records of a family of engineers-第10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！



‘I　find　that　the　keepers　have；　by　some　means　or　another；　got　into　the　way　of　cleaning　too　much　with　rotten…stone　and　oil。　　I　take　the　principal　keeper　to　TASK　on　this　subject；　and　make　him　bring　a　clean　towel　and　clean　one　of　the　brazen　frames；　which　leaves　the　towel　in　an　odious　state。　　This　towel　I　put　up　in　a　sheet　of　paper；　seal；　and　take　with　me　to　confront　Mr。　Murdoch；　who　has　just　left　the　station。'　　‘This　letter'　…　a　stern　enumeration　of　complaints　…　‘to　lie　a　week　on　the　light…room　book…place；　and　to　be　put　in　the　Inspector's　hands　when　he　comes　round。'　　‘It　is　the　most　painful　thing　that　can　occur　for　me　to　have　a　correspondence　of　this　kind　with　any　of　the　keepers；　and　when　I　come　to　the　Lighthouse；　instead　of　having　the　satisfaction　to　meet　them　with　approbation；　it　is　distressing　when　one　is　obliged　to　put　on　a　most　angry　countenance　and　demeanour；　but　from　such　culpable　negligence　as　you　have　shown　there　is　no　avoiding　it。　　I　hold　it　as　a　fixed　maxim　that；　when　a　man　or　a　family　put　on　a　slovenly　appearance　in　their　houses；　stairs；　and　lanterns；　I　always　find　their　reflectors；　burners；　windows；　and　light　in　general；　ill　attended　to；　and；　therefore；　I　must　insist　on　cleanliness　throughout。'　　‘I　find　you　very　deficient　in　the　duty　of　the　high　tower。　　You　thus　place　your　appointment　as　Principal　Keeper　in　jeopardy；　and　I　think　it　necessary；　as　an　old　servant　of　the　Board；　to　put　you　upon　your　guard　once　for　all　at　this　time。　　I　call　upon　you　to　recollect　what　was　formerly　and　is　now　said　to　you。　　The　state　of　the　backs　of　the　reflectors　at　the　high　tower　was　disgraceful；　as　I　pointed　out　to　you　on　the　spot。　　They　were　as　if　spitten　upon；　and　greasy　finger…marks　upon　the　back　straps。　　I　demand　an　explanation　of　this　state　of　things。'　　‘The　cause　of　the　Commissioners　dismissing　you　is　expressed　in　the　minute；　and　it　must　be　a　matter　of　regret　to　you　that　you　have　been　so　much　engaged　in　smuggling；　and　also　that　the　Reports　relative　to　the　cleanliness　of　the　Lighthouse；　upon　being　referred　to；　rather　added　to　their　unfavourable　opinion。'　　‘I　do　not　go　into　the　dwelling…house；　but　severely　chide　the　lightkeepers　for　the　disagreement　that　seems　to　subsist　among　them。'　　‘The　families　of　the　two　lightkeepers　here　agree　very　ill。　　I　have　effected　a　reconciliation　for　the　present。'　　‘Things　are　in　a　very　HUMDRUM　state　here。　　There　is　no　painting；　and　in　and　out　of　doors　no　taste　or　tidiness　displayed。　　Robert's　wife　GREETS　and　M'Gregor's　scolds；　and　Robert　is　so　down…hearted　that　he　says　he　is　unfit　for　duty。　　I　told　him　that　if　he　was　to　mind　wives'　quarrels；　and　to　take　them　up；　the　only　way　was　for　him　and　M'Gregor　to　go　down　to　the　point　like　Sir　G。　Grant　and　Lord　Somerset。'　　‘I　cannot　say　that　I　have　experienced　a　more　unpleasant　meeting　than　that　of　the　lighthouse　folks　this　morning；　or　ever　saw　a　stronger　example　of　unfeeling　barbarity　than　the　conduct　which　the　…s　exhibited。　　These　two　cold…　hearted　persons；　not　contented　with　having　driven　the　daughter　of　the　poor　nervous　woman　from　her　father's　house；　BOTH　kept　POUNCING　at　her；　lest　she　should　forget　her　great　misfortune。　Write　me　of　their　conduct。　　Do　not　make　any　communication　of　the　state　of　these　families　at　Kinnaird　Head；　as　this　would　be　like　TALE…BEARING。'

There　is　the　great　word　out。　　Tales　and　Tale…bearing；　always　with　the　emphatic　capitals；　run　continually　in　his　correspondence。　　I　will　give　but　two　instances：…

‘Write　to　David　＇one　of　the　lightkeepers＇　and　caution　him　to　be　more　prudent　how　he　expresses　himself。　　Let　him　attend　his　duty　to　the　Lighthouse　and　his　family　concerns；　and　give　less　heed　to　Tale…bearers。'　　‘I　have　not　your　last　letter　at　hand　to　quote　its　date；　but；　if　I　recollect；　it　contains　some　kind　of　tales；　which　nonsense　I　wish　you　would　lay　aside；　and　notice　only　the　concerns　of　your　family　and　the　important　charge　committed　to　you。'

