the annals of the parish-第27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！
s plan comprehended。 He was； however； a far forecasting man； the like of him for natural parts not being in our country side； and nobody could get the whip…hand of him； either in a bargain or an improvement； when he once was sensible of the advantage。 He was； indeed； a blessing to the shire； both by his example as a farmer； and by his sound and discreet advice in the contentions of his neighbours； being a man； as was a saying among the commonality； 〃wiser than the law and the fifteen Lords of Edinburgh。〃
The building of the new manse occasioned a heavy cess on the heritors； which made them overly ready to pick holes in the coats of me and the elders； so that； out of my forbearance and delicacy in time past； grew a lordliness on their part； that was an ill return for the years that I had endured no little inconveniency for their sake。 It was not in my heart or principles to harm the hair of a dog； but when I discerned the austerity with which they were disposed to treat their minister； I bethought me that； for the preservation of what was due to the establishment and the upholding of the decent administration of religion； I ought to set my face against the sordid intolerance by which they were actuated。 This notion I weighed well before divulging it to any person； but when I had assured myself as to the rectitude thereof； I rode over one day to Mr Kibbock's； and broke my mind to him about claiming out of the teinds an augmentation of my stipend； not because I needed it； but in case； after me； some bare and hungry gorbie of the Lord should be sent upon the parish； in no such condition to plea with the heritors as I was。 Mr Kibbock highly approved of my intent； and by his help； after much tribulation； I got an augmentation both in glebe and income； and to mark my reason for what I did； I took upon me to keep and clothe the wives and orphans of the parish； who lost their breadwinners in the American war。 But for all that； the heritors spoke of me as an avaricious Jew； and made the hard…won fruits of Mrs Balwhidder's great thrift and good management a matter of reproach against me。 Few of them would come to the church； but stayed away； to the detriment of their own souls hereafter； in order； as they thought； to punish me； so that； in the course of this year； there was a visible decay of the sense of religion among the better orders of the parish； and； as will be seen in the sequel； their evil example infected the minds of many of the rising generation。
It was in this year that Mr Cayenne bought the mailing of the Wheatrigs； but did not begin to build his house till the following spring； for being ill to please with a plan； he fell out with the builders； and on one occasion got into such a passion with Mr Trowel； the mason； that he struck him a blow on the face； for which he was obligated to make atonement。 It was thought the matter would have been carried before the Lords； but； by the mediation of Mr Kibbock； with my helping hand； a reconciliation was brought about； Mr Cayenne indemnifying the mason with a sum of money to say no more anent it； after which； he employed him to build his house； a thing that no man could have thought possible； who reflected on the enmity between them。
CHAPTER XXVIII YEAR 1787
There had been； as I have frequently observed； a visible improvement going on in the parish。 From the time of the making of the toll… road； every new house that was built in the clachan was built along that road。 Among other changes hereby caused； the Lady Macadam's jointure…house that was； which stood in a pleasant parterre； inclosed within a stone wall and an iron gate； having a pillar with a pineapple head on each side； came to be in the middle of the town。 While Mr Cayenne inhabited the same； it was maintained in good order； but on his flitting to his own new house on the Wheatrigs； the parterre was soon overrun with weeds； and it began to wear the look of a waste place。 Robert Toddy； who then kept the change… house； and who had； from the lady's death； rented the coach…house for stabling； in this juncture thought of it for an inn； so he set his own house to Thomas Treddles the weaver； whose son； William； is now the great Glasgow manufacturer； that has cotton…mills and steam… engines； and took； 〃the Place；〃 as it was called； and had a fine sign； THE CROSS…KEYS； painted and put up in golden characters； by which it became one of the most noted inns anywhere to be seen； and the civility of Mrs Toddy was commended by all strangers。 But although this transmutation from a change…house to an inn was a vast amendment； in a manner； to the parish； there was little amendment of manners thereby； for the farmer lads began to hold dancings and other riotous proceedings there； and to bring； as it were； the evil practices of towns into the heart of the country。 All sort of licence was allowed as to drink and hours； and the edifying example of Mr Mutchkins and his pious family； was no longer held up to the imitation of the wayfaring man。
Saving the mutation of 〃the Place〃 into an inn； nothing very remarkable happened in this year。 We got into our new manse about the middle of March； but it was rather damp； being new plastered； and it caused me to have a severe attack of the rheumatics in the fall of the year。
I should not； in my notations； forget to mark a new luxury that got in among the commonality at this time。 By the opening of new roads； and the traffic thereon with carts and carriers； and by our young men that were sailors going to the Clyde； and sailing to Jamaica and the West Indies； heaps of sugar and coffee…beans were brought home； while many； among the kail…stocks and cabbages in their yards； had planted groset and berry bushes； which two things happening together； the fashion to make jam and jelly； which hitherto had been only known in the kitchens and confectionaries of the gentry； came to be introduced into the clachan。 All this； however； was not without a plausible pretext； for it was found that jelly was an excellent medicine for a sore throat； and jam a remedy as good as London candy for a cough； or a cold； or a shortness of breath。 I could not； however； say that this gave me so much concern as the smuggling trade； only it occasioned a great fasherie to Mrs Balwhidder； for； in the berry time； there was no end to the borrowing of her brass…pan to make jelly and jam； till Mrs Toddy of the Cross…Keys bought one； which； in its turn； came into request； and saved ours。
It was in the Martinmas quarter of this year that I got the first payment of my augmentation。 Having no desire to rip up old sores； I shall say no more anent it； the worst being anticipated in my chronicle of the last year； but there was a thing happened in the payment that occasioned a vexation at the time； of a very disagreeable nature。 Daft Meg Gaffaw； who； from the tragical death of her mother； was a privileged subject； used to come to the manse on the Saturdays for a meal of meat； and so it fell out that as； by some neglect of mine； no steps had been taken to regulate the disposal of the victual that constituted the means of the augmentation； some of the heritors； in an ungracious temper； sent what they called the tithe…ball （the Lord knows it was not the fiftieth！） to the manse； where I had no place to put it。 This fell out on a Saturday night； when I was busy with my sermon； thinking not of silver or gold； but of much better； so that I was greatly molested and disturbed thereby。 Daft Meg； who sat by the kitchen chimley…lug； hearing a'； said nothing for a time； but when she saw how Mrs Balwhidder and me were put to； she cried out with a loud voice； like a soul under the inspiration of prophecy〃When the widow's cruse had filled all the vessels in the house； the Lord stopped the increase。 Verily； verily； I say unto you； if your barns be filled； and your girnell…kists can hold no more； seek till ye shall find the tume basins of the poor； and therein pour the corn； and the oil； and the wine of your abundance； so shall ye be blessed of the Lord。〃 The which words I took for an admonition； and directing the sacks to be brought into the dining…room and other chambers of the manse； I sent off the heritors' servants； that had do
