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！
change…house to an inn was a vast amendment； in a manner； to the parish；
there was little amendment of manners thereby； for the farmer lads began
to hold dancings and other riotous proceedings there； and to bring； as it
were； the evil practices of towns into the heart of the country。 All sort of
licence was allowed as to drink and hours； and the edifying example of Mr
Mutchkins and his pious family； was no longer held up to the imitation of
the wayfaring man。
Saving the mutation of 〃the Place〃 into an inn； nothing very
remarkable happened in this year。 We got into our new manse about the
middle of March； but it was rather damp； being new plastered； and it
caused me to have a severe attack of the rheumatics in the fall of the year。
I should not； in my notations； forget to mark a new luxury that got in
107
… Page 108…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
among the commonality at this time。 By the opening of new roads； and
the traffic thereon with carts and carriers； and by our young men that were
sailors going to the Clyde； and sailing to Jamaica and the West Indies；
heaps of sugar and coffee…beans were brought home； while many； among
the kail…stocks and cabbages in their yards； had planted groset and berry
bushes； which two things happening together； the fashion to make jam and
jelly； which hitherto had been only known in the kitchens and
confectionaries of the gentry； came to be introduced into the clachan。 All
this； however； was not without a plausible pretext； for it was found that
jelly was an excellent medicine for a sore throat； and jam a remedy as
good as London candy for a cough； or a cold； or a shortness of breath。 I
could not； however； say that this gave me so much concern as the
smuggling trade； only it occasioned a great fasherie to Mrs Balwhidder；
for； in the berry time； there was no end to the borrowing of her brass…pan
to make jelly and jam； till Mrs Toddy of the Cross…Keys bought one；
which； in its turn； came into request； and saved ours。
It was in the Martinmas quarter of this year that I got the first payment
of my augmentation。 Having no desire to rip up old sores； I shall say no
more anent it； the worst being anticipated in my chronicle of the last year；
but there was a thing happened in the payment that occasioned a vexation
at the time； of a very disagreeable nature。 Daft Meg Gaffaw； who； from
the tragical death of her mother； was a privileged subject； used to come to
the manse on the Saturdays for a meal of meat； and so it fell out that as； by
some neglect of mine； no steps had been taken to regulate the disposal of
the victual that constituted the means of the augmentation； some of the
heritors； in an ungracious temper； sent what they called the tithe…ball （the
Lord knows it was not the fiftieth！） to the manse； where I had no place to
put it。 This fell out on a Saturday night； when I was busy with my
sermon； thinking not of silver or gold； but of much better； so that I was
greatly molested and disturbed thereby。 Daft Meg； who sat by the
kitchen chimley…lug； hearing a'； said nothing for a time； but when she saw
how Mrs Balwhidder and me were put to； she cried out with a loud voice；
like a soul under the inspiration of prophecy〃When the widow's cruse
had filled all the vessels in the house； the Lord stopped the increase。
108
… Page 109…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
Verily； verily； I say unto you； if your barns be filled； and your girnell…kists
can hold no more； seek till ye shall find the tume basins of the poor； and
therein pour the corn； and the oil； and the wine of your abundance； so shall
ye be blessed of the Lord。〃 The which words I took for an admonition；
and directing the sacks to be brought into the dining…room and other
chambers of the manse； I sent off the heritors' servants； that had done me
this prejudice； with an unexpected thankfulness。 But this； as I afterwards
was informed； both them and their masters attributed to the greedy grasp
of avarice； with which they considered me as misled； and having said so；
nothing could exceed their mortification on Monday； when they heard （for
they were of those who had deserted the kirk） that I had given by the
precentor notice to every widow in the parish that was in need； to come to
the manse and she would receive her portion of the partitioning of the
augmentation。 Thus； without any offence on my part； saving the
strictness of justice； was a division made between me and the heritors； but
the people were with me； and my own conscience was with me； and
though the fronts of the lofts and the pews of the heritors were but thinly
filled； I trusted that a good time was coming； when the gentry would see
the error of their way。 So I bent the head of resignation to the Lord； and；
assisted by the wisdom of Mr Kibbock； adhered to the course I had
adopted； but at the close of the year my heart was sorrowful for the schism；
and my prayer on Hogmanay was one of great bitterness of soul； that such
an evil had come to pass。
109
… Page 110…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
CHAPTER XXIX YEAR 1788
It had been often remarked by ingenious men； that the Brawl burn；
which ran through the parish； though a small； was yet a rapid stream； and
had a wonderful capability for damming； and to turn mills。 From the
time that the Irville water deserted its channel this brook grew into repute；
and several mills and dams had been erected on its course。 In this year a
proposal came from Glasgow to build a cotton…mill on its banks； beneath
the Witch…linn； which being on a corner of the Wheatrig； the property of
Mr Cayenne； he not only consented thereto； but took a part in the profit or
loss therein； and； being a man of great activity； though we thought him； for
many a day； a serpent…plague sent upon the parish； he proved thereby one
of our greatest benefactors。 The cotton…mill was built； and a spacious
fabric