the annals of the parish-第3章

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It　was　in　this　year　that　Patrick　Dilworth　（he　had　been　schoolmaster　of　the　parish　from　the　time；　as　his　wife　said；　of　Anna　Regina；　and　before　the　Rexes　came　to　the　crown）；　was　disabled　by　a　paralytic；　and　the　heritors；　grudging　the　cost　of　another　schoolmaster　as　long　as　he　lived；　would　not　allow　the　session　to　get　his　place　supplied；　which　was　a　wrong　thing；　I　must　say；　of　them；　for　the　children　of　the　parishioners　were　obliged；　therefore；　to　go　to　the　neighbouring　towns　for　their　schooling；　and　the　custom　was　to　take　a　piece　of　bread　and　cheese　in　their　pockets　for　dinner；　and　to　return　in　the　evening　always　voracious　for　more；　the　long　walk　helping　the　natural　crave　of　their　young　appetites。　　In　this　way　Mrs　Malcolm's　two　eldest　laddies；　Charlie　and　Robert；　were　wont　to　go　to　Irville；　and　it　was　soon　seen　that　they　kept　themselves　aloof　from　the　other　callans　in　the　clachan；　and　had　a　genteeler　turn　than　the　grulshy　bairns　of　the　cottars。　　Her　bit　lassies；　Kate　and　Effie；　were　better　off；　for　some　years　before；　Nanse　Banks　had　taken　up　a　teaching　in　a　garret…room　of　a　house；　at　the　corner　where　John　Bayne　has　biggit　the　sclate…house　for　his　grocery…shop。　　Nanse　learnt　them　reading　and　working　stockings；　and　how　to　sew　the　semplar；　for　twal…pennies　a…week。　　She　was　a　patient　creature；　well　cut　out　for　her　calling；　with　blear　een；　a　pale　face；　and　a　long　neck；　but　meek　and　contented　withal；　tholing　the　dule　of　this　world　with　a　Christian　submission　of　the　spirit；　and　her　garret…room　was　a　cordial　of　cleanliness；　for　she　made　the　scholars　set　the　house　in　order；　time　and　time　about；　every　morning；　and　it　was　a　common　remark　for　many　a　day；　that　the　lassies；　who　had　been　at　Nanse　Banks's　school；　were　always　well　spoken　of；　both　for　their　civility；　and　the　trigness　of　their　houses　when　they　were　afterwards　married。　　In　short；　I　do　not　know；　that　in　all　the　long　epoch　of　my　ministry；　any　individual　body　did　more　to　improve　the　ways　of　the　parishioners；　in　their　domestic　concerns；　than　did　that　worthy　and　innocent　creature；　Nanse　Banks；　the　schoolmistress；　and　she　was　a　great　loss　when　she　was　removed；　as　it　is　to　be　hoped；　to　a　better　world；　but　anent　this　I　shall　have　to　speak　more　at　large　hereafter。

It　was　in　this　year　that　my　patron；　the　Laird　of　Breadland；　departed　this　life；　and　I　preached　his　funeral　sermon；　but　he　was　non…beloved　in　the　parish；　for　my　people　never　forgave　him　for　putting　me　upon　them；　although　they　began　to　be　more　on　a　familiar　footing　with　myself。　　This　was　partly　owing　to　my　first　wife；　Betty　Lanshaw；　who　was　an　active　throughgoing　woman；　and　wonderfu'　useful　to　many　of　the　cottars'　wives　at　their　lying…in；　and　when　a　death　happened　among　them；　her　helping　hand；　and　any　thing　we　had　at　the　manse；　was　never　wanting；　and　I　went　about　myself　to　the　bedsides　of　the　frail；　leaving　no　stone　unturned　to　win　the　affections　of　my　people；　which；　by　the　blessing　of　the　Lord；　in　process　of　time；　was　brought　to　a　bearing。

But　a　thing　happened　in　this　year；　which　deserves　to　be　recorded；　as　manifesting　what　effect　the　smuggling　was　beginning　to　take　in　the　morals　of　the　country　side。　　One　Mr　Macskipnish；　of　Highland　parentage；　who　had　been　a　valet…de…chambre　with　a　major　in　the　campaigns；　and　taken　a　prisoner　with　him　by　the　French；　he　having　come　home　in　a　cartel；　took　up　a　dancing…school　at　Irville；　the　which　art　he　had　learnt　in　the　genteelest　fashion；　in　the　mode　of　Paris；　at　the　French　court。　　Such　a　thing　as　a　dancing…school　had　never；　in　the　memory　of　man；　been　known　in　our　country　side；　and　there　was　such　a　sound　about　the　steps　and　cottillions　of　Mr　Macskipnish；　that　every　lad　and　lass；　that　could　spare　time　and　siller；　went　to　him；　to　the　great　neglect　of　their　work。　　The　very　bairns　on　the　loan；　instead　of　their　wonted　play；　gaed　linking　and　louping　in　the　steps　of　Mr　Macskipnish；　who　was；　to　be　sure；　a　great　curiosity；　with　long　spindle　legs；　his　breast　shot　out　like　a　duck's；　and　his　head　powdered　and　frizzled　up　like　a　tappit…hen。　　He　was；　indeed；　the　proudest　peacock　that　could　be　seen；　and　he　had　a　ring　on　his　finger；　and　when　he　came　to　drink　his　tea　at　the　Breadland；　he　brought　no　hat　on　his　head；　but　a　droll　cockit　thing　under　his　arm；　which；　he　said；　was　after　the　manner　of　the　courtiers　at　the　petty　suppers　of　one　Madam　Pompadour；　who　was　at　that　time　the　concubine　of　the　French　king。

