the annals of the parish-第6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！
r increase； and therefore I think that the incoming of the heritors must have been in like manner augmented。
Soon after this； the time was drawing near for my second marriage。 I had placed my affections； with due consideration； on Miss Lizy Kibbock； the well brought…up daughter of Mr Joseph Kibbock of the Gorbyholm； who was the first that made a speculation in the farming way in Ayrshire； and whose cheese were of such an excellent quality； that they have； under the name of Delap…cheese； spread far and wide over the civilized world。 Miss Lizy and me were married on the 29th day of April； with some inconvenience to both sides； on account of the dread that we had of being married in May； for it is said …
〃Of the marriages in May； The bairns die of a decay。〃
However； married we were； and we hired the Irville chaise； and with Miss Jenny her sister； and Becky Cairns her niece； who sat on a portmanty at our feet； we went on a pleasure jaunt to Glasgow； where we bought a miracle of useful things for the manse； that neither the first Mrs Balwhidder nor me ever thought of； but the second Mrs Balwhidder that was； had a geni for management； and it was extraordinary what she could go through。 Well may I speak of her with commendations； for she was the bee that made my honey； although at first things did not go so clear with us。 For she found the manse rookit and herrit； and there was such a supply of plenishing of all sort wanted； that I thought myself ruined and undone by her care and industry。 There was such a buying of wool to make blankets； with a booming of the meikle wheel to spin the same； and such birring of the little wheel for sheets and napery； that the manse was for many a day like an organ kist。 Then we had milk cows； and the calves to bring up； and a kirning of butter； and a making of cheese； in short； I was almost by myself with the jangle and din； which prevented me from writing a book as I had proposed； and I for a time thought of the peaceful and kindly nature of the first Mrs Balwhidder with a sigh； but the outcoming was soon manifest。 The second Mrs Balwhidder sent her butter on the market…days to Irville； and her cheese from time to time to Glasgow； to Mrs Firlot； that kept the huxtry in the Saltmarket； and they were both so well made； that our dairy was just a coining of money； insomuch that； after the first year； we had the whole tot of my stipend to put untouched into the bank。
But I must say； that although we were thus making siller like sclate stones； I was not satisfied in my own mind that I had got the manse merely to be a factory of butter and cheese； and to breed up veal calves for the slaughter； so I spoke to the second Mrs Balwhidder； and pointed out to her what I thought the error of our way； but she had been so ingrained with the profitable management of cows and grumphies in her father's house； that she could not desist； at the which I was greatly grieved。 By…and…by； however； I began to discern that there was something as good in her example； as the giving of alms to the poor folk； for all the wives of the parish were stirred up by it into a wonderful thrift； and nothing was heard of in every house； but of quiltings and wabs to weave； insomuch that； before many years came round； there was not a better stocked parish； with blankets and napery； than mine was； within the bounds of Scotland。
It was about the Michaelmas of this year that Mrs Malcolm opened her shop； which she did chiefly on the advice of Mrs Balwhidder； who said it was far better to allow a little profit on the different haberdasheries that might be wanted； than to send to the neighbouring towns an end's errand on purpose for them； none of the lasses that were so sent ever thinking of making less than a day's play on every such occasion。 In a word； it is not to be told how the second Mrs Balwhidder； my wife； showed the value of flying time； even to the concerns of this world； and was the mean of giving a life and energy to the housewifery of the parish； that has made many a one beek his shins in comfort； that would otherwise have had but a cold coal to blow at。 Indeed； Mr； Kibbock； her father； was a man beyond the common； and had an insight of things； by which he was enabled to draw profit and advantage； where others could only see risk and detriment。 He planted mounts of fir…trees on the bleak and barren tops of the hills of his farm； the which everybody； and I among the rest； considered as a thrashing of the water and raising of bells。 But as his rack ran his trees grew； and the plantations supplied him with stabs to make STAKE AND RICE between his fields； which soon gave them a trig and orderly appearance； such as had never before been seen in the west country； and his example has； in this matter； been so followed； that I have heard travellers say； who have been in foreign countries； that the shire of Ayr； for its bonny round green plantings on the tops of the hills； is above comparison either with Italy or Switzerland； where the hills are； as it were； in a state of nature。
Upon the whole； this was a busy year in the parish； and the seeds of many great improvements were laid。 The king's road； the which then ran through the Vennel； was mended； but it was not till some years after； as I shall record by…and…by； that the trust…road； as it was called； was made； the which had the effect of turning the town inside out。
Before I conclude； it is proper to mention that the kirk…bell； which had to this time； from time immemorial； hung on an ash…tree； was one stormy night cast down by the breaking of the branch； which was the cause of the heritors agreeing to build the steeple。 The clock was a mortification to the parish from the Lady Breadland； when she died some years after。