Apparently；　however；　my　grandfather　was　not　himself　inaccessible　to　the　Tale…bearer；　as　the　following　indicates：

‘In　walking　along　with　Mr。　…　；　I　explain　to　him　that　I　should　be　under　the　necessity　of　looking　more　closely　into　the　business　here　from　his　conduct　at　Buddonness；　which　had　given　an　instance　of　weakness　in　the　Moral　principle　which　had　staggered　my　opinion　of　him。　　His　answer　was；　〃That　will　be　with　regard　to　the　lass？〃　　I　told　him　I　was　to　enter　no　farther　with　him　upon　the　subject。'　　‘Mr。　Miller　appears　to　be　master　and　man。　　I　am　sorry　about　this　foolish　fellow。　　Had　I　known　his　train；　I　should　not；　as　I　did；　have　rather　forced　him　into　the　service。　　Upon　finding　the　windows　in　the　state　they　were；　I　turned　upon　Mr。　Watt；　and　especially　upon　Mr。　Stewart。　　The　latter　did　not　appear　for　a　length　of　time　to　have　visited　the　light…room。　　On　asking　the　cause　…　did　Mr。　Watt　and　him　（SIC）　disagree；　he　said　no；　but　he　had　got　very　bad　usage　from　the　assistant；　〃who　was　a　very　obstreperous　man。〃　　I　could　not　bring　Mr。　Watt　to　put　in　language　his　objections　to　Miller；　all　I　could　get　was　that；　he　being　your　friend；　and　saying　he　was　unwell；　he　did　not　like　to　complain　or　to　push　the　man；　that　the　man　seemed　to　have　no　liking　to　anything　like　work；　that　he　was　unruly；　that；　being　an　educated　man；　he　despised　them。　　I　was；　however；　determined　to　have　out　of　these　UNWILLING　witnesses　the　language　alluded　to。　I　fixed　upon　Mr。　Stewart　as　chief；　he　hedged。　　My　curiosity　increased；　and　I　urged。　　Then　he　said；　〃What　would　I　think；　just　exactly；　of　Mr。　Watt　being　called　an　Old　B…？〃　　You　may　judge　of　my　surprise。　　There　was　not　another　word　uttered。　This　was　quite　enough；　as　coming　from　a　person　I　should　have　calculated　upon　quite　different　behaviour　from。　　It　spoke　a　volume　of　the　man's　mind　and　want　of　principle。'　　‘Object　to　the　keeper　keeping　a　Bull…Terrier　dog　of　ferocious　appearance。　It　is　dangerous；　as　we　land　at　all　times　of　the　night。'　　‘Have　only　to　complain　of　the　storehouse　floor　being　spotted　with　oil。　　Give　orders　for　this　being　instantly　rectified；　so　that　on　my　return　to…morrow　I　may　see　things　in　good　order。'　　‘The　furniture　of　both　houses　wants　much　rubbing。　　Mrs。　…'s　carpets　are　absurd　beyond　anything　I　have　seen。　　I　want　her　to　turn　the　fenders　up　with　the　bottom　to　the　fireplace：　the　carpets；　when　not　likely　to　be　in　use；　folded　up　and　laid　as　a　hearthrug　partly　under　the　fender。'