I　do　not　recollect　any　other　remarkable　thing　that　happened　in　this　year。　　The　harvest　was　very　abundant；　and　the　meal　so　cheap；　that　it　caused　a　great　defect　in　my　stipend；　so　that　I　was　obligated　to　postpone　the　purchase　of　a　mahogany　scrutoire　for　my　study；　as　I　had　intended。　　But　I　had　not　the　heart　to　complain　of　this：　　on　the　contrary；　I　rejoiced　thereat；　for　what　made　me　want　my　scrutoire　till　another　year；　had　carried　blitheness　into　the　hearth　of　the　cottar；　and　made　the　widow's　heart　sing　with　joy；　and　I　would　have　been　an　unnatural　creature；　had　I　not　joined　in　the　universal　gladness；　because　plenty　did　abound。



CHAPTER　III　　YEAR　1762



The　third　year　of　my　ministry　was　long　held　in　remembrance　for　several　very　memorable　things。　　William　Byres　of　the　Loanhead　had　a　cow　that　calved　two　calves　at　one　calving；　Mrs　Byres；　the　same　year；　had　twins；　male　and　female；　and　there　was　such　a　crop　on　his　fields；　testifying　that　the　Lord　never　sends　a　mouth　into　the　world　without　providing　meat　for　it。　　But　what　was　thought　a　very　daunting　sign　of　something；　happened　on　the　Sacrament　Sabbath　at　the　conclusion　of　the　action　sermon；　when　I　had　made　a　very　suitable　discourse。　　The　day　was　tempestuous；　and　the　wind　blew　with　such　a　pith　and　birr；　that　I　thought　it　would　have　twirled　the　trees　in　the　kirkyard　out　by　the　roots；　and；　blowing　in　this　manner；　it　tirled　the　thack　from　the　rigging　of　the　manse　stable；　and　the　same　blast　that　did　that；　took　down　the　lead　that　was　on　the　kirk…roof；　which　hurled　off；　as　I　was　saying；　at　the　conclusion　of　the　action　sermon；　with　such　a　dreadful　sound；　as　the　like　was　never　heard；　and　all　the　congregation　thought　that　it　betokened　a　mutation　to　me。　　However；　nothing　particular　happened　to　me；　but　the　smallpox　came　in　among　the　weans　of　the　parish；　and　the　smashing　that　it　made　of　the　poor　bits　o'　bairns　was　indeed　woeful。

One　Sabbath；　when　the　pestilence　was　raging；　I　preached　a　sermon　about　Rachel　weeping　for　her　children；　which　Thomas　Thorl；　who　was　surely　a　great　judge　of　good　preaching；　said；　〃was　a　monument　of　divinity　whilk　searched　the　heart　of　many　a　parent　that　day；〃　a　thing　I　was　well　pleased　to　hear；　for　Thomas；　as　I　have　related　at　length；　was　the　most　zealous　champion　against　my　getting　the　parish；　but；　from　this　time；　I　set　him　down　in　my　mind　for　the　next　vacancy　among　the　elders。　　Worthy　man！　it　was　not　permitted　him　to　arrive　at　that　honour。　　In　the　fall　of　that　year　he　took　an　income　in　his　legs；　and　couldna　go　about；　and　was　laid　up　for　the　remainder　of　his　days；　a　perfect　Lazarus；　by　the　fire…side。　　But　he　was　well　supported　in　his　affliction。　　In　due　season；　when　it　pleased　Him　that　alone　can　give　and　take；　to　pluck　him　from　this　life；　as　the　fruit　ripened　and　ready　for　the　gathering；　his　death；　to　all　that　knew　him；　was　a　gentle　dispensation；　for　truly　he　had　been　in　sore　trouble。

