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As I had always a great respect for an honest pride； I assured her that I would do what she wanted； and accordingly； the very morning after； being Sabbath； I preached a sermon on the helplessness of them that have no help of man； meaning aged single women； living in garret…rooms； whose forlorn state； in the gloaming of life； I made manifest to the hearts and understandings of the congregation； in such a manner that many shed tears； and went away sorrowful。
Having thus roused the feelings of my people； I went round the houses on the Monday morning； and mentioned what I had to say more particularly about poor old Nanse Banks； the schoolmistress； and truly I was rejoiced at the condition of the hearts of my people。 There was a universal sympathy among them； and it was soon ordered that； what with one and another； her decay should be provided for。 But it was not ordained that she should be long heavy on their good… will。 On the Monday the school was given up； and there was nothing but wailing among the bit lassies； the scholars； for getting the vacance； as the poor things said； because the mistress was going to lie down to dee。 And； indeed； so it came to pass； for she took to her bed the same afternoon； and； in the course of the week； dwindled away； and slipped out of this howling wilderness into the kingdom of heaven； on the Sabbath following； as quietly as a blessed saint could do。 And here I should mention； that the Lady Macadam； when I told her of Nanse Banks's case； enquired if she was a snuffer； and； being answered by me that she was； her ladyship sent her a pretty French enamel box full of macabaw； a fine snuff that she had in a bottle； and； among the macabaw； was found a guinea； at the bottom of the box； after Nanse Banks had departed this life； which was a kind thing of Lady Macadam to do。
About the close of this year there was a great sough of old prophecies； foretelling mutations and adversities； chiefly on account of the canal that was spoken of to join the rivers of the Clyde and the Forth； it being thought an impossible thing to be done； and the Adam and Eve pear…tree； in our garden； budded out in an awful manner； and had divers flourishes on it at Yule； which was thought an ominous thing； especially as the second Mrs Balwhidder was at the downlying with my eldest son Gilbert； that is； the merchant in Glasgow； but nothing came o't； and the howdie said she had an easy time when the child came into the world； which was on the very last day of the year； to the great satisfaction of me； and of my people； who were wonderful lifted up because their minister had a man…child born unto him。
CHAPTER IX YEAR 1768
It's a surprising thing how time flieth away； carrying off our youth and strength； and leaving us nothing but wrinkles and the ails of old age。 Gilbert； my son； that is now a corpulent man； and a Glasgow merchant； when I take up my pen to record the memorables of this Ann。 Dom。； seems to me yet but a suckling in swaddling clothes； mewing and peevish in the arms of his mother； that has been long laid in the cold kirkyard； beside her predecessor； in Abraham's bosom。 It is not； however； my design to speak much anent my own affairs； which would be a very improper and uncomely thing； but only of what happened in the parish； this book being for a witness and testimony of my ministry。 Therefore； setting out of view both me and mine； I will now resuscitate the concerns of Mrs Malcolm and her children； for； as I think； never was there such a visible preordination seen in the lives of any persons； as was seen in that of this worthy decent woman； and her well…doing off…spring。 Her morning was raw； and a sore blight fell upon her fortunes； but the sun looked out on her midday； and her evening closed loun and warm； and the stars of the firmament； that are the eyes of heaven； beamed as it were with gladness； when she lay down to sleep the sleep of rest。
Her son Charles was by this time grown up into a stout buirdly lad； and it was expected that； before the return of the Tobacco trader； he would have been out of his time； and a man afore the mast； which was a great step of preferment； as I heard say by persons skilled in seafaring concerns。 But this was not ordered to happen； for； when the Tobacco trader was lying in the harbour of Virginia in the North Americas； a pressgang； that was in need of men for a man…of…war； came on board； and pressed poor Charles； and sailed away with him on a cruise； nobody； for many a day； could tell where； till I thought of the Lord Eaglesham's kindness。 His lordship having something to say with the king's government； I wrote to him； telling him who I was； and how jocose he had been when buttoned in my clothes； that he might recollect me； thanking him； at the same time； for his condescension and patronage to Andrew Lanshaw； in his way to the East Indies。 I then slipped in； at the end of the letter； a bit nota…bene concerning the case of Charles Malcolm； begging his lordship； on account of the poor lad's widow mother； to enquire at the government if they could tell us any thing about Charles。 In the due course of time； I got a most civil reply from his lordship； stating all about the name of the man…of…war； and where she was； and at the conclusion his lordship said； that I was lucky in having the brother of a Lord of the Admiralty on this occasion for my agent； as otherwise； from the vagueness of my statement； the information might not have been procured； which remark of his lordship was long a great riddle to me； for I could not think what he meant about an agent； till； in the course of the year； we heard that his own brother was concerned in the admiralty； so that all his lordship meant was only to crack a joke with me； and that he was ever ready and free to do； as shall be related in the sequel； for he was an excellent man。
There being a vacancy for a schoolmistress； it was proposed to Mrs Malcolm； that； under her superintendence； her daughter Kate； that had been learning great artifices in needle…work so long with Lady Macadam； should take up the school； and the session undertook to make good to Kate the sum of five pounds sterling per annum； over and above what the scholars were to pay。 But Mrs Malcolm said she had not strength herself to warsle with so many unruly brats； and that Kate； though a fine lassie； was a tempestuous spirit； and might lame some of the bairns in her passion； and that selfsame night； Lady Macadam wrote me a very complaining letter； for trying to wile away her companion； but her ladyship was a canary…headed woman； and given to flights and tantrums； having in her youth been a great toast among the quality。 It would； however； have saved her from a sore heart； had she never thought of keeping Kate Malcolm。 For this year her only son； who was learning the art of war at an academy in France； came to pay her； his lady mother； a visit。 He was a brisk and light…hearted stripling； and Kate Malcolm was budding into a very rose of beauty； so between them a hankering began； which； for a season； was productive of great heaviness of heart to the poor old cripple lady； indeed； she assured me herself； that all her rheumatics were nothing to the heart…ach