the annals of the parish-第18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！
and country。〃 Which I thought a brave sentiment； and was pleased thereat； for somehow Charles； from the time he brought me the limes to make a bowl of punch； in his pocket from Jamaica； had built a nest of affection in my heart。 But； oh！ the wicked wastry of life in war。 In less than a month after； the news came of a victory over the French fleet； and by the same post I got a letter from Mr Howard； that was the midshipman who came to see us with Charles； telling me that poor Charles had been mortally wounded in the action； and had afterwards died of his wounds。 〃He was a hero in the engagement；〃 said Mr Howard； 〃and he died as a good and a brave man should。〃These tidings gave me one of the sorest hearts I ever suffered； and it was long before I could gather fortitude to disclose the tidings to poor Charles's mother。 But the callants of the school had heard of the victory； and were going shouting about； and had set the steeple bell a…ringing； by which Mrs Malcolm heard the news； and knowing that Charles's ship was with the fleet； she came over to the manse in great anxiety to hear the particulars； somebody telling her that there had been a foreign letter to me by the postman。
When I saw her I could not speak； but looked at her in pity； and； the tear fleeing up into my eyes； she guessed what had happened。 After giving a deep and sore sigh； she enquired； 〃How did he behave？ I hope well； for he was aye a gallant laddie！〃and then she wept very bitterly。 However； growing calmer； I read to her the letter； and； when I had done； she begged me to give it to her to keep； saying； 〃It's all that I have now left of my pretty boy； but it's mair precious to me than the wealth of the Indies；〃 and she begged me to return thanks to the Lord for all the comforts and manifold mercies with which her lot had been blessed； since the hour she put her trust in him alone； and that was when she was left a penniless widow； with her five fatherless bairns。
It was just an edification of the spirit to see the Christian resignation of this worthy woman。 Mrs Balwhidder was confounded； and said； there was more sorrow in seeing the deep grief of her fortitude than tongue could tell。
Having taken a glass of wine with her； I walked out to conduct her to her own house； but in the way we met with a severe trial。 All the weans were out parading with napkins and kail…blades on sticks； rejoicing and triumphing in the glad tidings of victory。 But when they saw me and Mrs Malcolm coming slowly along； they guessed what had happened； and threw away their banners of joy； and standing all up in a row； with silence and sadness； along the kirkyard wall as we passed； showed an instinct of compassion that penetrated to my very soul。 The poor mother burst into fresh affliction； and some of the bairns into an audible weeping； and； taking one another by the hand； they followed us to her door； like mourners at a funeral。 Never was such a sight seen in any town before。 The neighbours came to look at it as we walked along； and the men turned aside to hide their faces； while the mothers pressed their babies fondlier to their bosoms； and watered their innocent faces with their tears。
I prepared a suitable sermon； taking as the words of my text； 〃Howl； ye ships of Tarshish； for your strength is laid waste。〃 But when I saw around me so many of my people clad in complimentary mourning for the gallant Charles Malcolm； and that even poor daft Jenny Gaffaw； and her daughter； had on an old black riband； and when I thought of him； the spirited laddie； coming home from Jamaica with his parrot on his shoulder； and his limes for me； my heart filled full； and I was obliged to sit down in the pulpit； and drop a tear。
After a pause； and the Lord having vouchsafed to compose me； I rose up； and gave out that anthem of triumph； the 124th psalm； the singing of which brought the congregation round to themselves； but still I felt that I could not preach as I had meant to do； therefore I only said a few words of prayer； and singing another psalm； dismissed the congregation。
CHAPTER XXIV YEAR 1783
This was another Sabbath year of my ministry。 It has left me nothing to record but a silent increase of prosperity in the parish。 I myself had now in the bank more than a thousand pounds； and every thing was thriving around。 My two bairns； Gilbert； that is now the merchant in Glasgow； was grown into a sturdy ramplor laddie； and Janet； that is married upon Dr。 Kittleword； the minister of Swappington； was as fine a lassie for her years as the eyes of a parent could desire to see。
Shortly after the news of the peace； an event at which all gave themselves up to joy； a thing happened among us that at the time caused much talk； but although very dreadful； was yet not so serious； some how or other； as such an awsome doing should have been。 Poor Jenny Gaffaw happened to take a heavy cold； and soon thereafter died。 Meg went about from house to house； begging dead… clothes； and got the body straighted in a wonderful decent manner； with a plate of earth and salt placed upon itan admonitory type of mortality and eternal life that has ill…advisedly gone out of fashion。 When I heard of this； I could not but go to see how a creature that was not thought possessed of a grain of understanding； could have done so much herself。 On entering the door； I beheld Meg sitting with two or three of the neighbouring kimmers； and the corpse laid out on a bed。 〃Come awa'； sir；〃 said Meg； 〃this is an altered house。 They're gane that keepit it bein； but； sir； we maun a' come to thiswe maun pay the debt o' naturedeath is a grim creditor； and a doctor but brittle bail when the hour of reckoning's at han'！ What a pity it is； mother； that you're now dead； for here's the minister come to see you。 Oh； sir！ but she would have had a proud heart to see you in her dwelling； for she had a genteel turn； and would not let me； her only daughter； mess or mell wi' the lathron lasses of the clachan。 Ay； ay； she brought me up with care； and edicated me for a lady： nae coarse wark darkened my lily…white hands。 But I maun work now； I maun dree the penalty of man。〃
