按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The elders and me were confounded； and for some time we could not speak； but looked at each other； doubtful if our ears heard aright。 At long and length I came to myself； and； in the strength of God； took my place at the table； and said； this was an outrageous impiety not to be borne； which all the elders agreed to； and we thereupon came to a resolve； which I dictated myself； wherein we debarred Mr Cayenne from ever after entering； unless summoned； the session… house； the which resolve we directed the session…clerk to send to him direct； and thus we vindicated the insulted privileges of the church。
Mr Cayenne had cooled before he got home； and our paper coming to him in his appeased blood； he immediately came to the manse； and made a contrite apology for his hasty temper； which I reported in due time and form； to the session； and there the matter ended。 But here was an example plain to be seen of the truth of the old proverb； that as one door shuts another opens； for scarcely were we in quietness by the decease of that old light…headed woman； the Lady Macadam； till a full equivalent for her was given in this hot and fiery Mr Cayenne。
CHAPTER XXVII YEAR 1786
From the day of my settlement； I had resolved； in order to win the affections of my people； and to promote unison among the heritors； to be of as little expense to the parish as possible； but by this time the manse had fallen into a sore state of decaythe doors were wormed on the hingesthe casements of the windows chattered all the winter； like the teeth of a person perishing with cold； so that we had no comfort in the house； by which； at the urgent instigations of Mrs Balwhidder； I was obligated to represent our situation to the session。 I would rather； having so much saved money in the bank； paid the needful repairs myself； than have done this； but she said it would be a rank injustice to our own family； and her father； Mr Kibbock； who was very long…headed； with more than a common man's portion of understanding； pointed out to me； that； as my life was but in my lip； it would be a wrong thing towards whomsoever was ordained to be my successor； to use the heritors to the custom of the minister paying for the reparations of the manse； as it might happen he might not be so well able to afford it as me。 So in a manner； by their persuasion； and the constraint of the justice of the case； I made a report of the infirmities both of doors and windows； as well as of the rotten state of the floors； which were constantly in want of cobbling。 Over and above all； I told them of the sarking of the roof； which was as frush as a puddock…stool； insomuch； that in every blast some of the pins lost their grip； and the slates came hurling off。
The heritors were accordingly convened； and； after some deliberation； they proposed that the house should be seen to； and whitewashed and painted； and I thought this might do； for I saw they were terrified at the expense of a thorough repair； but when I went home and repeated to Mrs Balwhidder what had been said at the meeting； and my thankfulness at getting the heritors' consent to do so much； she was excessively angry； and told me； that all the painting and whitewashing in the world would avail nothing； for that the house was as a sepulchre full of rottenness； and she sent for Mr Kibbock； her father； to confer with him on the way of getting the matter put to rights。
Mr Kibbock came； and hearing of what had passed； pondered for some time； and then said； 〃All was very right！ the minister （meaning me） has just to get tradesmen to look at the house； and write out their opinion of what it needs。 There will be plaster to mend； so； before painting； he will get a plasterer。 There will be a slater wanted； he has just to get a slater's estimate； and a wright's； and so forth； and when all is done； he will lay them before the session and the heritors； who； no doubt； will direct the reparations to go forward。〃
This was very pawkie； counselling； of Mr Kibbock； and I did not see through it at the time； but did as he recommended； and took all the different estimates； when they came in； to the session。 The elders commended my prudence exceedingly for so doing； before going to work； and one of them asked me what the amount of the whole would be； but I had not cast it up。 Some of the heritors thought that a hundred pounds would be sufficient for the outlay； but judge of our consternation； when； in counting up all the sums of the different estimates together； we found them well on towards a thousand pounds。 〃Better big a new house at once； than do this！〃 cried all the elders； by which I then perceived the draughtiness of Mr Kibbock's advice。 Accordingly； another meeting of the heritors was summoned； and after a great deal of controversy； it was agreed that a new manse should be erected； and； shortly after； we contracted with Thomas Trowel； the mason to build one for six hundred pounds； with all the requisite appurtenances； by which a clear gain was saved to the parish； by the foresight of Mr Kibbock； to the amount of nearly four hundred pounds。 But the heritors did not mean to have allowed the sort of repair that his plan comprehended。 He was； however； a far forecasting man； the like of him for natural parts not being in our country side； and nobody could get the whip…hand of him； either in a bargain or an improvement； when he once was sensible of the advantage。 He was； indeed； a blessing to the shire； both by his example as a farmer； and by his sound and discreet advice in the contentions of his neighbours； being a man； as was a saying among the commonality； 〃wiser than the law and the fifteen Lords of Edinburgh。〃
The building of the new manse occasioned a heavy cess on the heritors； which made them overly ready to pick holes in the coats of me and the elders； so that； out of my forbearance and delicacy in time past； grew a lordliness on their part； that was an ill return for the years that I had endured no little inconveniency for their sake。 It was not in my heart or principles to harm the hair of a dog； but when I discerned the austerity with which they were disposed to treat their minister； I bethought me that； for the preservation of what was due to the establishment and the upholding of the decent administration of religion； I ought to set my face against the sordid intolerance by which they were actuated。 This notion I weighed well before divulging it to any person； but when I had assured myself as to the rectitude thereof； I rode over one day to Mr Kibbock's； and broke my mind to him about claiming out of the teinds an augmentation of my stipend； not because I needed it； but in case； after me； some bare and hungry gorbie of the Lord should be sent upon the parish； in no such condition to plea with the heritors as I was。 Mr Kibbock highly approved of my intent； and by his help； after much tribulation； I got an augmentation both in glebe and income； and to mark my reason for what I did； I took upon me to keep and clothe the wives and orphans of the parish； who lost their breadwinners in the American war。 But for all that； the heritors spoke of me as an avaricious Jew； and made the hard…won fruits of Mrs Balwhidder's great