the annals of the parish-第23章
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hich are； that some of the neighbouring lairds； taking example by Mr Kibbock； my father…in…law that was； began in this fall to plant the tops of their hills with mounts of fir…trees； and Mungo Argyle； the exciseman； just herried the poor smugglers to death； and made a power of prize…money； which； however； had not the wonted effect of riches； for it brought him no honour； and he lived in the parish like a leper； or any other kind of excommunicated person。
But I should not forget a most droll thing that took place with Jenny Gaffaw； and her daughter。 They had been missed from the parish for some days； and folk began to be uneasy about what could have become of the two silly creatures； till one night； at the dead hour； a strange light was seen beaming and burning at the window of the bit hole where they lived。 It was first observed by Lady Macadam； who never went to bed at any Christian hour； but sat up reading her new French novels and play…books with Miss Sabrina； the schoolmistress。 She gave the alarm； thinking that such a great and continuous light from a lone house； where never candle had been seen before； could be nothing less than the flame of a burning。 And sending Miss Sabrina and the servants to see what was the matter； they beheld daft Jenny； and her as daft daughter； with a score of candle doups； （Heaven only knows where they got them！） placed in the window； and the twa fools dancing； and linking； and admiring before the door。 〃What's all this about； Jenny；〃 said Miss Sabrina。〃Awa' wi' you； awa' wi' youye wicked pope； ye whore of Babylonis na it for the glory of God； and the Protestant religion？ d'ye think I will be a pope as long as light can put out darkness？〃And with that the mother and daughter began again to leap and dance as madly as before。
It seems that poor Jenny； having heard of the luminations that were lighted up through the country on the ending of the Popish Bill； had； with Meg； travelled by themselves into Glasgow； where they had gathered or begged a stock of candles； and coming back under the cloud of night； had surprised and alarmed the whole clachan； by lighting up their window in the manner that I have described。 Poor Miss Sabrina； at Jenny's uncivil salutation； went back to my lady with her heart full； and would fain have had the idiots brought to task before the session； for what they had said to her。 But I would not hear tell of such a thing； for which Miss Sabrina owed me a grudge that was not soon given up。 At the same time； I was grieved to see the testimonies of joyfulness for a holy victory； brought into such disrepute by the ill…timed demonstrations of the two irreclaimable naturals； that had not a true conception of the cause for which they were triumphing。
CHAPTER XXII YEAR 1781
If the two last years passed o'er the heads of me and my people without any manifest dolour； which is a great thing to say for so long a period in this world； we had our own trials and tribulations in the one of which I have now to make mention。 Mungo Argyle； the exciseman； waxing rich； grew proud and petulant； and would have ruled the country side with a rod of iron。 Nothing less would serve him than a fine horse to ride on； and a world of other conveniences and luxuries； as if he had been on an equality with gentlemen。 And he bought a grand gun； which was called a fowling…piece； and he had two pointer dogs； the like of which had not been seen in the parish since the planting of the Eaglesham…wood on the moorland； which was four years before I got the call。 Every body said the man was fey； and truly； when I remarked him so gallant and gay on the Sabbath at the kirk； and noted his glowing face and gleg een； I thought at times there was something no canny about him。 It was indeed clear to be seen； that the man was hurried out of himself； but nobody could have thought that the death he was to dree would have been what it was。
About the end of summer my Lord Eaglesham came to the castle； bringing with him an English madam； that was his Miss。 Some days after he came down from London； as he was riding past the manse； his lordship stopped to enquire for my health； and I went to the door to speak to him。 I thought that he did not meet me with that blithe countenance he was wont； and in going away； he said with a blush； 〃I fear I dare not ask you to come to the castle。〃 I had heard of his concubine； and I said； 〃In saying so； my lord； you show a spark of grace； for it would not become me to see what I have heard； and I am surprised； my lord； you will not rather take a lady of your own。〃 He looked kindly； but confused； saying； he did not know where to get one； so seeing his shame； and not wishing to put him out of conceit entirely with himself； I replied； 〃Na； na； my lord； there's nobody will believe that； for there never was a silly Jock； but there was as silly a Jenny；〃 at which he laughed heartily； and rode away。 But I know not what was in't； I was troubled in mind about him； and thought； as he was riding away； that I would never see him again； and sure enough it so happened； for the next day； being airing in his coach with Miss Spangle； the lady he had brought； he happened to see Mungo Argyle with his dogs and his gun； and my lord being as particular about his game as the other was about boxes of tea and kegs of brandy； he jumped out of the carriage； and ran to take the gun。 Words passed； and the exciseman shot my lord。 Never shall I forget that day； such riding； such running； the whole country side afoot； but the same night my lord breathed his last； and the mad and wild reprobate that did the deed was taken up and sent off to Edinburgh。 This was a woeful riddance of that oppressor； for my lord was a good landlord and a kind…hearted man； and albeit； though a little thoughtless； was aye ready to make his power； when the way was pointed out； minister to good works。 The whole parish mourned for him； and there was not a sorer heart in all its bounds than my own。 Never was such a sight seen as his burial： the whole country side was there； and all as solemn as if they had been assembled in the valley of Jehoshaphat in the latter day。 The hedges where the funeral was to pass were clad with weans； like bunches of hips and haws； and the kirkyard was as if all its own dead were risen。 Never； do I think； was such a multitude gathered together。 Some thought there could not be less than three thousand grown men； besides women and children。
Scarcely was this great public calamity past； for it could be reckoned no less； when one Saturday afternoon； as Miss Sabrina； the schoolmistress； was dining with Lady Macadam； her ladyship was stricken with the paralytics； and her face so thrown in the course of a few minutes； that Miss Sabrina came flying to the manse for the help and advice of Mrs Balwhidder。 A doctor was gotten with all speed by express； but her ladyship was smitten beyond the reach of medicine。 She lived； however； some time after； but oh！ she was such an object； that it was a grief to see her。 She could only mutter when she tried to speak； and was as helpless as a baby。 Though she never liked me； nor could I say there was many things in her demeanour that pleased me； yet she was a free…handed woman to the needful； and when she died she was more missed than it was thought she could have been。
Shortly after her funeral； which was managed by a gentleman sent from her friends in Edinburgh； that I wrote to about her condition； the Major； her son； with his lady； Kate Malcolm； and two pretty bairns； came and stayed in her house for a time； and they were a great happiness to us all； both in the way of drinking tea； and sometimes taking a bit of dinner； their only mother now； the worthy and pious Mrs Malcolm； being regularly of the company。
Before the end of the year； I should mention； that the fortune of Mrs Malcolm's family got another shove upwards； by the promotion of her second son； Robert Malcolm； who； being grown an expert and careful mariner； was made captain of a grand ship； whereof Provost Maitland of Glasgow； that was kind to his mother in her distresses； was the owner。 But that douce lad Willie； her youngest son； who was at the university of Glasgow under the Lord Eag