Having stopped some time； listening to the curious maunnering of Meg； I rose to come away； but she laid her hand on my arm； saying； 〃No； sir； ye maun taste before ye gang！ My mother had aye plenty in her life； nor shall her latter day be needy。〃
Accordingly； Meg； with all the due formality common on such occasions； produced a bottle of water； and a dram…glass； which she filled and tasted； then presented to me； at the same time offering me a bit of bread on a slate。 It was a consternation to everybody how the daft creature had learnt all the ceremonies； which she performed in a manner past the power of pen to describe； making the solemnity of death； by her strange mockery； a kind of merriment； that was more painful than sorrow； but some spirits are gifted with a faculty of observation； that； by the strength of a little fancy； enables them to make a wonderful and truthlike semblance of things and events； which they never saw； and poor Meg seemed to have this gift。
The same night； the session having provided a coffin； the body was put in； and removed to Mr Mutchkin's brewhouse； where the lads and lassies kept the late…wake。
Saving this； the year flowed in a calm； and we floated on in the stream of time towards the great ocean of eternity； like ducks and geese in the river's tide； that are carried down without being sensible of the speed of the current。 Alas！ we have not wings like them； to fly back to the place we set out from。
CHAPTER XXV YEAR 1784
I have ever thought that this was a bright year； truly an Ann。 Dom。； for in it many of the lads came home that had listed to be soldiers； and Mr Howard； that was the midshipman； being now a captain of a man…of…war； came down from England and married Effie Malcolm； and took her up with him to London； where she wrote to her mother； that she found his family people of great note； and more kind to her than she could write。 By this time； also； Major Macadam was made a colonel； and lived with his lady in Edinburgh； where they were much respected by the genteeler classes； Mrs Macadam being considered a great unco among them for all manner of ladylike ornaments； she having been taught every sort of perfection in that way by the old lady； who was educated at the court of France； and was； from her birth； a person of quality。 In this year； also； Captain Malcolm； her brother； married a daughter of a Glasgow merchant； so that Mrs Malcolm； in her declining years； had the prospect of a bright setting； but nothing could change the sober Christianity of her settled mind； and although she was strongly invited； both by the Macadams and the Howards； to see their felicity； she ever declined the same； saying〃No！ I have been long out of the world； or rather； I have never been in it； my ways are not as theirs； and although I ken their hearts would be glad to be kind to me； I might fash their servants； or their friends might think me unlike other folk； by which； instead of causing pleasure； mortification might ensue； so I will remain in my own house； trusting that； when they can spare the time； they will come and see me。〃
There was a spirit of true wisdom in this resolution； for it required a forbearance that in weaker minds would have relaxed； but though a person of a most slender and delicate frame of body； she was a Judith in fortitude； and in all the fortune that seemed now smiling upon her； she never was lifted up； but bore always that pale and meek look； which gave a saintliness to her endeavours in the days of her suffering and poverty。
But when we enjoy most； we have least to tell。 I look back on this year as on a sunny spot in the valley； amidst the shadows of the clouds of time； and I have nothing to record； save the remembrance of welcomings and weddings； and a meeting of bairns and parents； that the wars and the waters had long raged between。 Contentment within the bosom； lent a livelier grace to the countenance of Nature； and everybody said； that in this year the hedges were greener than common； the gowans brighter on the brae； and the heads of the statelier trees adorned with a richer coronal of leaves and blossoms。 All things were animated with the gladness of thankfulness； and testified to the goodness of their Maker。
CHAPTER XXVI YEAR 1785
Well may we say； in the pious words of my old friend and neighbour； the Reverend Mr Keekie of Loupinton； that the world is such a wheel… carriage； that it might very properly be called the WHIRL'D。 This reflection was brought home to me in a very striking manner； while I was preparing a discourse for my people； to be preached on the anniversary day of my placing； in which I took a view of what had passed in the parish during the five…and…twenty years that I had been； by the grace of God； the pastor thereof。 The bairns； that were bairns when I came among my people； were ripened unto parents； and a new generation was swelling in the bud around me。 But it is what happened that I have to give an account of。
This year the Lady Macadam's jointure…house that was； having been long without a tenant； a Mr Cayenne and his family； American loyalist
