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go through。 Well may I speak of her with commendations； for she was
the bee that made my honey； although at first things did not go so clear
with us。 For she found the manse rookit and herrit； and there was such a
supply of plenishing of all sort wanted； that I thought myself ruined and
undone by her care and industry。 There was such a buying of wool to
make blankets； with a booming of the meikle wheel to spin the same； and
such birring of the little wheel for sheets and napery； that the manse was
for many a day like an organ kist。 Then we had milk cows； and the
calves to bring up； and a kirning of butter； and a making of cheese； in short；
I was almost by myself with the jangle and din； which prevented me from
writing a book as I had proposed； and I for a time thought of the peaceful
and kindly nature of the first Mrs Balwhidder with a sigh； but the
outcoming was soon manifest。 The second Mrs Balwhidder sent her
butter on the market…days to Irville； and her cheese from time to time to
Glasgow； to Mrs Firlot； that kept the huxtry in the Saltmarket； and they
were both so well made； that our dairy was just a coining of money；
insomuch that； after the first year； we had the whole tot of my stipend to
put untouched into the bank。
But I must say； that although we were thus making siller like sclate
stones； I was not satisfied in my own mind that I had got the manse merely
to be a factory of butter and cheese； and to breed up veal calves for the
slaughter； so I spoke to the second Mrs Balwhidder； and pointed out to her
what I thought the error of our way； but she had been so ingrained with the
profitable management of cows and grumphies in her father's house； that
she could not desist； at the which I was greatly grieved。 By…and…by；
however； I began to discern that there was something as good in her
example； as the giving of alms to the poor folk； for all the wives of the
parish were stirred up by it into a wonderful thrift； and nothing was heard
of in every house； but of quiltings and wabs to weave； insomuch that；
before many years came round； there was not a better stocked parish； with
blankets and napery； than mine was； within the bounds of Scotland。
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
It was about the Michaelmas of this year that Mrs Malcolm opened her
shop； which she did chiefly on the advice of Mrs Balwhidder； who said it
was far better to allow a little profit on the different haberdasheries that
might be wanted； than to send to the neighbouring towns an end's errand
on purpose for them； none of the lasses that were so sent ever thinking of
making less than a day's play on every such occasion。 In a word； it is not
to be told how the second Mrs Balwhidder； my wife； showed the value of
flying time； even to the concerns of this world； and was the mean of giving
a life and energy to the housewifery of the parish； that has made many a
one beek his shins in comfort； that would otherwise have had but a cold
coal to blow at。 Indeed； Mr； Kibbock； her father； was a man beyond the
common； and had an insight of things； by which he was enabled to draw
profit and advantage； where others could only see risk and detriment。 He
planted mounts of fir…trees on the bleak and barren tops of the hills of his
farm； the which everybody； and I among the rest； considered as a thrashing
of the water and raising of bells。 But as his rack ran his trees grew； and
the plantations supplied him with stabs to make STAKE AND RICE
between his fields； which soon gave them a trig and orderly appearance；
such as had never before been seen in the west country； and his example
has； in this matter； been so followed； that I have heard travellers say； who
have been in foreign countries； that the shire of Ayr； for its bonny round
green plantings on the tops of the hills； is above comparison either with
Italy or Switzerland； where the hills are； as it were； in a state of nature。
Upon the whole； this was a busy year in the parish； and the seeds of
many great improvements were laid。 The king's road； the which then ran
through the Vennel； was mended； but it was not till some years after； as I
shall record by…and…by； that the trust…road； as it was called； was made； the
which had the effect of turning the town inside out。
Before I conclude； it is proper to mention that the kirk…bell； which had
to this time； from time immemorial； hung on an ash…tree； was one stormy
night cast down by the breaking of the branch； which was the cause of the
heritors agreeing to build the steeple。 The clock was a mortification to
the parish from the Lady Breadland； when she died some years after。
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
CHAPTER VII YEAR 1766
It was in this Ann。 Dom。 that the great calamity happened； the which
took place on a Sabbath evening in the month of February。 Mrs
Balwhidder had just infused or masket the tea； and we were set round the
fireside； to spend the night in an orderly and religious manner； along with
Mr and Mrs Petticrew； who were on a friendly visitation to the manse； the
mistress being full cousin to Mrs Balwhidder。 Sitting； as I was saying； at
our tea； one of the servant lasses came into the room with a sort of a panic
laugh； and said； 〃What are ye all doing there when the Breadland's in a
low？〃〃The Breadland in a low！〃 cried I。〃Oh； ay！〃 cried she； 〃bleezing
at the windows and the rigging； and out at the lum； like a killogie。〃 Upon
the which； we all went to the door； and there； to be sure； we did see that
the Breadland was burning； the flames crackling high out o'er the trees；
and the sparks flying like a comet's tail in the firmament。
Seeing this sight； I said to Mr Petticrew； that； in the strength of the
Lord； I would go and see what could be done； for it was as plain as the sun
in the heavens that the ancient place of the Breadlands would be destroyed；
whereupon he accorded to go with me； and we walked at a lively course to
the spot； and the people from all quarters were pouring in； and it was an
awsome scene。 But the burning of the house； and the droves of the
multitude； were nothing to what we saw when we got forenent the place。
There was the rafters crackling； the flames raging； the servants running；
some