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！
teel and modernised woman； who took the better order of children； and Miss Sabrina having been long frail （for she was never stout）； a decent and discreet carlin； Mrs M'Caffie； the widow of a custom…house officer； that was a native of the parish； set up another for plainer work。 Her opposition Miss Sabrina did not mind； but she was sorely displeased at the interloping of Mrs Pirn at Cayenneville； and some said it helped to kill herof that； however； I am not so certain； for Dr。 Tanzey had told me in the winter； that he thought the sharp winds in March would blow out her candle； as it was burnt to the snuff； accordingly； she took her departure from this life； on the twenty…fifth day of that month； after there had； for some days prior； been a most cold and piercing east wind。
Miss Sabrina； who was always an oddity and aping grandeur； it was found； had made a will； leaving her gatherings to her favourites； with all regular formality。 To one she bequeathed a gown； to another this； and a third that； and to me a pair of black silk stockings。 I was amazed when I heard this； but judge what I felt； when a pair of old marrowless stockings； darned in the heel； and not whole enough in the legs to make a pair of mittens to Mrs Balwhidder； were delivered to me by her executor； Mr Caption； the lawyer。 Saving； however； this kind of flummery； Miss Sabrina was a harmless creature； and could quote poetry in discourse more glibly than texts of Scriptureher father having spared no pains on her mind： as for her body； it could not be mended； but that was not her fault。
After her death； the session held a consultation； and we agreed to give the same salary that Miss Sabrina enjoyed to Mrs M'Caffie； which angered Mr Cayenne； who thought it should have been given to the head mistress； and it made him give Mrs Pirn； out of his own pocket； double the sum。 But we considered that the parish funds were for the poor of the parish； and therefore it was our duty to provide for the instruction of the poor children。 Saving； therefore； those few notations； I have nothing further to say concerning the topics and progress of this Ann。 Dom。
CHAPTER XLII YEAR 1801
It is often to me very curious food for meditation； that as the parish increased in population； there should have been less cause for matter to record。 Things that in former days would have occasioned great discourse and cogitation； are forgotten with the day in which they happen； and there is no longer that searching into personalities which was so much in vogue during the first epoch of my ministry； which I reckon the period before the American war； nor has there been any such germinal changes among us； as those which took place in the second epoch； counting backward from the building of the cotton…mill that gave rise to the town of Cayenneville。 But still we were not； even at this era； of which this Ann。 Dom。 is the beginning； without occasional personality； or an event that deserved to be called a germinal。
Some years before； I had noted among the callans at Mr Lorimore's school a long soople laddie； who； like all bairns that grow fast and tall； had but little smeddum。 He could not be called a dolt； for he was observant and thoughtful； and giving to asking sagacious questions； but there was a sleepiness about him； especially in the kirk； and he gave； as the master said； but little application to his lessons； so that folk thought he would turn out a sort of gaunt…at… the…door； more mindful of meat than work。 He was； however； a good… natured lad； and； when I was taking my solitary walks of meditation； I sometimes fell in with him sitting alone on the brae by the water… side； and sometimes lying on the grass； with his hands under his head； on the sunny green knolls where Mr Cylinder； the English engineer belonging to the cotton…work； has built the bonny house that he calls Diryhill Cottage。 This was when Colin Mavis was a laddie at the school； and when I spoke to him； I was surprised at the discretion of his answers； so that gradually I began to think and say； that there was more about Colin than the neighbours knew。 Nothing； however； for many a day； came out to his advantage； so that his mother； who was by this time a widow woman； did not well know what to do with him； and folk pitied her heavy handful of such a droud。
By…and…by； however； it happened that one of the young clerks at the cotton…mill shattered his right…hand thumb by a gun bursting； and； being no longer able to write； was sent into the army to be an ensign； which caused a vacancy in the office； and； through the help of Mr Cayenne； I got Colin Mavis into the place； where； to the surprise of everybody； he proved a wonderful eident and active lad； and； from less to more； has come at the head of all the clerks； and deep in the confidentials of his employers。 But although this was a great satisfaction to me； and to the widow woman his mother； it somehow was not so much so to the rest of the parish； who seemed； as it were； angry that poor Colin had not proved himself such a dolt as they had expected and foretold。
Among other ways that Colin had of spending his leisure； was that of playing music on an instrument； in which it was said he made a wonderful proficiency； but being long and thin； and of a delicate habit of body； he was obligated to refrain from this recreation； so he betook himself to books； and from reading he began to try writing； but； as this was done in a corner； nobody jealoused what he was about； till one evening in this year he came to the manse； and asked a word in private with me。 I thought that perhaps he had fallen in with a lass； and was come to consult me anent matrimony； but when we were by ourselves； in my study； he took out of his pocket a number of the Scots Magazine； and said； 〃Sir； you have been long pleased to notice me more than any other body； and when I got this； I could not refrain from bringing it； to let you see't。 Ye maun ken； sir； that I have been long in secret given to trying my hand at rhyme； and； wishing to ascertain what others thought of my power in that way； I sent by the post twa three verses to the Scots Magazine； and they have not only inserted them； but placed them in the body of the book； in such a way that I kenna what to think。〃 So I looked at the Magazine； and read his verses； which were certainly very well…made verses for one who had no regular education。 But I said to him； as the Greenock magistrates said to John Wilson； the author of 〃Clyde；〃 when they stipulated with him to give up the art； that poem…making was a profane and unprofitable trade； and he would do well to turn his talent to something of more solidity； which he promised to do； but he has since put out a book； whereby he has angered all those that had foretold he would be a do…nae…gude。 Thus has our parish walked sidy for sidy with all the national improvements； having an author of its own； and getting a literary character in the ancient and famous republic of letters。
CHAPTER XLIII YEAR 1802
〃Experience teaches fools；〃 was the first moral apothegm that I wrote in small text； when learning to write at the school； and I have ever since thought it was a very sensible reflecti