the annals of the parish-第37章
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a pair of black silk stockings。 I was amazed when I heard this； but judge what I felt； when a pair of old marrowless stockings； darned in the heel； and not whole enough in the legs to make a pair of mittens to Mrs Balwhidder； were delivered to me by her executor； Mr Caption； the lawyer。 Saving； however； this kind of flummery； Miss Sabrina was a harmless creature； and could quote poetry in discourse more glibly than texts of Scriptureher father having spared no pains on her mind： as for her body； it could not be mended； but that was not her fault。
After her death； the session held a consultation； and we agreed to give the same salary that Miss Sabrina enjoyed to Mrs M'Caffie； which angered Mr Cayenne； who thought it should have been given to the head mistress； and it made him give Mrs Pirn； out of his own pocket； double the sum。 But we considered that the parish funds were for the poor of the parish； and therefore it was our duty to provide for the instruction of the poor children。 Saving； therefore； those few notations； I have nothing further to say concerning the topics and progress of this Ann。 Dom。
CHAPTER XLII YEAR 1801
It is often to me very curious food for meditation； that as the parish increased in population； there should have been less cause for matter to record。 Things that in former days would have occasioned great discourse and cogitation； are forgotten with the day in which they happen； and there is no longer that searching into personalities which was so much in vogue during the first epoch of my ministry； which I reckon the period before the American war； nor has there been any such germinal changes among us； as those which took place in the second epoch； counting backward from the building of the cotton…mill that gave rise to the town of Cayenneville。 But still we were not； even at this era； of which this Ann。 Dom。 is the beginning； without occasional personality； or an event that deserved to be called a germinal。
Some years before； I had noted among the callans at Mr Lorimore's school a long soople laddie； who； like all bairns that grow fast and tall； had but little smeddum。 He could not be called a dolt； for he was observant and thoughtful； and giving to asking sagacious questions； but there was a sleepiness about him； especially in the kirk； and he gave； as the master said； but little application to his lessons； so that folk thought he would turn out a sort of gaunt…at… the…door； more mindful of meat than work。 He was； however； a good… natured lad； and； when I was taking my solitary walks of meditation； I sometimes fell in with him sitting alone on the brae by the water… side； and sometimes lying on the grass； with his hands under his head； on the sunny green knolls where Mr Cylinder； the English engineer belonging to the cotton…work； has built the bonny house that he calls Diryhill Cottage。 This was when Colin Mavis was a laddie at the school； and when I spoke to him； I was surprised at the discretion of his answers； so that gradually I began to think and say； that there was more about Colin than the neighbours knew。 Nothing； however； for many a day； came out to his advantage； so that his mother； who was by this time a widow woman； did not well know what to do with him； and folk pitied her heavy handful of such a droud。
By…and…by； however； it happened that one of the young clerks at the cotton…mill shattered his right…hand thumb by a gun bursting； and； being no longer able to write； was sent into the army to be an ensign； which caused a vacancy in the office； and； through the help of Mr Cayenne； I got Colin Mavis into the place； where； to the surprise of everybody； he proved a wonderful eident and active lad； and； from less to more； has come at the head of all the clerks； and deep in the confidentials of his employers。 But although this was a great satisfaction to me； and to the widow woman his mother； it somehow was not so much so to the rest of the parish； who seemed； as it were； angry that poor Colin had not proved himself such a dolt as they had expected and foretold。
Among other ways that Colin had of spending his leisure； was that of playing music on an instrument； in which it was said he made a wonderful proficiency； but being long and thin； and of a delicate habit of body； he was obligated to refrain from this recreation； so he betook himself to books； and from reading he began to try writing； but； as this was done in a corner； nobody jealoused what he was about； till one evening in this year he came to the manse； and asked a word in private with me。 I thought that perhaps he had fallen in with a lass； and was come to consult me anent matrimony； but when we were by ourselves； in my study； he took out of his pocket a number of the Scots Magazine； and said； 〃Sir； you have been long pleased to notice me more than any other body； and when I got this； I could not refrain from bringing it； to let you see't。 Ye maun ken； sir； that I have been long in secret given to trying my hand at rhyme； and； wishing to ascertain what others thought of my power in that way； I sent by the post twa three verses to the Scots Magazine； and they have not only inserted them； but placed them in the body of the book； in such a way that I kenna what to think。〃 So I looked at the Magazine； and read his verses； which were certainly very well…made verses for one who had no regular education。 But I said to him； as the Greenock magistrates said to John Wilson； the author of 〃Clyde；〃 when they stipulated with him to give up the art； that poem…making was a profane and unprofitable trade； and he would do well to turn his talent to something of more solidity； which he promised to do； but he has since put out a book； whereby he has angered all those that had foretold he would be a do…nae…gude。 Thus has our parish walked sidy for sidy with all the national improvements； having an author of its own； and getting a literary character in the ancient and famous republic of letters。
CHAPTER XLIII YEAR 1802
〃Experience teaches fools；〃 was the first moral apothegm that I wrote in small text； when learning to write at the school； and I have ever since thought it was a very sensible reflection。 For assuredly； as year after year has flown away on the swift wings of time； I have found my experience mellowing； and my discernment improving； by which I have； in the afternoon of life； been enabled to foresee what kings and nations would do； by the symptoms manifested within the bounds of the society around me。 Therefore； at the beginning of the spring in this Ann。 Dom。； I had misgivings at the heart； a fluttering in my thoughts； and altogether a strange uneasiness as to the stability of the peace and harmony that was supposed to be founded upon a steadfast foundation between us and the French people。 What my fears principally took their rise from； was a sort of compliancy； on the part of those in power and authority； to cultivate the old relations and parts between them and the commonalty。 It did not appear to me that this proceeded from any known or decided event； for I read the papers at this period daily； but from some general dread and fear； that was begotten； like a vapour out of the fermentation of all sorts of opinions； most people of any sagacity thinking that the state of things in France being so much of an antic； poetical； and playactor…like guise； that it would never obtain that respect； far less that reverence from the world； which is necessary to the maintenance of all beneficial government。 The consequence of this was a great distrust between man and man； and an aching restlessness among those who had their bread to bake in the world； persons possessing the power to provide for their kindred； forcing them； as it were； down the throats of those who were dependent on them in business； a bitter morsel。
But the pith of these remarks chiefly applies to the manufacturing concerns of the new town of Cayenneville； for in the clachan we lived in the lea of the dike； and were more taken up with our own natural rural affairs； and the markets for victual； than the craft of merchandise。 The only man interested in business； who walked in a steady manner at his old pace； though he sometimes was s
