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beginning； that Betty and me were to be married。 So； when she heard that
the Laird of Breadland had given me the presentation of Dalmailing； she
began to prepare for the wedding； and as soon as the placing was well over；
and the manse in order； I gaed to Ayr； where she was； and we were quietly
married； and came home in a chaise； bringing with us her little brother
Andrew； that died in the East Indies； and he lived and was brought up by
us。
Now； this is all； I think； that happened in that year worthy of being
mentioned； except that at the sacrament； when old Mr Kilfuddy was
preaching in the tent； it came on such a thunder…plump； that there was not
a single soul stayed in the kirkyard to hear him； for the which he was
greatly mortified； and never after came to our preachings。
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
CHAPTER II YEAR 1761
It was in this year that the great smuggling trade corrupted all the west
coast； especially the laigh lands about the Troon and the Loans。 The tea
was going like the chaff； the brandy like well… water； and the wastrie of all
things was terrible。 There was nothing minded but the riding of cadgers
by day； and excisemen by nightand battles between the smugglers and
the king's men； both by sea and land。 There was a continual drunkenness
and debauchery； and our session； that was but on the lip of this whirlpool
of iniquity； had an awful time o't。 I did all that was in the power of
nature to keep my people from the contagion： I preached sixteen times
from the text； 〃Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's。〃 I visited；
and I exhorted； I warned； and I prophesied； I told them that； although the
money came in like sclate stones； it would go like the snow off the dyke。
But for all I could do； the evil got in among us； and we had no less than
three contested bastard bairns upon our hands at one time； which was a
thing never heard of in a parish of the shire of Ayr since the Reformation。
Two of the bairns； after no small sifting and searching； we got fathered at
last； but the third； that was by Meg Glaiks； and given to one Rab Rickerton；
was utterly refused； though the fact was not denied； but he was a
termagant fellow； and snappit his fingers at the elders。 The next day he
listed in the Scotch Greys； who were then quartered at Ayr； and we never
heard more of him； but thought he had been slain in battle； till one of the
parish； about three years since； went up to London to lift a legacy from a
cousin that died among the Hindoos。 When he was walking about；
seeing the curiosities； and among others Chelsea Hospital； he happened to
speak to some of the invalids； who found out from his tongue that he was a
Scotchman； and speaking to the invalids； one of them； a very old man；
with a grey head and a leg of timber； inquired what part of Scotland he
was come from； and when he mentioned my parish； the invalid gave a
great shout； and said he was from the same place himself； and who should
this old man be； but the very identical Rab Rickerton； that was art and part
in Meg Glaiks' disowned bairn。 Then they had a long converse together；
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
and he had come through many hardships； but had turned out a good
soldier； and so； in his old days； was an indoor pensioner； and very
comfortable； and he said that he had； to be sure； spent his youth in the
devil's service； and his manhood in the king's； but his old age was given to
that of his Maker； which I was blithe and thankful to hear； and he enquired
about many a one in the parish； the blooming and the green of his time；
but they were all dead and buried； and he had a contrite and penitent spirit；
and read his Bible every day； delighting most in the Book of Joshua； the
Chronicles； and the Kings。
Before this year； the drinking of tea was little known in the parish；
saving among a few of the heritors' houses on a Sabbath evening； but now
it became very rife： yet the commoner sort did not like to let it be known
that they were taking to the new luxury； especially the elderly women；
who； for that reason； had their ploys in out…houses and by…places； just as
the witches lang syne had their sinful possets and galravitchings； and they
made their tea for common in the pint…stoup； and drank it out of caps and
luggies； for there were but few among them that had cups and saucers。
Well do I remember one night in harvest； in this very year； as I was taking
my twilight dauner aneath the hedge along the back side of Thomas
Thorl's yard； meditating on the goodness of Providence； and looking at the
sheaves of victual on the field； that I heard his wife； and two three other
carlins； with their Bohea in the inside of the hedge； and no doubt but it had
a lacing of the conek； ｛3｝ for they were all cracking like pen…guns。 But I
gave them a sign； by a loud host； that Providence sees all； and it skailed
the bike； for I heard them； like guilty creatures； whispering； and gathering
up their truck…pots and trenchers； and cowering away home。
It was in this year that Patrick Dilworth （he had been schoolmaster of
the parish from the time； as his wife said； of Anna Regina； and before the
Rexes came to the crown）； was disabled by a paralytic； and the heritors；
grudging the cost of another schoolmaster as long as he lived； would not
allow the session to get his place supplied； which was a wrong thing； I
must say； of them； for the children of the parishioners were obliged；
therefore； to go to the neighbouring towns for their schooling； and the
custom was to take a piece of bread and cheese in their pockets for dinner；
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
and to return in the evening always voracious for more； the long walk
helping the natural crave of their young appetites。 In this way Mrs
Malcolm's two eldest laddies； Charlie and Robert； were wont to go to
Irville； and it was soon seen th