the annals of the parish-第30章

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d　partly　by　the　decay　of　old　age；　sent　for　me　on　the　evening　of　the　first　Sabbath　of　March　in　this　year。　　I　was　surprised　at　the　message；　and　went　to　the　Wheatrig　House　directly；　where；　by　the　lights　in　the　windows　as　I　gaed　up　through　the　policy　to　the　door；　I　saw　something　extraordinary　was　going　on。　　Sambo；　the　blackamoor　servant；　opened　the　door；　and；　without　speaking；　shook　his　head；　for　it　was　an　affectionate　creature；　and　as　fond　of　his　master　as　if　he　had　been　his　own　father。　　By　this　sign　I　guessed　that　the　old　gentleman　was　thought　to　be　drawing　near　his　latter　end；　so　I　walked　softly　after　Sambo　up　the　stair；　and　was　shown　into　the　chamber　where　Mr　Cayenne；　since　he　had　been　confined　to　the　house；　usually　sat。　　His　wife　had　been　dead　some　years　before。

Mr　Cayenne　was　sitting　in　his　easy　chair；　with　a　white　cotton　nightcap　on　his　head；　and　a　pillow　at　his　shoulders　to　keep　him　straight。　　But　his　head　had　fallen　down　on　his　breast；　and　he　breathed　like　a　panting　baby。　　His　legs　were　swelled；　and　his　feet　rested　on　a　footstool。　　His　face；　which　was　wont　to　be　the　colour　of　a　peony　rose；　was　of　a　yellow　hue；　with　a　patch　of　red　on　each　cheek　like　a　wafer；　and　his　nose　was　shirpit　and　sharp；　and　of　an　unnatural　purple。　　Death　was　evidently　fighting　with　nature　for　the　possession　of　the　body。　　〃Heaven　have　mercy　on　his　soul！〃　said　I　to　myself；　as　I　sat　down　beside　him。

When　I　had　been　seated　some　time；　the　power　was　given　him　to　raise　his　head　as　it　were　a…jee；　and　he　looked　at　me　with　the　tail　of　his　eye；　which　I　saw　was　glittering　and　glassy。　　〃Doctor；〃　for　he　always　called　me　doctor；　though　I　am　not　of　that　degree；　〃I　am　glad　to　see　you；〃　were　his　words；　uttered　with　some　difficulty。

〃How　do　you　find　yourself；　sir？〃　I　replied；　in　a　sympathising　manner。

〃Damned　bad；〃　said　he；　as　if　I　had　been　the　cause　of　his　suffering。　I　was　daunted　to　the　very　heart　to　hear　him　in　such　an　unregenerate　state；　but　after　a　short　pause　I　addressed　myself　to　him　again；　saying；　that　〃I　hoped　he　would　soon　be　more　at　ease；　and　he　should　bear　in　mind　that　the　Lord　chasteneth　whom　he　loveth。〃

〃The　devil　take　such　love！〃　was　his　awful　answer；　which　was　to　me　as　a　blow　on　the　forehead　with　a　mell。　　However；　I　was　resolved　to　do　my　duty　to　the　miserable　sinner；　let　him　say　what　he　would。　Accordingly；　I　stooped　towards　him　with　my　hands　on　my　knees；　and　said　in　a　compassionate　voice；　〃It's　very　true；　sir；　that　you　are　in　great　agony；　but　the　goodness　of　God　is　without　bound。〃

〃Curse　me　if　I　think　so；　doctor！〃　replied　the　dying　uncircumcised　Philistine。　　But　he　added　at　whiles；　his　breathlessness　being　grievous；　and　often　broken　by　a　sore　hiccup；　〃I　am；　however；　no　saint；　as　you　know；　doctor；　so　I　wish　you　to　put　in　a　word　for　me；　doctor；　for　you　know　that　in　these　times；　doctor；　it　is　the　duty　of　every　good　subject　to　die　a　Christian。〃

This　was　a　poor　account　of　the　state　of　his　soul；　but　it　was　plain　I　could　make　no　better　o't；　by　entering　into　any　religious　discourse　or　controversy　with　him；　he　being　then　in　the　last　gasp；　so　I　knelt　down　and　prayed　for　him　with　great　sincerity；　imploring　the　Lord；　as　an　awakening　sense　of　grace　to　the　dying　man；　that　it　would　please　him　to　lift　up；　though　it　were　but　for　the　season　of　a　minute；　the　chastening　hand　which　was　laid　so　heavily　upon　his　aged　servant；　at　which　Mr　Cayenne；　as　if；　indeed；　the　hand　had　been　then　lifted；　cried　out；　〃None　of　that　stuff；　doctor；　you　know　that　I　cannot　call　myself　his　servant。〃

