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nd the other four looking on with sorrowful faces。 Never； I am sure； did Charlie Malcolm gamble after that night。
I often wondered what brought Mrs Malcolm to our clachan； instead of going to a populous town； where she might have taken up a huxtry… shop； as she was but of a silly constitution； the which would have been better for her than spinning from morning to far in the night； as if she was in verity drawing the thread of life。 But it was； no doubt； from an honest pride to hide her poverty； for when her daughter Effie was ill with the measlesthe poor lassie was very illnobody thought she could come through； and when she did get the turn； she was for many a day a heavy handful；our session being rich； and nobody on it but cripple Tammy Daidles； that was at that time known through all the country side for begging on a horse； I thought it my duty to call upon Mrs Malcolm in a sympathising way； and offer her some assistance； but she refused it。
〃No； sir；〃 said she； 〃I canna take help from the poor's…box； although it's very true that I am in great need； for it might hereafter be cast up to my bairns； whom it may please God to restore to better circumstances when I am no to see't； but I would fain borrow five pounds； and if； sir； you will write to Mr Maitland； that is now the Lord Provost of Glasgow； and tell him that Marion Shaw would be obliged to him for the lend of that soom； I think he will not fail to send it。〃
I wrote the letter that night to Provost Maitland； and； by the retour of the post； I got an answer； with twenty pounds for Mrs Malcolm； saying； 〃That it was with sorrow he heard so small a trifle could be serviceable。〃 When I took the letter and the money； which was in a bank…bill； she said； 〃This is just like himsel'。〃 She then told me that Mr Maitland had been a gentleman's son of the east country； but driven out of his father's house； when a laddie； by his stepmother； and that he had served as a servant lad with her father； who was the Laird of Yillcogie； but ran through his estate； and left her； his only daughter； in little better than beggary with her auntie； the mother of Captain Malcolm； her husband that was。 Provost Maitland in his servitude had ta'en a notion of her； and when he recovered his patrimony； and had become a great Glasgow merchant； on hearing how she was left by her father； he offered to marry her； but she had promised herself to her cousin the captain； whose widow she was。 He then married a rich lady； and in time grew； as he was； Lord Provost of the city； but his letter with the twenty pounds to me； showed that he had not forgotten his first love。 It was a short； but a well…written letter； in a fair hand of write； containing much of the true gentleman； and Mrs Malcolm said； 〃Who knows but out of the regard he once had for their mother； he may do something for my five helpless orphans。〃
Thirdly； Upon the subject of taking my cousin； Miss Betty Lanshaw； for my first wife； I have little to say。It was more out of a compassionate habitual affection； than the passion of love。 We were brought up by our grandmother in the same house； and it was a thing spoken of from the beginning； that Betty and me were to be married。 So； when she heard that the Laird of Breadland had given me the presentation of Dalmailing； she began to prepare for the wedding； and as soon as the placing was well over； and the manse in order； I gaed to Ayr； where she was； and we were quietly married； and came home in a chaise； bringing with us her little brother Andrew； that died in the East Indies； and he lived and was brought up by us。
Now； this is all； I think； that happened in that year worthy of being mentioned； except that at the sacrament； when old Mr Kilfuddy was preaching in the tent； it came on such a thunder…plump； that there was not a single soul stayed in the kirkyard to hear him； for the which he was greatly mortified； and never after came to our preachings。
CHAPTER II YEAR 1761
It was in this year that the great smuggling trade corrupted all the west coast； especially the laigh lands about the Troon and the Loans。 The tea was going like the chaff； the brandy like well… water； and the wastrie of all things was terrible。 There was nothing minded but the riding of cadgers by day； and excisemen by nightand battles between the smugglers and the king's men； both by sea and land。 There was a continual drunkenness and debauchery； and our session； that was but on the lip of this whirlpool of iniquity； had an awful time o't。 I did all that was in the power of nature to keep my people from the contagion： I preached sixteen times from the text； 〃Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's。〃 I visited； and I exhorted； I warned； and I prophesied； I told them that； although the money came in like sclate stones； it would go like the snow off the dyke。 But for all I could do； the evil got in among us； and we had no less than three contested bastard bairns upon our hands at one time； which was a thing never heard of in a parish of the shire of Ayr since the Reformation。 Two of the bairns； after no small sifting and searching； we got fathered at last； but the third； that was by Meg Glaiks； and given to one Rab Rickerton； was utterly refused； though the fact was not denied； but he was a termagant fellow； and snappit his fingers at the elders。 The next day he listed in the Scotch Greys； who were then quartered at Ayr； and we never heard more of him； but thought he had been slain in battle； till one of the parish； about three years since； went up to London to lift a legacy from a cousin that died among the Hindoos。 When he was walking about； seeing the curiosities； and among others Chelsea Hospital； he happened to speak to some of the invalids； who found out from his tongue that he was a Scotchman； and speaking to the invalids； one of them； a very old man； with a grey head and a leg of timber； inquired what part of Scotland he was come from； and when he mentioned my parish； the invalid gave a great shout； and said he was from the same place himself； and who should this old man be； but the very identical Rab Rickerton； that was art and part in Meg Glaiks' disowned bairn。 Then they had a long converse together； and he had come through many hardships； but had turned out a good soldier； and so； in his old days； was an indoor pensioner； and very comfortable； and he said that he had； to be sure； spent his youth in the devil's service； and his manhood in the king's； but his old age was given to that of his Maker； which I was blithe and thankful to hear； and he enquired about many a one in the parish； the blooming and the green of his time； but they were all dead and buried； and he had a contrite and penitent spirit； and read his Bible every day； delighting most in the Book of Joshua； the Chronicles； and the Kings。
Before this year； the drinking of tea was little known in the parish； saving among a few of the heritors' houses on a Sabbath evening； but now it became very rife： yet the commoner sort did not like to let it be known that they were taking to the new luxury； especially the elderly women； who； for that reason； had their ploys in out…houses and by…places； just as the witches lang syne had the