the annals of the parish-第9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！





CHAPTER　X　　YEAR　1769



I　have　my　doubts　whether　it　was　in　the　beginning　of　this　year；　or　in　the　end　of　the　last；　that　a　very　extraordinary　thing　came　to　light　in　the　parish；　but；　howsoever　that　may　be；　there　is　nothing　more　certain　than　the　fact；　which　it　is　my　duty　to　record。　　I　have　mentioned　already　how　it　was　that　the　toll；　or　trust…road；　was　set　a…going；　on　account　of　the　Lord　Eaglesham's　tumbling　on　the　midden　in　the　Vennel。　　Well；　it　happened　to　one　of　the　labouring　men；　in　breaking　the　stones　to　make　metal　for　the　new　road；　that　he　broke　a　stone　that　was　both　large　and　remarkable；　and　in　the　heart　of　it；　which　was　boss；　there　was　found　a　living　creature；　that　jumped　out　the　moment　it　saw　the　light　of　heaven；　to　the　great　terrification　of　the　man；　who　could　think　it　was　nothing　but　an　evil　spirit　that　had　been　imprisoned　therein　for　a　time。　　The　man　came　to　me　like　a　demented　creature；　and　the　whole　clachan　gathered　out；　young　and　old；　and　I　went　at　their　head　to　see　what　the　miracle　could　be；　for　the　man　said　it　was　a　fiery　dragon；　spewing　smoke　and　flames。　　But　when　we　came　to　the　spot；　it　was　just　a　yird　toad；　and　the　laddie　weans　nevelled　it　to　death　with　stones；　before　I　could　persuade　them　to　give　over。　　Since　then；　I　have　read　of　such　things　coming　to　light　in　the　Scots　Magazine；　a　very　valuable　book。

Soon　after　the　affair　of　〃the　wee　deil　in　the　stane；〃　as　it　was　called；　a　sough　reached　us　that　the　Americas　were　seized　with　the　rebellious　spirit　of　the　ten　tribes；　and　were　snapping　their　fingers　in　the　face　of　the　king's　government。　　The　news　came　on　a　Saturday　night；　for　we　had　no　newspapers　in　those　days；　and　was　brought　by　Robin　Modiwort；　that　fetched　the　letters　from　the　Irville　post。　Thomas　Fullarton　（he　has　been　dead　many　a　day）　kept　the　grocery　shop　at　Irville；　and　he　had　been　in　at　Glasgow；　as　was　his　yearly　custom；　to　settle　his　accounts；　and　to　buy　a　hogshead　of　tobacco；　with　sugar　and　other　spiceries；　and　being　in　Glasgow；　Thomas　was　told　by　the　merchant　of　a　great　rise　in　tobacco；　that　had　happened　by　reason　of　the　contumacity　of　the　plantations；　and　it　was　thought　that　blood　would　be　spilt　before　things　were　ended；　for　that　the　King　and　Parliament　were　in　a　great　passion　with　them。　　But　as　Charles　Malcolm；　in　the　king's　ship；　was　the　only　one　belonging　to　the　parish　that　was　likely　to　be　art　and　part　in　the　business；　we　were　in　a　manner　little　troubled　at　the　time　with　this　first　gasp　of　the　monster　of　war；　who；　for　our　sins；　was　ordained　to　swallow　up　and　devour　so　many　of　our　fellow…subjects；　before　he　was　bound　again　in　the　chains　of　mercy　and　peace。

I　had；　in　the　meantime；　written　a　letter　to　the　Lord　Eaglesham；　to　get　Charles　Malcolm　out　of　the　clutches　of　the　pressgang　in　the　man…　of…war；　and　about　a　month　after；　his　lordship　sent　me　an　answer；　wherein　was　enclosed　a　letter　from　the　captain　of　the　ship；　saying；　that　Charles　Malcolm　was　so　good　a　man　that　he　was　reluctant　to　part　with　him；　and　that　Charles　himself　was　well　contented　to　remain　aboard。　　Anent　which；　his　lordship　said　to　me；　that　he　had　written　back　to　the　captain　to　make　a　midshipman　of　Charles；　and　that　he　would　take　him　under　his　own　protection；　which　was　great　joy　on　two　accounts　to　us　all；　especially　to　his　mother；　first；　to　hear　that　Charles　was　a　good　man；　although　in　years　still　but　a　youth；　and；　secondly；　that　my　lord　had；　of　his　own　free…will；　taken　him　under　the　wing　of　his　patronage。

