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spirited laddie； coming home from Jamaica with his parrot on his shoulder；
and his limes for me； my heart filled full； and I was obliged to sit down in
the pulpit； and drop a tear。
After a pause； and the Lord having vouchsafed to compose me； I rose
up； and gave out that anthem of triumph； the 124th psalm； the singing of
which brought the congregation round to themselves； but still I felt that I
could not preach as I had meant to do； therefore I only said a few words of
prayer； and singing another psalm； dismissed the congregation。
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
CHAPTER XXIV YEAR 1783
This was another Sabbath year of my ministry。 It has left me nothing
to record but a silent increase of prosperity in the parish。 I myself had now
in the bank more than a thousand pounds； and every thing was thriving
around。 My two bairns； Gilbert； that is now the merchant in Glasgow；
was grown into a sturdy ramplor laddie； and Janet； that is married upon Dr。
Kittleword； the minister of Swappington； was as fine a lassie for her years
as the eyes of a parent could desire to see。
Shortly after the news of the peace； an event at which all gave
themselves up to joy； a thing happened among us that at the time caused
much talk； but although very dreadful； was yet not so serious； some how
or other； as such an awsome doing should have been。 Poor Jenny Gaffaw
happened to take a heavy cold； and soon thereafter died。 Meg went about
from house to house； begging dead… clothes； and got the body straighted in
a wonderful decent manner； with a plate of earth and salt placed upon it
an admonitory type of mortality and eternal life that has ill…advisedly gone
out of fashion。 When I heard of this； I could not but go to see how a
creature that was not thought possessed of a grain of understanding； could
have done so much herself。 On entering the door； I beheld Meg sitting
with two or three of the neighbouring kimmers； and the corpse laid out on
a bed。 〃Come awa'； sir；〃 said Meg； 〃this is an altered house。 They're
gane that keepit it bein； but； sir； we maun a' come to thiswe maun pay the
debt o' naturedeath is a grim creditor； and a doctor but brittle bail when
the hour of reckoning's at han'！ What a pity it is； mother； that you're now
dead； for here's the minister come to see you。 Oh； sir！ but she would
have had a proud heart to see you in her dwelling； for she had a genteel
turn； and would not let me； her only daughter； mess or mell wi' the lathron
lasses of the clachan。 Ay； ay； she brought me up with care； and edicated
me for a lady： nae coarse wark darkened my lily…white hands。 But I
maun work now； I maun dree the penalty of man。〃
Having stopped some time； listening to the curious maunnering of
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
Meg； I rose to come away； but she laid her hand on my arm； saying； 〃No；
sir； ye maun taste before ye gang！ My mother had aye plenty in her life；
nor shall her latter day be needy。〃
Accordingly； Meg； with all the due formality common on such
occasions； produced a bottle of water； and a dram…glass； which she filled
and tasted； then presented to me； at the same time offering me a bit of
bread on a slate。 It was a consternation to everybody how the daft
creature had learnt all the ceremonies； which she performed in a manner
past the power of pen to describe； making the solemnity of death； by her
strange mockery； a kind of merriment； that was more painful than sorrow；
but some spirits are gifted with a faculty of observation； that； by the
strength of a little fancy； enables them to make a wonderful and truthlike
semblance of things and events； which they never saw； and poor Meg
seemed to have this gift。
The same night； the session having provided a coffin； the body was put
in； and removed to Mr Mutchkin's brewhouse； where the lads and lassies
kept the late…wake。
Saving this； the year flowed in a calm； and we floated on in the stream
of time towards the great ocean of eternity； like ducks and geese in the
river's tide； that are carried down without being sensible of the speed of
the current。 Alas！ we have not wings like them； to fly back to the place
we set out from。
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
CHAPTER XXV YEAR 1784
I have ever thought that this was a bright year； truly an Ann。 Dom。； for
in it many of the lads came home that had listed to be soldiers； and Mr
Howard； that was the midshipman； being now a captain of a man…of…war；
came down from England and married Effie Malcolm； and took her up
with him to London； where she wrote to her mother； that she found his
family people of great note； and more kind to her than she could write。
By this time； also； Major Macadam was made a colonel； and lived with his
lady in Edinburgh； where they were much respected by the genteeler
classes； Mrs Macadam being considered a great unco among them for all
manner of ladylike ornaments； she having been taught every sort of
perfection in that way by the old lady； who was educated at the court of
France； and was； from her birth； a person of quality。 In this year； also；
Captain Malcolm； her brother； married a daughter of a Glasgow merchant；
so that Mrs Malcolm； in her declining years； had the prospect of a bright
setting； but nothing could change the sober Christianity of her settled mind；
and although she was strongly invited； both by the Macadams and the
Howards； to see their felicity； she ever declined the same； saying〃No！ I
have been long out of the world； or rather； I have never been in it； my
ways are not as theirs； and although I ken their hearts would be glad to be
kind to me； I might fash their servants； or their friends might think me
unlike other folk； by which； instead of causing pleasure； mortification
might ensue； so I will remain in my own house； trusting that； when they
can spare the time； they will come and see me。〃