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for that reason； had their ploys in out…houses and by…places； just as the witches lang syne had their sinful possets and galravitchings； and they made their tea for common in the pint…stoup； and drank it out of caps and luggies； for there were but few among them that had cups and saucers。 Well do I remember one night in harvest； in this very year； as I was taking my twilight dauner aneath the hedge along the back side of Thomas Thorl's yard； meditating on the goodness of Providence； and looking at the sheaves of victual on the field； that I heard his wife； and two three other carlins； with their Bohea in the inside of the hedge； and no doubt but it had a lacing of the conek； ｛3｝ for they were all cracking like pen…guns。 But I gave them a sign； by a loud host； that Providence sees all； and it skailed the bike； for I heard them； like guilty creatures； whispering； and gathering up their truck…pots and trenchers； and cowering away home。
It was in this year that Patrick Dilworth （he had been schoolmaster of the parish from the time； as his wife said； of Anna Regina； and before the Rexes came to the crown）； was disabled by a paralytic； and the heritors； grudging the cost of another schoolmaster as long as he lived； would not allow the session to get his place supplied； which was a wrong thing； I must say； of them； for the children of the parishioners were obliged； therefore； to go to the neighbouring towns for their schooling； and the custom was to take a piece of bread and cheese in their pockets for dinner； and to return in the evening always voracious for more； the long walk helping the natural crave of their young appetites。 In this way Mrs Malcolm's two eldest laddies； Charlie and Robert； were wont to go to Irville； and it was soon seen that they kept themselves aloof from the other callans in the clachan； and had a genteeler turn than the grulshy bairns of the cottars。 Her bit lassies； Kate and Effie； were better off； for some years before； Nanse Banks had taken up a teaching in a garret…room of a house； at the corner where John Bayne has biggit the sclate…house for his grocery…shop。 Nanse learnt them reading and working stockings； and how to sew the semplar； for twal…pennies a…week。 She was a patient creature； well cut out for her calling； with blear een； a pale face； and a long neck； but meek and contented withal； tholing the dule of this world with a Christian submission of the spirit； and her garret…room was a cordial of cleanliness； for she made the scholars set the house in order； time and time about； every morning； and it was a common remark for many a day； that the lassies； who had been at Nanse Banks's school； were always well spoken of； both for their civility； and the trigness of their houses when they were afterwards married。 In short； I do not know； that in all the long epoch of my ministry； any individual body did more to improve the ways of the parishioners； in their domestic concerns； than did that worthy and innocent creature； Nanse Banks； the schoolmistress； and she was a great loss when 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 Sab