular　about　his　game　as　the　other　was　about　boxes　of　tea　and　kegs　of　brandy；　he　jumped　out　of　the　carriage；　and　ran　to　take　the　gun。　　Words　passed；　and　the　exciseman　shot　my　lord。　　Never　shall　I　forget　that　day；　such　riding；　such　running；　the　whole　country　side　afoot；　but　the　same　night　my　lord　breathed　his　last；　and　the　mad　and　wild　reprobate　that　did　the　deed　was　taken　up　and　sent　off　to　Edinburgh。　　This　was　a　woeful　riddance　of　that　oppressor；　for　my　lord　was　a　good　landlord　and　a　kind…hearted　man；　and　albeit；　though　a　little　thoughtless；　was　aye　ready　to　make　his　power；　when　the　way　was　pointed　out；　minister　to　good　works。　　The　whole　parish　mourned　for　him；　and　there　was　not　a　sorer　heart　in　all　its　bounds　than　my　own。　　Never　was　such　a　sight　seen　as　his　burial：　　the　whole　country　side　was　there；　and　all　as　solemn　as　if　they　had　been　assembled　in　the　valley　of　Jehoshaphat　in　the　latter　day。　　The　hedges　where　the　funeral　was　to　pass　were　clad　with　weans；　like　bunches　of　hips　and　haws；　and　the　kirkyard　was　as　if　all　its　own　dead　were　risen。　Never；　do　I　think；　was　such　a　multitude　gathered　together。　　Some　thought　there　could　not　be　less　than　three　thousand　grown　men；　besides　women　and　children。

Scarcely　was　this　great　public　calamity　past；　for　it　could　be　reckoned　no　less；　when　one　Saturday　afternoon；　as　Miss　Sabrina；　the　schoolmistress；　was　dining　with　Lady　Macadam；　her　ladyship　was　stricken　with　the　paralytics；　and　her　face　so　thrown　in　the　course　of　a　few　minutes；　that　Miss　Sabrina　came　flying　to　the　manse　for　the　help　and　advice　of　Mrs　Balwhidder。　　A　doctor　was　gotten　with　all　speed　by　express；　but　her　ladyship　was　smitten　beyond　the　reach　of　medicine。　　She　lived；　however；　some　time　after；　but　oh！　she　was　such　an　object；　that　it　was　a　grief　to　see　her。　　She　could　only　mutter　when　she　tried　to　speak；　and　was　as　helpless　as　a　baby。　　Though　she　never　liked　me；　nor　could　I　say　there　was　many　things　in　her　demeanour　that　pleased　me；　yet　she　was　a　free…handed　woman　to　the　needful；　and　when　she　died　she　was　more　missed　than　it　was　thought　she　could　have　been。

Shortly　after　her　funeral；　which　was　managed　by　a　gentleman　sent　from　her　friends　in　Edinburgh；　that　I　wrote　to　about　her　condition；　the　Major；　her　son；　with　his　lady；　Kate　Malcolm；　and　two　pretty　bairns；　came　and　stayed　in　her　house　for　a　time；　and　they　were　a　great　happiness　to　us　all；　both　in　the　way　of　drinking　tea；　and　sometimes　taking　a　bit　of　dinner；　their　only　mother　now；　the　worthy　and　pious　Mrs　Malcolm；　being　regularly　of　the　company。

Before　the　end　of　the　year；　I　should　mention；　that　the　fortune　of　Mrs　Malcolm's　family　got　another　shove　upwards；　by　the　promotion　of　her　second　son；　Robert　Malcolm；　who；　being　grown　an　expert　and　careful　mariner；　was　made　captain　of　a　grand　ship；　whereof　Provost　Maitland　of　Glasgow；　that　was　kind　to　his　mother　in　her　distresses；　was　the　owner。　　But　that　douce　lad　Willie；　her　youngest　son；　who　was　at　the　university　of　Glasgow　under　the　Lord　Eaglesham's　patronage；　was　like　to　have　suffered　a　blight。　　However；　Major　Macadam；　when　I　spoke　to　him　anent　the　young　man's　loss　of　his　patron；　said；　with　a　pleasant　generosity；　he　should　not　be　stickit；　and；　accordingly；　he　made　up；　as　far　as　money　could；　for　the　loss　of　his　lordship；　but　there　was　none　that　made　up　for　the　great　power　and　influence；　which；　I　have　no　doubt；　the　Earl　would　have　exerted　in　his　behalf；　when　he　was　ripened　for　the　church。　　So　that；　although　in　time　William　came　out　a　sound　and　heart…searching　preacher；　he　was　long　obliged；　like　many　another　unfriended　saint；　to　cultivate　sand；　and　wash　Ethiopians　in　the　shape　of　an　east　country　gentleman's　camstrairy　weans；　than　which；　as　he　wrote　me　himself；　there　cannot　be　on　earth　a　greater　trial　of　temper。　　However；　in　the　end　he　was　rewarded；　and　is　not　only　now　a　placed　minister；　but　a　doctor　of　divinity。

The　death　of　Lady　Macadam　was　followed　by　another　parochial　misfortune；　for；　considering　the　time　when　it　happened；　we　could　count　it　as　nothing　less。　　Auld　Thomas　Howkings；　the　betheral；　fell　sick；　and　died　in　the　course　of　a　week's　illness；　about　the　end　of　November；　and　the　measles　coming　at　that　time　upon　the　parish；　there　was　such　a　smashery　of　the　poor　weans　as　had　not　been　known　for　an　age；　insomuch　that　James　Banes；　the　lad　who　was　Thomas　Howkings'　helper；　rose　in　open　rebellion　against　the　session　during　his　superior's　illness；　and　we　were　constrained　to　augment　his　pay；　and　to　promise　him　the　place　if　Thomas　did　not　recover；　which　it　was　then　thought　he　could　not　do。　　On　the　day　this　happened；　there　were　three　dead　children　in　the　clachan；　and　a　panic　and　consternation　spread　about　the　burial　of　them　when　James　Bane's　insurrection　was　known；　which　made　both　me　and　the　session　glad　to　hush　up　the　affair；　that　the　heart　of　the　public　might　have　no　more　than　the　sufferings　of　individuals　to　hurt　it。Thus　ended　a　year；　on　many　accounts；　heavy　to　be　remembered。



CHAPTER　XXIII　　YEAR　1782



Although　I　have　not　been　particular　in　noticing　it；　from　time　to　time；　there　had　been　an　occasional　going　off；　at　fairs　and　on　market…days；　of　the　lads　of　the　parish　as　soldiers；　and　when　Captain　Malcolm　got　the　command　of　his　ship；　no　less　than　four　young　men　sailed　with　him　from　the　clachan；　so　that　we　were　deeper　and　deeper　interested　in　the　proceedings　of　the　doleful　war　that　was　raging　in　the　plantations。　　By　one　post　we　heard　of　no　less　than　three　brave　fellows　belonging　to　us　being　slain　in　one　battle；　for　which　there　was　a　loud　and　general　lamentation。

Shortly　after　this；　I　got　a　letter　from　Charles　Malcolm；　a　very　pretty　letter　it　indeed　was：　　he　had　heard　of　my　Lord　Eaglesham's　murder；　and　grieved　for　the　loss；　both　because　his　lordship　was　a　good　man；　and　because　he　had　been　such　a　friend　to　him　and　his　family。　　〃But；〃　said　Charles；　〃the　best　way　I　can　show　my　gratitude　for　his　patronage；　is　to　prove　myself　a　good　officer　to　my　king　and　country。〃　　Which　I　thought　a　brave　sentiment；　and　was　pleased　thereat；　for　somehow　Charles；　from