the annals of the parish-第41章
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is feet rested on a footstool。 His face； which was wont to be the colour of a peony rose； was of a yellow hue； with a patch of red on each cheek like a wafer； and his nose was shirpit and sharp； and of an unnatural purple。 Death was evidently fighting with nature for the possession of the body。 〃Heaven have mercy on his soul！〃 said I to myself； as I sat down beside him。
When I had been seated some time； the power was given him to raise his head as it were a…jee； and he looked at me with the tail of his eye； which I saw was glittering and glassy。 〃Doctor；〃 for he always called me doctor； though I am not of that degree； 〃I am glad to see you；〃 were his words； uttered with some difficulty。
〃How do you find yourself； sir？〃 I replied； in a sympathising manner。
〃Damned bad；〃 said he； as if I had been the cause of his suffering。 I was daunted to the very heart to hear him in such an unregenerate state； but after a short pause I addressed myself to him again； saying； that 〃I hoped he would soon be more at ease； and he should bear in mind that the Lord chasteneth whom he loveth。〃
〃The devil take such love！〃 was his awful answer； which was to me as a blow on the forehead with a mell。 However； I was resolved to do my duty to the miserable sinner； let him say what he would。 Accordingly； I stooped towards him with my hands on my knees； and said in a compassionate voice； 〃It's very true； sir； that you are in great agony； but the goodness of God is without bound。〃
〃Curse me if I think so； doctor！〃 replied the dying uncircumcised Philistine。 But he added at whiles； his breathlessness being grievous； and often broken by a sore hiccup； 〃I am； however； no saint； as you know； doctor； so I wish you to put in a word for me； doctor； for you know that in these times； doctor； it is the duty of every good subject to die a Christian。〃
This was a poor account of the state of his soul； but it was plain I could make no better o't； by entering into any religious discourse or controversy with him； he being then in the last gasp； so I knelt down and prayed for him with great sincerity； imploring the Lord； as an awakening sense of grace to the dying man； that it would please him to lift up； though it were but for the season of a minute； the chastening hand which was laid so heavily upon his aged servant； at which Mr Cayenne； as if； indeed； the hand had been then lifted； cried out； 〃None of that stuff； doctor； you know that I cannot call myself his servant。〃
Was ever a minister in his prayer so broken in upon by a perishing sinner！ However； I had the weight of a duty upon me； and made no reply； but continued； 〃Thou hearest； O Lord； how he confesses his unworthiness！ Let not thy compassion； therefore； be withheld； but verify to him the words that I have spoken in faith； of the boundlessness of thy goodness； and the infinite multitude of thy tender mercies。〃 I then calmly； but sadly； sat down； and presently； as if my prayer had been heard； relief was granted； for Mr Cayenne raised his head； and giving me a queer look； said； 〃That last clause of your petition； doctor； was well put； and I think； too； it has been granted； for I am easier〃adding； 〃I have no doubt； doctor； given much offence in the world； and oftenest when I meant to do good； but I have wilfully injured no man； and as God is my judge； and his goodness； you say； is so great； he may； perhaps； take my soul into his holy keeping。〃 In saying which words； Mr Cayenne dropped his head upon his breast； his breathing ceased； and he was wafted away out of this world with as little trouble as a blameless baby。
This event soon led to a change among us。 In the settling of Mr Cayenne's affairs in the Cotton…mill Company； it was found that he had left such a power of money； that it was needful to the concern； in order that they might settle with the doers under his testament； to take in other partners。 By this Mr Speckle came to be a resident in the parish； he having taken up a portion of Mr Cayenne's share。 He likewise took a tack of the house and policy of Wheatrig。 But although Mr Speckle was a far more conversible man than his predecessor； and had a wonderful plausibility in business； the affairs of the company did not thrive in his hands。 Some said this was owing to his having owre many irons in the fire； others； to the circumstances of the times： in my judgment； however； both helped； but the issue belongs to the events of another year。 In the meanwhile； I should here note； that in the course of this current Ann。 Dom。 it pleased Heaven to visit me with a severe trial； the nature of which I will here record at lengththe upshot I will make known hereafter。
From the planting of inhabitants in the cotton…mill town of Cayenneville； or as the country folk； not used to used to such lang… nebbit words； now call it； Canaille； there had come in upon the parish various sectarians among the weavers； some of whom were not satisfied with the gospel as I preached it； and endeavoured to practise it in my walk and conversation； and they began to speak of building a kirk for themselves； and of getting a minster that would give them the gospel more to their own ignorant fancies。 I was exceedingly wroth and disturbed when the thing was first mentioned to me； and I very earnestly； from the pulpit； next Lord's day； lectured on the growth of newfangled doctrines； which； however； instead of having the wonted effect of my discourses； set up the theological weavers in a bleeze； and the very Monday following they named a committee； to raise money by subscription to build a meeting…house。 This was the first overt act of insubordination； collectively manifested； in the parish； and it was conducted with all that crafty dexterity with which the infidel and jacobin spirit of the French Revolution had corrupted the honest simplicity of our good old hameward fashions。 In the course of a very short time； the Canaille folk had raised a large sum； and seduced not a few of my people into their schism； by which they were enabled to set about building their kirk； the foundations thereof were not； however； laid till the following year； but their proceedings gave me a het heart； for they were like an open rebellion to my authority； and a contemptuous disregard of that religious allegiance which is due from the flock to the pastor。
On Christmas…day the wind broke off the main arm of our Adam and Eve pear…tree； and I grieved for it more as a type and sign of the threatened partition； than on account of the damage； though the fruit was the juiciest in all the country side。
CHAPTER XLVIII YEAR 1807
This was a year to me of satisfaction in many points； for a greater number of my younger flock married in it； than had done for any one of ten years prior。 They were chiefly the offspring of the marriages that took place at the close of the American war； and I was pleased to see the duplification of well…doing； as I think marrying is； having always considered the command to increase and multiply； a holy ordinance； which the circumstances of this world but too often interfere to prevent。
It was also made manifest to me； that in this year there was a very general renewal in the hearts of men； of a sense of the utility； even in earthly affairs； of a religious life： in some； I trust it was more than prudence； and really a birth of grace。 Whether this was owing to the upshot of the French Revolution； all men being pretty well satisfied in their minds； that uproar and rebellion make but an ill way of righting wrongs； or that the swarm of unruly youth the offspring； as I have said； of the marriages after the American war； had grown sobered from their follies； and saw things in a better light； I cannot take upon me to say。 But it was very edifying to me； their minister； to see several lads who had been both wild and free in their principles； marrying with sobriety； and taking their wives to the kirk with the comely decorum of heads of families。
But I was now growing old； and could go seldomer out among my people than in former days； so that I was less a partaker of their ploys and banquets； either at birth； bridal； or burial。 I heard； however； all that went on at them； and I made it a rule； after giving t
