the annals of the parish-第26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！
it out； which put him quite wud； and he attempted to fling it at Sambo； the black lad's head； but it stottit against the wall； and the lid flying open； the whole mustard flew in his own face； which made him a sight not to be spoken of。 However it calmed him； but really； as I had never seen such a man before； I could not but consider the accident as a providential reproof； and trembled to think what greater evil might fall out in the hands of a man so left to himself in the intemperance of passion。
But the worst thing about Mr Cayenne was his meddling with matters in which he had no concern； for he had a most irksome nature； and could not be at rest； so that he was truly a thorn in our side。 Among other of his strange doings； was the part he took in the proceedings of the session； with which he had as little to do； in a manner； as the man in the moon； but having no business on his hands； he attended every sederunt； and from less to more； having no self… government； he began to give his opinion in our deliberations； and often bred us trouble； by causing strife to arise。
It happened； as the time of the summer occasion was drawing near； that it behoved us to make arrangements about the assistance； and upon the suggestion of the elders； to which I paid always the greatest deference； I invited Mr Keekie of Loupinton； who was a sound preacher； and a great expounder of the kittle parts of the Old Testament； being a man well versed in the Hebrew and etymologies； for which he was much reverenced by the old people that delighted to search the Scriptures。 I had also written to Mr Sprose of Annock； a preacher of another sort； being a vehement and powerful thresher of the word； making the chaff and vain babbling of corrupt commentators to fly from his hand。 He was not； however； so well liked； as he wanted that connect method which is needful to the enforcing of doctrine。 But he had never been among us； and it was thought it would be a godly treat to the parish to let the people hear him。 Besides Mr Sprose； Mr Waikle of Gowanry； a quiet hewer out of the image of holiness in the heart； was likewise invited； all in addition to our old stoops from the adjacent parishes。
None of these three preachers were in any estimation with Mr Cayenne； who had only heard each of them once； and he； happening to be present in the session…house at the time； enquired how we had settled。 I thought this not a very orderly question； but I gave him a civil answer； saying； that； Mr Keekie of Loupinton would preach on the morning of the fast…day； Mr Sprose of Annock in the afternoon； and Mr Waikle of Gowanry on the Saturday。 Never shall I or the elders； while the breath of life is in our bodies； forget the reply。 Mr Cayenne struck the table like a clap of thunder； and cried； 〃Mr Keekie of Loupinton； and Mr Sprose of Annock； and Mr Waikle of Gowanry； and all suck trash； may go toand be …！〃 and out of the house he bounced； like a hand…ball stotting on a stone。
The elders and me were confounded； and for some time we could not speak； but looked at each other； doubtful if our ears heard aright。 At long and length I came to myself； and； in the strength of God； took my place at the table； and said； this was an outrageous impiety not to be borne； which all the elders agreed to； and we thereupon came to a resolve； which I dictated myself； wherein we debarred Mr Cayenne from ever after entering； unless summoned； the session… house； the which resolve we directed the session…clerk to send to him direct； and thus we vindicated the insulted privileges of the church。
Mr Cayenne had cooled before he got home； and our paper coming to him in his appeased blood； he immediately came to the manse； and made a contrite apology for his hasty temper； which I reported in due time and form； to the session； and there the matter ended。 But here was an example plain to be seen of the truth of the old proverb； that as one door shuts another opens； for scarcely were we in quietness by the decease of that old light…headed woman； the Lady Macadam； till a full equivalent for her was given in this hot and fiery Mr Cayenne。
CHAPTER XXVII YEAR 1786
From the day of my settlement； I had resolved； in order to win the affections of my people； and to promote unison among the heritors； to be of as little expense to the parish as possible； but by this time the manse had fallen into a sore state of decaythe doors were wormed on the hingesthe casements of the windows chattered all the winter； like the teeth of a person perishing with cold； so that we had no comfort in the house； by which； at the urgent instigations of Mrs Balwhidder； I was obligated to represent our situation to the session。 I would rather； having so much saved money in the bank； paid the needful repairs myself； than have done this； but she said it would be a rank injustice to our own family； and her father； Mr Kibbock； who was very long…headed； with more than a common man's portion of understanding； pointed out to me； that； as my life was but in my lip； it would be a wrong thing towards whomsoever was ordained to be my successor； to use the heritors to the custom of the minister paying for the reparations of the manse； as it might happen he might not be so well able to afford it as me。 So in a manner； by their persuasion； and the constraint of the justice of the case； I made a report of the infirmities both of doors and windows； as well as of the rotten state of the floors； which were constantly in want of cobbling。 Over and above all； I told them of the sarking of the roof； which was as frush as a puddock…stool； insomuch； that in every blast some of the pins lost their grip； and the slates came hurling off。
The heritors were accordingly convened； and； after some deliberation； they proposed that the house should be seen to； and whitewashed and painted； and I thought this might do； for I saw they were terrified at the expense of a thorough repair； but when I went home and repeated to Mrs Balwhidder what had been said at the meeting； and my thankfulness at getting the heritors' consent to do so much； she was excessively angry； and told me； that all the painting and whitewashing in the world would avail nothing； for that the house was as a sepulchre full of rottenness； and she sent for Mr Kibbock； her father； to confer with him on the way of getting the matter put to rights。
Mr Kibbock came； and hearing of what had passed； pondered for some time； and then said； 〃All was very right！ the minister （meaning me） has just to get tradesmen to look at the house； and write out their opinion of what it needs。 There will be plaster to mend； so； before painting； he will get a plasterer。 There will be a slater wanted； he has just to get a slater's estimate； and a wright's； and so forth； and when all is done； he will lay them before the session and the heritors； who； no doubt； will direct the reparations to go forward。〃
This was very pawkie； counselling； of Mr Kibbock； and I did not see through it at the time； but did as he recommended； and took all the different estimates； when they came in； to the session。 The elders commended my prudence exceedingly for so doing； before going to work； and one of them asked me what the amount of the whole would be； but I had not cast it up。 Some of the heritors thought that a hundred pounds would be sufficient for the outlay； but judge of our consternation； when； in counting up all the sums of the different estimates together； we found them well on towards a thousand pounds。 〃Better big a new house at once； than do this！〃 cried all the elders； by which I then perceived the draughtiness of Mr Kibbock's advice。 Accordingly； another meeting of the heritors was summoned； and after a great deal of controversy； it was agreed that a new manse should be erected； and； shortly after； we contracted with Thomas Trowel； the mason to build one for six hundred pounds； with all the requisite appurtenances； by which a clear gain was saved to the parish； by the foresight of Mr Kibbock； to the amount of nearly four hundred pounds。 But the heritors did not mean to have allowed the sort of repair that his plan comprehended。 He was； however； a far forecasting man； the like of him for natural parts not