But　the　sweet　of　this　world　is　never　to　be　enjoyed　without　some　of　the　sour。　　The　coal　bark　between　Irville　and　Belfast；　in　which　Robert　Malcolm；　the　second　son　of　his　mother；　was　serving　his　time　to　be　a　sailor；　got　a　charter；　as　it　was　called；　to　go　with　to　Norway　for　deals；　which　grieved　Mrs　Malcolm　to　the　very　heart；　for　there　was　then　no　short　cut　by　the　canal；　as　now　is；　between　the　rivers　of　the　Forth　and　Clyde；　but　every　ship　was　obligated　to　go　far　away　round　by　the　Orkneys；　which；　although　a　voyage　in　the　summer　not　overly　dangerous；　there　being　long　days　and　short　nights　then；　yet　in　the　winter　it　was　far　otherwise；　many　vessels　being　frozen　up　in　the　Baltic　till　the　spring；　and　there　was　a　story　told　at　the　time；　of　an　Irville　bark　coming　home　in　the　dead　of　the　year；　that　lost　her　way　altogether；　and　was　supposed　to　have　sailed　north　into　utter　darkness；　for　she　was　never　more　heard　of：　　and　many　an　awful　thing　was　said　of　what　the　auld　mariners　about　the　shore　thought　concerning　the　crew　of　that　misfortunate　vessel。　　However；　Mrs　Malcolm　was　a　woman　of　great　faith；　and　having　placed　her　reliance　on　Him　who　is　the　orphan's　stay　and　widow's　trust；　she　resigned　her　bairn　into　his　hands；　with　a　religious　submission　to　his　pleasure；　though　the　mother's　tear　of　weak　human　nature　was　on　her　cheek　and　in　her　e'e。　　And　her　faith　was　well　rewarded；　for　the　vessel　brought　him　safe　home；　and　he　had　seen　such　a　world　of　things；　that　it　was　just　to　read　a　story…book　to　hear　him　tell　of　Elsineur　and　Gottenburg；　and　other　fine　and　great　places　that　we　had　never　heard　of　till　that　time；　and　he　brought　me　a　bottle　of　Riga　balsam；　which　for　healing　cuts　was　just　miraculous；　besides　a　clear　bottle　of　Rososolus　for　his　mother；　a　spirit　which　for　cordiality　could　not　be　told；　for　though　since　that　time　we　have　had　many　a　sort　of　Dantzic　cordial；　I　have　never　tasted　any　to　compare　with　Robin　Malcolm's　Rososolus。　　The　Lady　Macadam；　who　had　a　knowledge　of　such　things；　declared　it　was　the　best　of　the　best　sort；　for　Mrs　Malcolm　sent　her　ladyship　some　of　it　in　a　doctor's　bottle；　as　well　as　to　Mrs　Balwhidder；　who　was　then　at　the　downlying　with　our　daughter　Janeta　woman　now　in　the　married　state；　that　makes　a　most　excellent　wife；　having　been　brought　up　with　great　pains；　and　well　educated；　as　I　shall　have　to　record　by…and…by。

About　the　Christmas　of　this　year；　Lady　Macadam's　son　having　been　perfected　in　the　art　of　war　at　a　school　in　France；　had；　with　the　help　of　his　mother's　friends；　and　his　father's　fame；　got　a　stand　of　colours　in　the　Royal　Scots　regiment；　he　came　to　show　himself　in　his　regimentals　to　his　lady　mother；　like　a　dutiful　son；　as　he　certainly　was。　　It　happened　that　he　was　in　the　kirk　in　his　scarlets　and　gold；　on　the　same　Sunday　that　Robert　Malcolm　came　home　from　the　long　voyage　to　Norway　for　deals；　and　I　thought　when　I　saw　the　soldier　and　the　sailor　from　the　pulpit；　that　it　was　an　omen　of　war；　among　our　harmless　country　folks；　like　swords　and　cannon　amidst　ploughs　and　sickles；　coming　upon　us；　and　I　became　laden　in　spirit；　and　had　a　most　weighty　prayer　upon　the　occasion；　which　was　long　after　remembered；　many　thinking；　when　the　American　war　broke　out；　that　I　had　been　gifted　with　a　glimmering　of　prophecy　on　that　day。

It　was　during　this　visit　to　his　lady　mother；　that　young　Laird　Macadam　settled　the　correspondence　with　Kate　Malcolm；　which；　in　the　process　of　time；　caused　us　all　so　much　trouble；　for　it　was　a　clandestine　concern：　　but　the　time　is　not　yet　ripe　for　me　to　speak　of　it　more　at　large。　　I　should；　however；　mention；　before　concluding　this　annal；　that　Mrs　Malcolm　herself　was　this　winter　brought　to　death's　door　by　a　terrible　host　that　came　on　her　in　the　kirk；　by　taking　a　kittling　in　her　throat。　　It　was　a　terrification　to　hear　her　sometimes；　but　she　got　the　better　of　it　in　the　spring；　and　was　more　herself　thereafter　than　she　had　been　for　years　before；　and　her　daughter　Effie　or　Euphemia；　as　she　was　called　by　Miss　Sabrina；　the　schoolmistress；　was　growing　up　to　be　a　gleg　and　clever　quean；　she　was；　indeed；　such　a　spirit　in　her　way；　that　the　folks　called　her　Spunkie；　while　her　son　William；　that　was　the　youngest　of　the　five；　was　making　a　wonderful　proficiency　with　Mr　Lorimore。　　He　was　indeed　a　douce；　well…doing　laddie；　of　a　composed　nature；　insomuch　that　the　master　said　he　was　surely　chosen　for　the　ministry。　　In　short；　the　more　I　think　on　what　befell　this　family；　and　of　the　great　meekness　and　Christian　worth　of　the　parent；　I　verily　believe　there　never　could　have　been　in　any　parish　such　a　manifestation　of　the　truth；　that　they　who　put　their　trust　in　the　Lord；　are　sure　of　having　a　friend　that　will　never　forsake　them。



