按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
different estimates； when they came in； to the session。 The elders
commended my prudence exceedingly for so doing； before going to work；
and one of them asked me what the amount of the whole would be； but I
had not cast it up。 Some of the heritors thought that a hundred pounds
would be sufficient for the outlay； but judge of our consternation； when； in
counting up all the sums of the different estimates together； we found them
well on towards a thousand pounds。 〃Better big a new house at once； than
do this！〃 cried all the elders； by which I then perceived the draughtiness of
Mr Kibbock's advice。 Accordingly； another meeting of the heritors was
summoned； and after a great deal of controversy； it was agreed that a new
manse should be erected； and； shortly after； we contracted with Thomas
Trowel； the mason to build one for six hundred pounds； with all the
requisite appurtenances； by which a clear gain was saved to the parish； by
the foresight of Mr Kibbock； to the amount of nearly four hundred pounds。
But the heritors did not mean to have allowed the sort of repair that his
plan comprehended。 He was； however； a far forecasting man； the like of
him for natural parts not being in our country side； and nobody could get
the whip…hand of him； either in a bargain or an improvement； when he
once was sensible of the advantage。 He was； indeed； a blessing to the
shire； both by his example as a farmer； and by his sound and discreet
advice in the contentions of his neighbours； being a man； as was a saying
among the commonality； 〃wiser than the law and the fifteen Lords of
104
… Page 105…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
Edinburgh。〃
The building of the new manse occasioned a heavy cess on the heritors；
which made them overly ready to pick holes in the coats of me and the
elders； so that； out of my forbearance and delicacy in time past； grew a
lordliness on their part； that was an ill return for the years that I had
endured no little inconveniency for their sake。 It was not in my heart or
principles to harm the hair of a dog； but when I discerned the austerity
with which they were disposed to treat their minister； I bethought me that；
for the preservation of what was due to the establishment and the
upholding of the decent administration of religion； I ought to set my face
against the sordid intolerance by which they were actuated。 This notion I
weighed well before divulging it to any person； but when I had assured
myself as to the rectitude thereof； I rode over one day to Mr Kibbock's；
and broke my mind to him about claiming out of the teinds an
augmentation of my stipend； not because I needed it； but in case； after me；
some bare and hungry gorbie of the Lord should be sent upon the parish；
in no such condition to plea with the heritors as I was。 Mr Kibbock
highly approved of my intent； and by his help； after much tribulation； I got
an augmentation both in glebe and income； and to mark my reason for
what I did； I took upon me to keep and clothe the wives and orphans of the
parish； who lost their breadwinners in the American war。 But for all that；
the heritors spoke of me as an avaricious Jew； and made the hard…won
fruits of Mrs Balwhidder's great thrift and good management a matter of
reproach against me。 Few of them would come to the church； but stayed
away； to the detriment of their own souls hereafter； in order； as they
thought； to punish me； so that； in the course of this year； there was a
visible decay of the sense of religion among the better orders of the parish；
and； as will be seen in the sequel； their evil example infected the minds of
many of the rising generation。
It was in this year that Mr Cayenne bought the mailing of the
Wheatrigs； but did not begin to build his house till the following spring；
for being ill to please with a plan； he fell out with the builders； and on one
occasion got into such a passion with Mr Trowel； the mason； that he struck
him a blow on the face； for which he was obligated to make atonement。
105
… Page 106…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
It was thought the matter would have been carried before the Lords； but；
by the mediation of Mr Kibbock； with my helping hand； a reconciliation
was brought about； Mr Cayenne indemnifying the mason with a sum of
money to say no more anent it； after which； he employed him to build his
house； a thing that no man could have thought possible； who reflected on
the enmity between them。
106
… Page 107…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
CHAPTER XXVIII YEAR 1787
There had been； as I have frequently observed； a visible improvement
going on in the parish。 From the time of the making of the toll… road；
every new house that was built in the clachan was built along that road。
Among other changes hereby caused； the Lady Macadam's jointure…house
that was； which stood in a pleasant parterre； inclosed within a stone wall
and an iron gate； having a pillar with a pineapple head on each side； came
to be in the middle of the town。 While Mr Cayenne inhabited the same； it
was maintained in good order； but on his flitting to his own new house on
the Wheatrigs； the parterre was soon overrun with weeds； and it began to
wear the look of a waste place。 Robert Toddy； who then kept the change…
house； and who had； from the lady's death； rented the coach…house for
stabling； in this juncture thought of it for an inn； so he set his own house to
Thomas Treddles the weaver； whose son； William； is now the great
Glasgow manufacturer； that has cotton…mills and steam… engines； and took；
〃the Place；〃 as it was called； and had a fine sign； THE CROSS…KEYS；
painted and put up in golden characters； by which it became one of the
most noted inns anywhere to be seen； and the civility of Mrs Toddy was
commended by all strangers。 But although this transmutation from a
change…house to an inn was a vast amendment； in a manner； to the parish；
th