the annals of the parish-第32章
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ers； that the Christianity of it was neither enlarged nor bettered by being baptized with the Greek name of philanthropy。 With welldoing； however； I went more roundly to work； I told my people that I thought they had more sense than to secede from Christianity to become Utilitarians； for that it would be a confession of ignorance of the faith they deserved； seeing that it was the main duty inculcated by our religion to do all in morals and manners to which the newfangled doctrine of utility pretended。
These discourses； which I continued for sometime； had no great effect on the men； but being prepared in a familiar household manner； they took the fancies of the young women； which was to me an assurance that the seed I had planted would in time shoot forth； for I reasoned with myself； that if the gudeman of the immediate generation should continue free…thinkers； their wives will take care that those of the next shall not lack that spunk of grace； so I was cheered under that obscurity which fell upon Christianity at this time； with a vista beyond； in which I saw； as it were； the children unborn； walking on the bright green； and in the unclouded splendour of the faith。
But what with the decay of trade； and the temptation of the king's bounty； and； over all； the witlessness that was in the spirit of man at this time； the number that enlisted in the course for the year from the parish was prodigious。 In one week no less than three weavers and two cotton…spinners went over to Ayr； and took the bounty of the Royal Artillery。 But I could not help remarking to myself； that the people were grown so used to changes and extraordinary adventures； that the single enlistment of Thomas Wilson； at the beginning of the American war； occasioned a far greater grief and work among us； than all the swarms that went off week after week in the months of November and December of this year。
CHAPTER XXXVI YEAR 1795
The present Ann。 Dom。 was ushered in with an event that I had never dreaded to see in my day； in our once sober and religious country parish。 The number of lads that had gone over to Ayr to be soldiers from among the spinners and weavers of Cayenneville had been so great； that the government got note of it； and sent a recruiting party to be quartered in the town； for the term clachan was beginning by this time to wear out of fashion： indeed； the place itself was outgrowing the fitness of that title。 Never shall I forget the dunt that the first tap of the drum gied to my heart； as I was sitting on Hansel Monday by myself at the parlour fireside； Mrs Balwhidder being throng with the lassies looking out a washing； and my daughter at Ayr； spending a few days with her old comrades of the boarding school。 I thought it was the enemy； and then anon the sound of the fife came shrill to the ear； for the night was lown and peaceful。 My wife and all the lassies came flying in upon me； crying all in the name of heaven； what could it be？ by which I was obligated to put on my big…coat； and； with my hat and staff； go out to enquire。 The whole town was aloof； the aged at the doors in clusters； and the bairns following the tattoo； as it was called； and at every doubling beat of the drum； shouting as if they had been in the face of their foemen。
Mr Archibald Dozendale； one of my elders； was saying to several persons around him； just as I came up； 〃Hech； sirs！ but the battle draws near our gates；〃 upon which there was a heavy sigh from all that heard him； and then they told me of the sergeant's business； and we had a serious communing together anent the same。 But while we were thus standing discoursing on the causey； Mrs Balwhidder and the servant lassies could thole no longer； but in a troop came in quest of me； to hear what was doing。 In short； it was a night both of sorrow and anxiety。 Mr Dozendale walked back to the manse with us； and we had a sober tumbler of toddy together； marvelling exceedingly where these fearful portents and changes would stop； both of us being of opinion that the end of the world was drawing nearer and nearer。
Whether it was； however； that the lads belonging to the place did not like to show themselves with the enlistment cockades among their acquaintance； or that there was any other reason； I cannot take it upon me to say； but certain it is； the recruiting party came no
speed； and； in consequence； were removed about the end of March。
Another thing happened in this year； too remarkable for me to neglect to put on record； as it strangely and strikingly marked the rapid revolutions that were going on。 In the month of August at the time of the fair； a gang of playactors came； and hired Thomas Thacklan's barn for their enactments。 They were the first of that clanjamfrey who had ever been in the parish； and there was a wonderful excitement caused by the rumours concerning them。 Their first performance was DOUGLAS TRAGEDY and the GENTLE SHEPHERD： and the general opinion was； that the lad who played Norval in the play； and Patie in the farce； was an English lord's son； who had run away from his parents rather than marry an old cracket lady with a great portion。 But； whatever truth there might be in this notion； certain it is； the whole pack was in a state of perfect beggary； and yet； for all that； they not only in their parts； as I was told； laughed most heartily； but made others do the same； for I was constrained to let my daughter go to see them； with some of her acquaintance； and she gave me such an account of what they did； that I thought I would have liked to have gotten a keek at them myself。 At the same time； I must own this was a sinful curiosity； and I stifled it to the best of my ability。 Among other plays that they did； was one called MACBETH AND THE WITCHES； which the Miss Cayennes had seen performed in London； when they were there in the winter time with their father； for three months； seeing the world； after coming from the boarding…school。 But it was no more like the true play of Shakespeare the poet； according to their account； than a duddy betheral； set up to fright the sparrows from the peas； is like a living gentleman。 The hungry players； instead of behaving like guests at the royal banquet； were voracious on the needful feast of bread； and the strong ale； that served for wine in decanters。 But the greatest sport of all was about a kail…pot； that acted the part of a caldron； and which should have sunk with thunder and lightning into the earth； however； it did quite as well； for it made its exit； as Miss Virginia said； by walking quietly off； being pulled by a string fastened to one of its feet。 No scene of the play was so much applauded as this one； and the actor who did the part of King Macbeth made a most polite bow of thankfulness to the audience； for the approbation with which they had received the performance of the pot。
We had likewise； shortly after the 〃Omnes exeunt〃 of the players； an exhibition of a different sort in the same barn。 This was by two English quakers； and a quaker lady； tanners of Kendal； who had been at Ayr on some leather business； where they preached； but made no proselytes。 The travellers were all three in a whisky； drawn by one of the best…ordered horses； as the hostler at the Cross…Keys told me； ever seen。 They came to the Inn to their dinner； and meaning to stay all night； sent round； to let it be known that they would hold a meeting in Friend Thacklan's barn； but Thomas denied they were either kith or kin to him： this； however； was their way of speaking。
In the evening； owing to the notice； a great congregation was assembled in the barn； and I myself； along with Mr Archibald Dozendale； went there likewise； to keep the people in awe； for we feared the strangers might be jeered and insulted。 The three were seated aloft on a high stage； prepared on purpose； with two mares and scaffold…deals； borrowed from Mr Trowel the mason。 They sat long； and silent； but at last the spirit moved the woman； and she rose； and delivered a very sensible exposition of Christianity。 I was really surprised to hear such sound doctrine； and Mr Dozendale said； justly； that it was more to the purpose than some that my younger brethren from Edinburgh endeavoured