CHAPTER VII YEAR 1766
It was in this Ann。 Dom。 that the great calamity happened； the which took place on a Sabbath evening in the month of February。 Mrs Balwhidder had just infused or masket the tea； and we were set round the fireside； to spend the night in an orderly and religious manner； along with Mr and Mrs Petticrew； who were on a friendly visitation to the manse； the mistress being full cousin to Mrs Balwhidder。 Sitting； as I was saying； at our tea； one of the servant lasses came into the room with a sort of a panic laugh； and said； 〃What are ye all doing there when the Breadland's in a low？〃〃The Breadland in a low！〃 cried I。〃Oh； ay！〃 cried she； 〃bleezing at the windows and the rigging； and out at the lum； like a killogie。〃 Upon the which； we all went to the door； and there； to be sure； we did see that the Breadland was burning； the flames crackling high out o'er the trees； and the sparks flying like a comet's tail in the firmament。
Seeing this sight； I said to Mr Petticrew； that； in the strength of the Lord； I would go and see what could be done； for it was as plain as the sun in the heavens that the ancient place of the Breadlands would be destroyed； whereupon he accorded to go with me； and we walked at a lively course to the spot； and the people from all quarters were pouring in； and it was an awsome scene。 But the burning of the house； and the droves of the multitude； were nothing to what we saw when we got forenent the place。 There was the rafters crackling； the flames raging； the servants running； some with bedding； some with looking…glasses； and others with chamber utensils as little likely to be fuel to the fire； but all testifications to the confusion and alarm。 Then there was a shout； 〃Whar's Miss Girzie？ whar's the Major？〃 The Major； poor man； soon cast up； lying upon a feather…bed； ill with his complaints； in the garden； but Lady Skimmilk was nowhere to be found。 At last； a figure was seen in the upper flat； pursued by the flames； and that was Miss Girzie。 Oh！ it was a terrible sight to look at her in that jeopardy at the window； with her gold watch in the one hand and the silver teapot in the other； skreighing like desperation for a ladder and help。 But； before a ladder or help could be found； the floor sunk down； and the roof fell in； and poor Miss Girzie； with her idols； perished in the burning。 It was a dreadful business！ I think； to this hour； how I saw her at the window； how the fire came in behind her； and claught her like a fiery Belzebub； and bore her into perdition before our eyes。 The next morning the atomy of the body was found among the rubbish； with a piece of metal in what had been each of its hands； no doubt the gold watch and the silver teapot。 Such was the end of Miss Girzie； and the Breadland； which the young laird； my pupil that was； by growing a resident at Edinburgh； never rebuilt。 It was burnt to the very ground； nothing was spared but what the servants in the first flaught gathered up in a hurry and ran with； but no one could tell how the Major； who was then； as it was thought by the faculty； past the power of nature to recover； got out of the house； and was laid on the feather…bed in the garden。 However； he never got the better of that night； and before Whitsunday he was dead too； and buried beside his sister's bones at the south side of the kirkyard dyke； where his cousin's son； that was his heir； erected the handsome monument； with the three urns and weeping cherubims； bearing witness to the great valour of the Major among the Hindoos； as well as other commendable virtues； for which； as the epitaph says； he was universally esteemed and beloved； by all who knew him； in his public and private capacity。
But although the burning of the Breadland…House was justly called the great calamity； on account of what happened to Miss Girzie with her gold watch and silver teapot； yet； as Providence never fails to bring good out of evil； it turned out a catastrophe that proved advantageous to the parish； for the laird； instead of thinking to build it up； was advised to let the policy out as a farm； and the tack was taken by Mr Coulter； than whom there had been no such man in the agriculturing line among us before； not even excepting Mr Kibbock of the Gorbyholm； my father…in…law that was。 Of the stabling； Mr Coulter made a comfortable dwelling…house； and having rugget out the evergreens and other unprofitable plants； saving the twa ancient yew…trees which the near…begaun Major and his sister had left to go to ruin about the mansion…house； he turned all to production； and it was wonderful what an increase he made the land bring forth。 He was from far beyond Edinburgh； and had got his insight among the Lothian farmers； so that he knew what crop should follow another； and nothing could surpass the regularity of his rigs and furrows。Well do I remember the admiration that I had； when； in a fine sunny morning of the first spring after he took the Breadland； I saw his braird on what had been the cows' grass； as even and pretty as if it had been worked and stripped in the loom with a shuttle。 Truly； when I look back at the example he set； and when I think on the method and dexterity of his management； I must say； that his coming to the parish was a great godsend； and tended to do far more for the benefit of my people； than if the young laird had rebuilded the Breadland…House in a fashionable style； as was at one time spoken of。
But the year of the great calamity was memorable for another thing：… in th