It　was　in　this　year　that　Charlie　Malcolm；　Mrs　Malcolm's　eldest　son；　was　sent　to　be　a　cabin…boy　in　the　Tobacco　trader；　a　three…masted　ship；　that　sailed　between　Port…Glasgow　and　Virginia　in　America。　　She　was　commanded　by　Captain　Dickie；　an　Irville　man；　for　at　that　time　the　Clyde　was　supplied　with　the　best　sailors　from　our　coast；　the　coal…trade　with　Ireland　being　a　better　trade　for　bringing　up　good　mariners　than　the　long　voyages　in　the　open　sea；　which　was　the　reason；　as　I　often　heard　said；　why　the　Clyde　shipping　got　so　many　of　their　men　from　our　country　side。　　The　going　to　sea　of　Charlie　Malcolm　was；　on　divers　accounts；　a　very　remarkable　thing　to　us　all；　for　he　was　the　first　that　ever　went　from　our　parish；　in　the　memory　of　man；　to　be　a　sailor；　and　everybody　was　concerned　at　it；　and　some　thought　it　was　a　great　venture　of　his　mother　to　let　him；　his　father　having　been　lost　at　sea。　　But　what　could　the　forlorn　widow　do？　　She　had　five　weans；　and　little　to　give　them；　and；　as　she　herself　said；　he　was　aye　in　the　hand　of　his　Maker；　go　where　he　might；　and　the　will　of　God　would　be　done；　in　spite　of　all　earthly　wiles　and　devices　to　the　contrary。

On　the　Monday　morning；　when　Charlie　was　to　go　away　to　meet　the　Irville　carrier　on　the　road；　we　were　all　up；　and　I　walked　by　myself　from　the　manse　into　the　clachan　to　bid　him　farewell；　and　I　met　him　just　coming　from　his　mother's　door；　as　blithe　as　a　bee；　in　his　sailor's　dress；　with　a　stick；　and　a　bundle　tied　in　a　Barcelona　silk　handkerchief　hanging　o'er　his　shoulder；　and　his　two　little　brothers　were　with　him；　and　his　sisters；　Kate　and　Effie；　looking　out　from　the　door　all　begreeten；　but　his　mother　was　in　the　house；　praying　to　the　Lord　to　protect　her　orphan；　as　she　afterwards　told　me。　　All　the　weans　of　the　clachan　were　gathered　at　the　kirkyard　yett　to　see　him　pass；　and　they　gave　him　three　great　shouts　as　he　was　going　by；　and　everybody　was　at　their　doors；　and　said　something　encouraging　to　him；　but　there　was　a　great　laugh　when　auld　Mizy　Spaewell　came　hirpling　with　her　bauchle　in　her　hand；　and　flung　it　after　him　for　good…luck。　Mizy　had　a　wonderful　faith　in　freats；　and　was　just　an　oracle　of　sagacity　at　expounding　dreams；　and　bodes　of　every　sort　and　descriptionbesides；　she　was　reckoned　one　of　the　best　howdies　in　her　day；　but　by　this　time　she　was　grown　frail　and　feckless；　and　she　died　the　same　year　on　Hallowe'en；　which　made　everybody　wonder　that　it　should　have　so　fallen　out　for　her　to　die　on　Hallowe'en。

Shortly　after　the　departure　of　Charlie　Malcolm；　the　Lady　of　Breadland；　with　her　three　daughters；　removed　to　Edinburgh；　where　the　young　laird；　that　had　been　my　pupil；　was　learning　to　be　an　advocate；　and　the　Breadland…house　was　set　to　Major　Gilchrist；　a　nabob　from　India；　but　he　was　a　narrow　ailing　man；　and　his　maiden…sister；　Miss　Girzie；　was　the　scrimpetest　creature　that　could　be；　so　that；　in　their　hands；　all　the　pretty　policy　of　the　Breadlands；　that　had　cost　a　power　of　money　to　the　old　laird　that　was　my　patron；　fell　into　decay　and　disorder；　and　the　bonny　yew…trees　that　were　cut　into　the　shape　of　peacocks；　soon　grew　out　of　all　shape；　and　are　now　doleful　monuments　of　the　major's　tack；　and　that　of　Lady　Skimmilk；　as　Miss　Girzie　Gilchrist；　his　sister；　was　nick…named　by　every　ane　that　kent　her。

But　it　was　not　so　much　on　account　of　the　neglect　of　the　Breadland；　that　the　incoming　of　Major　Gilchrist　was　to　be　deplored。　　The　old　men　that　had　a　light　labour　in　keeping　the　policy　in　order；　were　thrown　out　of　bread；　and　could　do　little；　and　the　poor　women　that　whiles　got　a　bit　and　a　drap　from　the　kitchen　of　the　family；　soon　felt　the　change；　so　that　by　little　and　little　we　were　obligated　to　give　help　from　the　session；　insomuch　that；　before　the　end　of　the　year；　I　was　necessitated　to　preach　a　discourse　on　almsgiving；　specially　for　the　benefit　of　our　own　poor；　a　thing　never　before　known　in　the　parish。

But　one　good　thing　came　from　the　Gilchrists　to　Mrs　Malcolm。　　Miss　Girzie；　whom　they　called　Lady　Skimmilk；　had　been　in　a　very　penurious　way　as　a　seamstress；　in　the　Gorba