Was　ever　a　minister　in　his　prayer　so　broken　in　upon　by　a　perishing　sinner！　　However；　I　had　the　weight　of　a　duty　upon　me；　and　made　no　reply；　but　continued；　〃Thou　hearest；　O　Lord；　how　he　confesses　his　unworthiness！　　Let　not　thy　compassion；　therefore；　be　withheld；　but　verify　to　him　the　words　that　I　have　spoken　in　faith；　of　the　boundlessness　of　thy　goodness；　and　the　infinite　multitude　of　thy　tender　mercies。〃　　I　then　calmly；　but　sadly；　sat　down；　and　presently；　as　if　my　prayer　had　been　heard；　relief　was　granted；　for　Mr　Cayenne　raised　his　head；　and　giving　me　a　queer　look；　said；　〃That　last　clause　of　your　petition；　doctor；　was　well　put；　and　I　think；　too；　it　has　been　granted；　for　I　am　easier〃adding；　〃I　have　no　doubt；　doctor；　given　much　offence　in　the　world；　and　oftenest　when　I　meant　to　do　good；　but　I　have　wilfully　injured　no　man；　and　as　God　is　my　judge；　and　his　goodness；　you　say；　is　so　great；　he　may；　perhaps；　take　my　soul　into　his　holy　keeping。〃　　In　saying　which　words；　Mr　Cayenne　dropped　his　head　upon　his　breast；　his　breathing　ceased；　and　he　was　wafted　away　out　of　this　world　with　as　little　trouble　as　a　blameless　baby。

This　event　soon　led　to　a　change　among　us。　　In　the　settling　of　Mr　Cayenne's　affairs　in　the　Cotton…mill　Company；　it　was　found　that　he　had　left　such　a　power　of　money；　that　it　was　needful　to　the　concern；　in　order　that　they　might　settle　with　the　doers　under　his　testament；　to　take　in　other　partners。　　By　this　Mr　Speckle　came　to　be　a　resident　in　the　parish；　he　having　taken　up　a　portion　of　Mr　Cayenne's　share。　He　likewise　took　a　tack　of　the　house　and　policy　of　Wheatrig。　　But　although　Mr　Speckle　was　a　far　more　conversible　man　than　his　predecessor；　and　had　a　wonderful　plausibility　in　business；　the　affairs　of　the　company　did　not　thrive　in　his　hands。　　Some　said　this　was　owing　to　his　having　owre　many　irons　in　the　fire；　others；　to　the　circumstances　of　the　times：　　in　my　judgment；　however；　both　helped；　but　the　issue　belongs　to　the　events　of　another　year。　　In　the　meanwhile；　I　should　here　note；　that　in　the　course　of　this　current　Ann。　Dom。　it　pleased　Heaven　to　visit　me　with　a　severe　trial；　the　nature　of　which　I　will　here　record　at　lengththe　upshot　I　will　make　known　hereafter。

From　the　planting　of　inhabitants　in　the　cotton…mill　town　of　Cayenneville；　or　as　the　country　folk；　not　used　to　used　to　such　lang…　nebbit　words；　now　call　it；　Canaille；　there　had　come　in　upon　the　parish　various　sectarians　among　the　weavers；　some　of　whom　were　not　satisfied　with　the　gospel　as　I　preached　it；　and　endeavoured　to　practise　it　in　my　walk　and　conversation；　and　they　began　to　speak　of　building　a　kirk　for　themselves；　and　of　getting　a　minster　that　would　give　them　the　gospel　more　to　their　own　ignorant　fancies。　　I　was　exceedingly　wroth　and　disturbed　when　the　thing　was　first　mentioned　to　me；　and　I　very　earnestly；　from　the　pulpit；　next　Lord's　day；　lectured　on　the　growth　of　newfangled　doctrines；　which；　however；　instead　of　having　the　wonted　effect　of　my　discourses；　set　up　the　theological　weavers　in　a　bleeze；　and　the　very　Monday　following　they　named　a　committee；　to　raise　money　by　subscription　to　build　a　meeting…house。　　This　was　the　first　overt　act　of　insubordination；　collectively　manifested；　in　the　parish；　and　it　was　conducted　with　all　that　crafty　dexterity　with　which　the　infidel　and　jacobin　spirit　of　the　French　Revolution　had　corrupted　the　honest　simplicity　of　our　good　old　hameward　fashions。　　In　the　course　of　a　very　short　time；　the　Canaille　folk　had　raised　a　large　sum；　and　seduced　not　a　few　of　my　people　into　their　schism；　by　which　they　were　enabled　to　set　about　building　their　kirk；　the　foundations　thereof　were　not；　however；　laid　till　the　following　year；　but　their　proceedings　gave　me　a　het　heart；　for　they　were　like　an　open　rebellion　to　my　authority；　and　a　contemptuous　disregard　of　that　religious　allegiance　which　is　due　from　the　flock　to　the　pastor。