CHAPTER　XI　　YEAR　1770



This　blessed　Ann。　Dom。　was　one　of　the　Sabbaths　of　my　ministry。　　When　I　look　back　upon　it；　all　is　quiet　and　good　order：　　the　darkest　cloud　of　the　smuggling　had　passed　over；　at　least　from　my　people；　and　the　rumours　of　rebellion　in　America　were　but　like　the　distant　sound　of　the　bars　of　Ayr。　　We　sat；　as　it　were；　in　a　lown　and　pleasant　place；　beholding　our　prosperity；　like　the　apple…tree　adorned　with　her　garlands　of　flourishes；　in　the　first　fair　mornings　of　the　spring；　when　the　birds　were　returning　thanks　to　their　Maker　for　the　coming　again　of　the　seed…time；　and　the　busy　bee　goeth　forth　from　her　cell；　to　gather　honey　from　the　flowers　of　the　field；　and　the　broom　of　the　hill；　and　the　blue…bells　and　gowans；　which　Nature；　with　a　gracious　and　a　gentle　hand；　scatters　in　the　valley；　as　she　walketh　forth　in　her　beauty；　to　testify　to　the　goodness　of　the　Father　of　all　mercies。

Both　at　the　spring　and　the　harvest　sacraments；　the　weather　was　as　that　which　is　in　Paradise；　there　was　a　glad　composure　in　all　hearts；　and　the　minds　of　men　were　softened　towards　each　other。　　The　number　of　communicants　was　greater　than　had　been　known　for　many　years；　and　the　tables　were　filled　by　the　pious　from　many　a　neighbouring　parish：　those　of　my　hearers　who　had　opposed　my　placing；　declared　openly；　for　a　testimony　of　satisfaction　and　holy　thankfulness；　that　the　tent；　so　surrounded　as　it　was　on　both　occasions；　was　a　sight　they　never　had　expected　to　see。　　I　was；　to　be　sure；　assisted　by　some　of　the　best　divines　then　in　the　land；　but　I　had　not　been　a　sluggard　myself　in　the　vineyard。

Often；　when　I　think　on　this　year；　so　fruitful　in　pleasant　intimacies；　has　the　thought　come　into　my　mind；　that　as　the　Lord　blesses　the　earth　from　time　to　time　with　a　harvest　of　more　than　the　usual　increase；　so；　in　like　manner；　he　is　sometimes　for　a　season　pleased　to　pour　into　the　breasts　of　mankind　a　larger　portion　of　good…will　and　charity；　disposing　them　to　love　one　another；　to　be　kindly　to　all　creatures；　and　filled　with　the　delight　of　thankfulness　to　himself；　which　is　the　greatest　of　blessings。

It　was　in　this　year　that　the　Earl　of　Eaglesham　ordered　the　fair　to　be　established　in　the　village；　and　it　was　a　day　of　wonderful　festivity　to　all　the　bairns；　and　lads　and　lassies；　for　miles　round。　I　think；　indeed；　that　there　has　never　been　such　a　fair　as　the　first　since；　for　although　we　have　more　mountebanks　and　merry…andrews　now；　and　richer　cargoes　of　groceries　and　packman's　stands；　yet　there　has　been　a　falling　off　in　the　light…hearted　daffing；　while　the　hobleshows　in　the　change…houses　have　been　awfully　augmented。　　It　was　on　this　occasion　that　Punch's　opera　was　first　seen　in　our　country　side；　and　surely　never　was　there　such　a　funny　curiosity；　for　although　Mr　Punch　himself　was　but　a　timber　idol；　he　was　as　droll　as　a　true　living　thing；　and　napped　with　his　head　so　comical；　but　oh！　he　was　a　sorrowful　contumacious　captain；　and　it　was　just　a　sport　to　see　how　he　rampaged；　and　triumphed；　and　sang。　　For　months　after；　the　laddie　weans　did　nothing　but　squeak　and　sing　like　Punch。　　In　short；　a　blithe　spirit　was　among　us　throughout　this　year；　and　the　briefness　of　the　chronicle　bears