the annals of the parish-第4章
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she was removed； as it is to be hoped； to a better world； but anent this I shall have to speak more at large hereafter。
It was in this year that my patron； the Laird of Breadland； departed this life； and I preached his funeral sermon； but he was non…beloved in the parish； for my people never forgave him for putting me upon them； although they began to be more on a familiar footing with myself。 This was partly owing to my first wife； Betty Lanshaw； who was an active throughgoing woman； and wonderfu' useful to many of the cottars' wives at their lying…in； and when a death happened among them； her helping hand； and any thing we had at the manse； was never wanting； and I went about myself to the bedsides of the frail； leaving no stone unturned to win the affections of my people； which； by the blessing of the Lord； in process of time； was brought to a bearing。
But a thing happened in this year； which deserves to be recorded； as manifesting what effect the smuggling was beginning to take in the morals of the country side。 One Mr Macskipnish； of Highland parentage； who had been a valet…de…chambre with a major in the campaigns； and taken a prisoner with him by the French； he having come home in a cartel； took up a dancing…school at Irville； the which art he had learnt in the genteelest fashion； in the mode of Paris； at the French court。 Such a thing as a dancing…school had never； in the memory of man； been known in our country side； and there was such a sound about the steps and cottillions of Mr Macskipnish； that every lad and lass； that could spare time and siller； went to him； to the great neglect of their work。 The very bairns on the loan； instead of their wonted play； gaed linking and louping in the steps of Mr Macskipnish； who was； to be sure； a great curiosity； with long spindle legs； his breast shot out like a duck's； and his head powdered and frizzled up like a tappit…hen。 He was； indeed； the proudest peacock that could be seen； and he had a ring on his finger； and when he came to drink his tea at the Breadland； he brought no hat on his head； but a droll cockit thing under his arm； which； he said； was after the manner of the courtiers at the petty suppers of one Madam Pompadour； who was at that time the concubine of the French king。
I do not recollect any other remarkable thing that happened in this year。 The harvest was very abundant； and the meal so cheap； that it caused a great defect in my stipend； so that I was obligated to postpone the purchase of a mahogany scrutoire for my study； as I had intended。 But I had not the heart to complain of this： on the contrary； I rejoiced thereat； for what made me want my scrutoire till another year； had carried blitheness into the hearth of the cottar； and made the widow's heart sing with joy； and I would have been an unnatural creature； had I not joined in the universal gladness； because plenty did abound。
CHAPTER III YEAR 1762
The third year of my ministry was long held in remembrance for several very memorable things。 William Byres of the Loanhead had a cow that calved two calves at one calving； Mrs Byres； the same year； had twins； male and female； and there was such a crop on his fields； testifying that the Lord never sends a mouth into the world without providing meat for it。 But what was thought a very daunting sign of something； happened on the Sacrament Sabbath at the conclusion of the action sermon； when I had made a very suitable discourse。 The day was tempestuous； and the wind blew with such a pith and birr； that I thought it would have twirled the trees in the kirkyard out by the roots； and； blowing in this manner； it tirled the thack from the rigging of the manse stable； and the same blast that did that； took down the lead that was on the kirk…roof； which hurled off； as I was saying； at the conclusion of the action sermon； with such a dreadful sound； as the like was never heard； and all the congregation thought that it betokened a mutation to me。 However； nothing particular happened to me； but the smallpox came in among the weans of the parish； and the smashing that it made of the poor bits o' bairns was indeed woeful。
One Sabbath； when the pestilence was raging； I preached a sermon about Rachel weeping for her children； which Thomas Thorl； who was surely a great judge of good preaching； said； 〃was a monument of divinity whilk searched the heart of many a parent that day；〃 a thing I was well pleased to hear； for Thomas； as I have related at length； was the most zealous champion against my getting the parish； but； from this time； I set him down in my mind for the next vacancy among the elders。 Worthy man！ it was not permitted him to arrive at that honour。 In the fall of that year he took an income in his legs； and couldna go about； and was laid up for the remainder of his days； a perfect Lazarus； by the fire…side。 But he was well supported in his affliction。 In due season； when it pleased Him that alone can give and take； to pluck him from this life； as the fruit ripened and ready for the gathering； his death； to all that knew him； was a gentle dispensation； for truly he had been in sore trouble。
It was in this year that Charlie Malcolm； Mrs Malcolm's eldest son； was sent to be a cabin…boy in the Tobacco trader； a three…masted ship； that sailed between Port…Glasgow and Virginia in America。 She was commanded by Captain Dickie； an Irville man； for at that time the Clyde was supplied with the best sailors from our coast； the coal…trade with Ireland being a better trade for bringing up good mariners than the long voyages in the open sea； which was the reason； as I often heard said； why the Clyde shipping got so many of their men from our country side。 The going to sea of Charlie Malcolm was； on divers accounts； a very remarkable thing to us all； for he was the first that ever went from our parish； in the memory of man； to be a sailor； and everybody was concerned at it； and some thought it was a great venture of his mother to let him； his father having been lost at sea。 But what could the forlorn widow do？ She had five weans； and little to give them； and； as she herself said； he was aye in the hand of his Maker； go where he might； and the will of God would be done； in spite of all earthly wiles and devices to the contrary。
On the Monday morning； when Charlie was to go away to meet the Irville carrier on the road； we were all up； and I walked by myself from the manse into the clachan to bid him farewell； and I met him just coming from his mother's door； as blithe as a bee； in his sailor's dress； with a stick； and a bundle tied in a Barcelona silk handkerchief hanging o'er his shoulder； and his two little brothers were with him； and his sisters； Kate and Effie； looking out from the door all begreeten； but his mother was in the house； praying to the Lord to protect her orphan； as she afterwards told me。 All the weans of the clachan were gathered at the kirkyard yett to see him pass； and they gave him three great shouts as he was going by； and everybody was at their doors； and said something encouraging to him； but there was a great laugh when auld Mizy Spaewell came hirpling with her bauchle in her hand； and flung it after him for good…luck。 Mizy had a wonderful faith in freats； and was just an oracle of sagacity at expounding dreams； and bodes of every sort and descriptionbesides； she was reckoned one of the best howdies in her day； but by this time she was grown frail and feckless； and she died the same year on Hallowe'en； which made everybody wonder that it should have so fallen out for her to die on Hallowe'en。
Shortly after the departure of Charlie Malcolm； the Lady of Breadland； with her three daughters； removed to Edinburgh； where the young laird； that had been my pupil； was learning to be an advocate； and the Breadland…house was set to Major Gilchrist； a nabob from India； but he was a narrow ailing man； and his maiden…sister； Miss Girzie； was the scrimpetest creature that could be； so that； in their hands； all the pretty policy of the Breadlands； that had cost a power of money to the old laird that was my patron； fell into decay and disorder； and the bonny yew…trees that were cut into the shape of peacocks； soon grew out of a