On　Christmas…day　the　wind　broke　off　the　main　arm　of　our　Adam　and　Eve　pear…tree；　and　I　grieved　for　it　more　as　a　type　and　sign　of　the　threatened　partition；　than　on　account　of　the　damage；　though　the　fruit　was　the　juiciest　in　all　the　country　side。



CHAPTER　XLVIII　　YEAR　1807



This　was　a　year　to　me　of　satisfaction　in　many　points；　for　a　greater　number　of　my　younger　flock　married　in　it；　than　had　done　for　any　one　of　ten　years　prior。　　They　were　chiefly　the　offspring　of　the　marriages　that　took　place　at　the　close　of　the　American　war；　and　I　was　pleased　to　see　the　duplification　of　well…doing；　as　I　think　marrying　is；　having　always　considered　the　command　to　increase　and　multiply；　a　holy　ordinance；　which　the　circumstances　of　this　world　but　too　often　interfere　to　prevent。

It　was　also　made　manifest　to　me；　that　in　this　year　there　was　a　very　general　renewal　in　the　hearts　of　men；　of　a　sense　of　the　utility；　even　in　earthly　affairs；　of　a　religious　life：　　in　some；　I　trust　it　was　more　than　prudence；　and　really　a　birth　of　grace。　　Whether　this　was　owing　to　the　upshot　of　the　French　Revolution；　all　men　being　pretty　well　satisfied　in　their　minds；　that　uproar　and　rebellion　make　but　an　ill　way　of　righting　wrongs；　or　that　the　swarm　of　unruly　youth　the　offspring；　as　I　have　said；　of　the　marriages　after　the　American　war；　had　grown　sobered　from　their　follies；　and　saw　things　in　a　better　light；　I　cannot　take　upon　me　to　say。　　But　it　was　very　edifying　to　me；　their　minister；　to　see　several　lads　who　had　been　both　wild　and　free　in　their　principles；　marrying　with　sobriety；　and　taking　their　wives　to　the　kirk　with　the　comely　decorum　of　heads　of　families。

But　I　was　now　growing　old；　and　could　go　seldomer　out　among　my　people　than　in　former　days；　so　that　I　was　less　a　partaker　of　their　ploys　and　banquets；　either　at　birth；　bridal；　or　burial。　　I　heard；　however；　all　that　went　on　at　them；　and　I　made　it　a　rule；　after　giving　the　blessing　at　the　end　of　the　ceremony；　to　admonish　the　bride　and　bridegroom　to　ca'　canny；　and　join　trembling　with　their　mirth。　　It　behoved　me　on　one　occasion；　however；　to　break　through　a　rule　that　age　and　frailty　had　imposed　upon　me；　and　to　go　to　the　wedding　of　Tibby　Banes；　the　daughter　of　the　betheral；　because　she　had　once　been　a　servant　in　the　manse；　besides　the　obligation　upon　me；　from　her　father's　part　both　in　the　kirk　and　kirkyard。　　Mrs　Balwhidder　went　with　me；　for　she　liked　to　countenance　the　pleasantries　of　my　people；　and；　over　and　above　all；　it　was　a　pay…wedding；　in　order　to　set　up　the　bridegroom　in　a　shop。

There　was；　to　be　sure；　a　great　multitude；　gentle　and　semple；　of　all　denominations；　with　two　fiddles　and　a　bass；　and　the　volunteers'　fife　and　drum；　and　the　jollity　that　went　on　was　a　perfect　feast　of　itself；　though　the　wedding…supper　was　a　prodigy　of　abundance。　　The　auld　carles　kecklet　with　fainness　as　they　saw　the　young　dancers；　and　the　carlins　sat　on　forms；　as　mim　as　May　puddocks；　with　their　shawls　pinned　apart；　to　show　their　muslin　napkins。　　But；　after　supper；　when　they　had　got　a　glass　of　the　punch；　their　heels　showed　their　mettle；　and　grannies　danced　with　their　oyes；　holding　out　their　hands　as　if　they　had　been　spinning　with　two　rocks。　　I　told　Colin　Mavis；　the　poet；　than　an　INFARE　was　a　fine　subject　for　his　muse；　and　soon　after　he　indited　an　excellent　ballad　under　that　title；　which　he　projects　to　publish；　with　other　ditties；　by　subscription；　and　I　have　no　doubt　a　liberal　and　discerning　public　will　give　him　all　manner　of　encouragement；　for　that　is　the　food　of　talent　of　every　kind；　and　without　cheering；　no　one　can　say　what　an　author's　faculty　naturally　is。



CHAPTER　XLIX　　YEAR　1808



Through　all　the　wars　that　have　raged　from　the　time　of　the　King's　accession　to　the　throne；　there　has　been　a　gradually　coming　nearer　and　nearer　to　our　gates；　which　is　a　very　alarming　thing　to　think　of。　In　the　first；　at　the　time　he　came　to　the　crown；　we　suffered　nothing。　Not　one　belonging　to　the　parish　was　engag