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I got the almous deed of a civil receptionand who would have thought
it？ from no less a person than the same Thomas Thorl that was so bitter
against me in the kirk on the foregoing day。
Thomas was standing at the door with his green duffle apron； and his
red Kilmarnock nightcapI mind him as well as if it was but yesterday
and he had seen me going from house to house； and in what manner I was
rejected； and his bowels were moved； and he said to me in a kind manner；
〃Come in； sir； and ease yoursel'： this will never do； the clergy are God's
gorbies； and for their Master's sake it behoves us to respect them。 There
was no ane in the whole parish mair against you than mysel'； but this early
visitation is a symptom of grace that I couldna have expectit from a bird
out the nest of patronage。〃 I thanked Thomas； and went in with him； and
we had some solid conversation together； and I told him that it was not so
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much the pastor's duty to feed the flock； as to herd them well； and that；
although there might be some abler with the head than me； there wasna a
he within the bounds of Scotland more willing to watch the fold by night
and by day。 And Thomas said he had not heard a mair sound observe for
some time； and that； if I held to that doctrine in the poopit； it wouldna be
lang till I would work a change。〃I was mindit；〃 quoth he； 〃never to set
my foot within the kirk door while you were there； but to testify； and no to
condemn without a trial； I'll be there next Lord's day； and egg my
neighbours to be likewise； so ye'll no have to preach just to the bare walls
and the laird's family。〃
I have now to speak of the coming of Mrs Malcolm。She was the
widow of a Clyde shipmaster； that was lost at sea with his vessel。 She
was a genty body； calm and methodical。 From morning to night she sat
at her wheel； spinning the finest lint； which suited well with her pale hands。
She never changed her widow's weeds； and she was aye as if she had just
been ta'en out of a bandbox。 The tear was aften in her e'e when the
bairns were at the school； but when they came home； her spirit was lighted
up with gladness； although； poor woman； she had many a time very little
to give them。 They were； however； wonderful well…bred things； and took
with thankfulness whatever she set before them； for they knew that their
father； the breadwinner； was away； and that she had to work sore for their
bit and drap。 I dare say； the only vexation that ever she had from any of
them； on their own account； was when Charlie； the eldest laddie； had won
fourpence at pitch…and…toss at the school； which he brought home with a
proud heart to his mother。 I happened to be daunrin' by at the time； and
just looked in at the door to say gude…night： it was a sad sight。 There
was she sitting with the silent tear on her cheek； and Charlie greeting as if
he had done a great fault； and the other four looking on with sorrowful
faces。 Never； I am sure； did Charlie Malcolm gamble after that night。
I often wondered what brought Mrs Malcolm to our clachan； instead of
going to a populous town； where she might have taken up a huxtry… shop；
as she was but of a silly constitution； the which would have been better for
her than spinning from morning to far in the night； as if she was in verity
drawing the thread of life。 But it was； no doubt； from an honest pride to
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hide her poverty； for when her daughter Effie was ill with the measlesthe
poor lassie was very illnobody thought she could come through； and
when she did get the turn； she was for many a day a heavy handful；our
session being rich； and nobody on it but cripple Tammy Daidles； that was
at that time known through all the country side for begging on a horse； I
thought it my duty to call upon Mrs Malcolm in a sympathising way； and
offer her some assistance； but she refused it。
〃No； sir；〃 said she； 〃I canna take help from the poor's…box； although it's
very true that I am in great need； for it might hereafter be cast up to my
bairns； whom it may please God to restore to better circumstances when I
am no to see't； but I would fain borrow five pounds； and if； sir； you will
write to Mr Maitland； that is now the Lord Provost of Glasgow； and tell
him that Marion Shaw would be obliged to him for the lend of that soom； I
think he will not fail to send it。〃
I wrote the letter that night to Provost Maitland； and； by the retour of
the post； I got an answer； with twenty pounds for Mrs Malcolm； saying；
〃That it was with sorrow he heard so small a trifle could be serviceable。〃
When I took the letter and the money； which was in a bank…bill； she said；
〃This is just like himsel'。〃 She then told me that Mr Maitland had been a
gentleman's son of the east country； but driven out of his father's house；
when a laddie； by his stepmother； and that he had served as a servant lad
with her father； who was the Laird of Yillcogie； but ran through his estate；
and left her； his only daughter； in little better than beggary with her auntie；
the mother of Captain Malcolm； her husband that was。 Provost Maitland in
his servitude had ta'en a notion of her； and when he recovered his
patrimony； and had become a great Glasgow merchant； on hearing how
she was left by her father； he offered to marry her； but she had promised
herself to her cousin the captain； whose widow she was。 He then married
a rich lady； and in time grew； as he was； Lord Provost of the city； but his
letter with the twenty pounds to me； showed that he had not forgotten his
first love。 It was a short； but a well…written letter； in a fair hand of write；
containing much of the true gentleman； and Mrs Malcolm said； 〃Who
knows but out of the regard he once had for their mother； he may do
something for my five helpless orphans。〃
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Thirdly； Upon the subject of taking my cousin； Miss Betty Lanshaw；
for my first wife； I have little to say。It was more out of a compassionate
habitual affection； than the passion of love。 We were brought up by our
grandmother in the same house； and it was a thing spoken of from the
beginning； that Betty and me were to be married。 So； when she heard that
the Laird of Br