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There was the rafters crackling； the flames raging； the servants running；
some with bedding； some with looking…glasses； and others with chamber
utensils as little likely to be fuel to the fire； but all testifications to the
confusion and alarm。 Then there was a shout； 〃Whar's Miss Girzie？
whar's the Major？〃 The Major； poor man； soon cast up； lying upon a
feather…bed； ill with his complaints； in the garden； but Lady Skimmilk was
nowhere to be found。 At last； a figure was seen in the upper flat； pursued
by the flames； and that was Miss Girzie。 Oh！ it was a terrible sight to
look at her in that jeopardy at the window； with her gold watch in the one
hand and the silver teapot in the other； skreighing like desperation for a
ladder and help。 But； before a ladder or help could be found； the floor
sunk down； and the roof fell in； and poor Miss Girzie； with her idols；
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perished in the burning。 It was a dreadful business！ I think； to this hour；
how I saw her at the window； how the fire came in behind her； and claught
her like a fiery Belzebub； and bore her into perdition before our eyes。
The next morning the atomy of the body was found among the rubbish；
with a piece of metal in what had been each of its hands； no doubt the gold
watch and the silver teapot。 Such was the end of Miss Girzie； and the
Breadland； which the young laird； my pupil that was； by growing a
resident at Edinburgh； never rebuilt。 It was burnt to the very ground；
nothing was spared but what the servants in the first flaught gathered up in
a hurry and ran with； but no one could tell how the Major； who was then；
as it was thought by the faculty； past the power of nature to recover； got
out of the house； and was laid on the feather…bed in the garden。 However；
he never got the better of that night； and before Whitsunday he was dead
too； and buried beside his sister's bones at the south side of the kirkyard
dyke； where his cousin's son； that was his heir； erected the handsome
monument； with the three urns and weeping cherubims； bearing witness to
the great valour of the Major among the Hindoos； as well as other
commendable virtues； for which； as the epitaph says； he was universally
esteemed and beloved； by all who knew him； in his public and private
capacity。
But although the burning of the Breadland…House was justly called the
great calamity； on account of what happened to Miss Girzie with her gold
watch and silver teapot； yet； as Providence never fails to bring good out of
evil； it turned out a catastrophe that proved advantageous to the parish； for
the laird； instead of thinking to build it up； was advised to let the policy
out as a farm； and the tack was taken by Mr Coulter； than whom there had
been no such man in the agriculturing line among us before； not even
excepting Mr Kibbock of the Gorbyholm； my father…in…law that was。 Of
the stabling； Mr Coulter made a comfortable dwelling…house； and having
rugget out the evergreens and other unprofitable plants； saving the twa
ancient yew…trees which the near…begaun Major and his sister had left to
go to ruin about the mansion…house； he turned all to production； and it was
wonderful what an increase he made the land bring forth。 He was from
far beyond Edinburgh； and had got his insight among the Lothian farmers；
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so that he knew what crop should follow another； and nothing could
surpass the regularity of his rigs and furrows。Well do I remember the
admiration that I had； when； in a fine sunny morning of the first spring
after he took the Breadland； I saw his braird on what had been the cows'
grass； as even and pretty as if it had been worked and stripped in the loom
with a shuttle。 Truly； when I look back at the example he set； and when I
think on the method and dexterity of his management； I must say； that his
coming to the parish was a great godsend； and tended to do far more for
the benefit of my people； than if the young laird had rebuilded the
Breadland…House in a fashionable style； as was at one time spoken of。
But the year of the great calamity was memorable for another thing：…
in the December foregoing； the wind blew； as I have recorded in the
chronicle of the last year； and broke down the bough of the tree whereon
the kirk…bell had hung from the time； as was supposed； of the persecution；
before the bringing over of King William。 Mr Kibbock； my father…in…law
then that was； being a man of a discerning spirit； when he heard of the
unfortunate fall of the bell； advised me to get the heritors to big a steeple；
but which； when I thought of the expense； I was afraid to do。 He；
however； having a great skill in the heart of man； gave me no rest on the
subject； but told me； that if I allowed the time to go by till the heritors
were used to come to the kirk without a bell； I would get no steeple at all。 I
often wondered what made Mr Kibbock so fond of a steeple； which is a
thing that I never could see a good reason for； saving that it is an
ecclesiastical adjunct； like the gown and bands。 However； he set me on
to get a steeple proposed； and after no little argol…bargling with the heritors；
it was agreed to。 This was chiefly owing to the instrumentality of Lady
Moneyplack； who； in that winter； was much subjected to the rheumatics；
she having； one cold and raw Sunday morning； there being no bell to
announce the time； come half an hour too soon to the kirk； made her bestir
herself to get an interest awakened among the heritors in behalf of a
steeple。
But when the steeple was built； a new contention arose。 It was
thought that the bell； which had been used in the ash…tree； would not do in
a stone and lime fabric； so； after great agitation among the heritors； it was
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resolved to sell the old bell to