My　grandfather　was　king　in　the　service　to　his　finger…　tips。　　All　should　go　in　his　way；　from　the　principal　lightkeeper's　coat　to　the　assistant's　fender；　from　the　gravel　in　the　garden…walks　to　the　bad　smell　in　the　kitchen；　or　the　oil…spots　on　the　store…room　floor。　　It　might　be　thought　there　was　nothing　more　calculated　to　awake　men's　resentment；　and　yet　his　rule　was　not　more　thorough　than　it　was　beneficent。　　His　thought　for　the　keepers　was　continual；　and　it　did　not　end　with　their　lives。　　He　tried　to　manage　their　successions；　he　thought　no　pains　too　great　to　arrange　between　a　widow　and　a　son　who　had　succeeded　his　father；　he　was　often　harassed　and　perplexed　by　tales　of　hardship；　and　I　find　him　writing；　almost　in　despair；　of　their　improvident　habits　and　the　destitution　that　awaited　their　families　upon　a　death。　　‘The　house　being　completely　furnished；　they　come　into　possession　without　necessaries；　and　they　go　out　NAKED。　　The　insurance　seems　to　have　failed；　and　what　next　is　to　be　tried？'　　While　they　lived　he　wrote　behind　their　backs　to　arrange　for　the　education　of　their　children；　or　to　get　them　other　situations　if　they　seemed　unsuitable　for　the　Northern　Lights。　　When　he　was　at　a　lighthouse　on　a　Sunday　he　held　prayers　and　heard　the　children　read。　　When　a　keeper　was　sick；　he　lent　him　his　horse　and　sent　him　mutton　and　brandy　from　the　ship。　　‘The　assistant's　wife　having　been　this　morning　confined；　there　was　sent　ashore　a　bottle　of　sherry　and　a　few　rusks　…　a　practice　which　I　have　always　observed　in　this　service；'　he　writes。　　They　dwelt；　many　of　them；　in　uninhabited　isles　or　desert　forelands；　totally　cut　off　from　shops。　　Many　of　them　were；　besides；　fallen　into　a　rustic　dishabitude　of　life；　so　that　even　when　they　visited　a　city　they　could　scarce　be　trusted　with　their　own　affairs；　as　（for　example）　he　who　carried　home　to　his　children；　thinking　they　were　oranges；　a　bag　of　lemons。　　And　my　grandfather　seems　to　have　acted；　at　least　in　his　early　years；　as　a　kind　of　gratuitous　agent　for　the　service。　　Thus　I　find　him　writing　to　a　keeper　in　1806；　when　his　mind　was　already　preoccupied　with　arrangements　for　the　Bell　Rock：　‘I　am　much　afraid　I　stand　very　unfavourably　with　you　as　a　man　of　promise；　as　I　was　to　send　several　things　of　which　I　believe　I　have　more　than　once　got　the　memorandum。　　All　I　can　say　is　that　in　this　respect　you　are　not　singular。　　This　makes　me　no　better；　but　really　I　have　been　driven　about　beyond　all　example　in　my　past　experience；　and　have　been　essentially　obliged　to　neglect　my　own　urgent　affairs。'　　No　servant　of　the　Northern　Lights　came　to　Edinburgh　but　he　was　entertained　at　Baxter's　Place　to　breakfast。　　There；　at　his　own　table；　my　grandfather　sat　down　delightedly　with　his　broad…spoken；　homespun　officers。　　His　whole　relation　to　the　service　was；　in　fact；　patriarchal；　and　I　believe　I　may　say　that　throughout　its　ranks　he　was　adored。　　I　have　spoken　with　many　who　knew　him；　I　was　his　grandson；　and　their　words　may　have　very　well　been　words　of　flattery；　but　there　was　one　thing　that　could　not　be　affected；　and　that　was　the　look　and　light　that　came　into　their　faces　at　the　name　of　Robert　Stevenson。

In　the　early　part　of　the　century　the　foreman　builder　was　a　young　man　of　the　name　of　George　Peebles；　a　native　of　Anstruther。　　My　grandfather　had　placed　in　him　a　very　high　degree　of　confidence；　and　he　was　already　designated　to　be　foreman　at　the　Bell　Rock；　when；　on　Christmas…day　1806；　on　his　way　home　from　Orkney；　he　was　lost　in　the　schooner　TRAVELLER。　The　tale　of　the　loss　of　the　TRAVELLER　is　almost　a　replica　of　that　of　the　ELIZABETH　of　Stromness；　like　the　ELIZABETH　she　came　as　far　as　Kinnaird　Head；　was　then　surprised　by　a　storm；　driven　back　to　Orkney；　and　bilged　and　sank　on　the　island　of　Flotta。　　It　seems　it　was　about　the　dusk　of　the　day　when　the　ship　struck；　and　many　of　the　crew　and　passengers　were　drowned。　About　the　same　hour；　my　grandfather　was　in　his　office　at　the　writing…table；　and　the　room　beginning　to　darken；　he　laid　down　his　pen　and　fell　asleep。　　In　a　dream　he　saw　the　door　open　and　George　Peebles　come　in；　‘reeling　to　and　fro；　and　staggering　like　a　drunken　man；'　with　water　streaming　from　his　head　and　body　to　the　floor。　　There　it　gathered　into　a　wave　which；　sweeping　forward；　submerged　my　grandfather。　　Well；　no　matter　how　deep；　versions　vary；　and　at　last　he　awoke；　and　behold　it　was　a　dream！　　But　it　may　be　conceived　how　profoundly　the　impression　was　written　even　on　the　mind　of　a　man　averse　from　such　ideas；　when　the　news　came　of　the　wreck　on　Flotta　and　the　death　of　George。

George's　vouchers　and　accounts　had　perished　with　himself；　and　it　appeared　he　was　in　debt　to　the　Commissioners。　　But　my　grandfather　wrote　to　Orkney　twice；　collected　evidence　of　his　disbursements；　and　proved　him　to　be　seventy　pounds　ahead。　With　this　sum；　he　applied　to　George's　brothers；　and　had　it　apportioned　between　their　mother　and　themselves。　　He　approached　the　Board　and　got　an　annuity　of　5　pounds　bestowed　on　the　widow　Peebles；　and　we　find　him　writing　her　a　long　letter　o