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wailing in the parish； which made me preach a touching discourse。 I
likened the parish to a widow woman with a small family； sitting in her
cottage by the fireside； herself spinning with an eident wheel； ettling her
best to get them a bit and a brat； and the poor weans all canty about the
hearthstanethe little ones at their playocks； and the elder at their tasks
the callans working with hooks and lines to catch them a meal of fish in
the morning and the lassies working stockings to sell at the next
Marymas fair。… …And then I likened war to a calamity coming among them…
…the callans drowned at their fishingthe lassies led to a misdoingand the
feckless wee bairns laid on the bed of sickness； and their poor forlorn
mother sitting by herself at the embers of a cauldrife fire； her tow done；
and no a bodle to buy more； drooping a silent and salt tear for her babies；
and thinking of days that war gone； and； like Rachel weeping for her
children； she would not be comforted。 With this I concluded； for my own
heart filled full with the thought； and there was a deep sob in the Church；
verily it was Rachel weeping for her children。
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In the latter end of the year； the man…of…war； with Charles Malcolm in
her； came to the tail of the Bank at Greenock； to press men as it was
thought； and Charles got leave from his captain to come and see his
mother； and he brought with him Mr Howard； another midshipman； the
son of a great parliament man in London； which； as we have tasted the
sorrow； gave us some insight into the pomp of war； Charles was now
grown up into a fine young man； rattling； light… hearted； and just a cordial
of gladness； and his companion was every bit like him。 They were
dressed in their fine gold…laced garbs and nobody knew Charles when he
came to the clachan； but all wondered； for they were on horseback； and
rode to the house where his mother lived when he went away； but which
was then occupied by Miss Sabrina and her school。 Miss Sabrina had
never seen Charles； but she had heard of him； and when he enquired for
his mother； she guessed who he was； and showed him the way to the new
house that the captain had bought for her。
Miss Sabrina； who was a little overly perjink at times； behaved herself
on this occasion with a true spirit； and gave her lassies the play
immediately； so that the news of Charles's return was spread by them like
wildfire； and there was a wonderful joy in the whole town。 When
Charles had seen his mother； and his sister Effie； with that douce and well…
mannered lad William； his brotherfor of their meeting I cannot speak； not
being presenthe then came with his friend to see me at the manse； and
was most jocose with me； and； in a way of great pleasance； got Mrs
Balwhidder to ask his friend to sleep at the manse。 In short； we had just a
ploy the whole two days they stayed with us； and I got leave from Lord
Eaglesham's steward to let them shoot on my lord's land； and I believe
every laddie wean in the parish attended them to the field。 As for old
Lady Macadam； Charles being； as she said； a near relation； and she having
likewise some knowledge of his comrade's family； she was just in her
element with them； though they were but youths； for she a woman
naturally of a fantastical； and； as I have narrated； given to comical devices；
and pranks to a degree。 She made for them a ball； to which she invited
all the bonniest lassies； far and near； in the parish； and was out of the body
with mirth； and had a fiddler from Irville； and it was thought by those that
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were there； that had she not been crippled with the rheumatics； she would
have danced herself。 But I was concerned to hear both Charles and his
friend； like hungry hawks； rejoicing at the prospect of the war； hoping
thereby； as soon as their midship term was out； to be made lieutenants；
saving this； there was no allay in the happiness they brought with them to
the parish； and it was a delight to see how auld and young of all degrees
made of Charles； for we were proud of him； and none more than myself；
though he began to take liberties with me； calling me old governor； it was；
however； in a warm…hearted manner； only I did not like it when any of the
elders heard。 As for his mother； she deported herself like a saint on the
occasion。 There was a temperance in the pleasure of her heart； and in her
thankfulness； that is past the compass of words to describe。 Even Lady
Macadam； who never could think a serious thought all her days； said； in
her wild way that the gods had bestowed more care in the making of Mrs
Malcolm's temper； than on the bodies and souls of all the saints in the
calendar。 On the Sunday the strangers attended divine worship； and I
preached a sermon purposely for them； and enlarged at great length and
fulness on how David overcame Goliath； and they both told me that they
had never heard such a good discourse； but I do not think they were great
judges of preachings。 How； indeed； could Mr Howard know anything of
sound doctrine； being educated； as he told me； at Eton school； a prelatic
establishment！ Nevertheless； he was a fine lad； and though a little given
to frolic and diversion； he had a principle of integrity； that afterwards
kythed into much virtue； for； during this visit； he took a notion of Effie
Malcolm； and the lassie of him； then a sprightly and blooming creature；
fair to look upon； and blithe to see； and he kept up a correspondence with
her till the war was over； when being a captain of a frigate； he came down
among us； and they were married by me； as shall be related in its proper
place。
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CHAPTER XVIII YEAR 1777
This may well be called the year of the heavy heart； for we had sad
tidings of the lads that went away as soldiers to America。 First； th