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indeed； that there was any increase of corruption among the rural portion
of my people； for their vocation calling them to work apart； in the purity
of the free air of heaven； they were kept uncontaminated by that seditious
infection which fevered the minds of the sedentary weavers； and working
like flatulence in the stomachs of the cotton…spinners； sent up into their
heads a vain and diseased fume of infidel philosophy。
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CHAPTER XXXVII YEAR 1796
The prosperity of fortune is like the blossoms of spring； or the golden
hue of the evening cloud。 It delighteth the spirit； and passeth away；
In the month of February my second wife was gathered to the Lord。
She had been very ill for some time with an income in her side； which no
medicine could remove。 I had the best doctors in the country side to her；
but their skill was of no avail； their opinions being that her ail was caused
by an internal abscess； for which physic has provided no cure。 Her death
was to me a great sorrow； for she was a most excellent wife； industrious to
a degree； and managed every thing with so brisk a hand； that nothing went
wrong that she put it to。 With her I had grown richer than any other
minister in the presbytery； but； above all； she was the mother of my bairns；
which gave her a double claim upon me。
I laid her by the side of my first love； Betty Lanshaw； my own cousin
that was； and I inscribed her name upon the same headstone； but time had
drained my poetical vein； and I have not yet been able to indite an epitaph
on her merits and virtues； for she had an eminent share of both。 Her
greatest faultthe best have their faultswas an over…earnestness to gather
gear； in the doing of which I thought she sometimes sacrificed the
comforts of a pleasant fireside； for she was never in her element but when
she was keeping the servants eident at their work。 But； if by this she
subtracted something from the quietude that was most consonant to my
nature； she has left cause； both in bank and bond； for me and her bairns to
bless her great household activity。
She was not long deposited in her place of rest till I had occasion to
find her loss。 All my things were kept by her in a most perjink and
excellent order； but they soon fell into an amazing confusion； for； as she
often said to me； I had a turn for heedlessness； insomuch； that although my
daughter Janet was grown up； and able to keep the house； I saw that it
would be necessary； as soon as decency would allow； for me to take
another wife。 I was moved to this chiefly by foreseeing that my daughter
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would in time be married； and taken away from me； but more on account
of the servant lasses； who grew out of all bounds； verifying the proverb；
〃Well kens the mouse when the cat's out of the house。〃 Besides this； I
was now far down in the vale of years； and could not expect to be long
without feeling some of the penalties of old age； although I was still a hail
and sound man。 It therefore behoved me to look in time for a helpmate；
to tend me in my approaching infirmities。
Upon this important concern I reflected； as I may say； in the watches
of the night； and； considering the circumstances of my situation； I saw it
would not do for me to look out for an overly young woman； nor yet
would it do for one of my ways to take an elderly maiden； ladies of that
sort being liable to possess strong… set particularities。 I therefore resolved
that my choice should lie among widows of a discreet age； and I had a
glimmer in my mind of speaking to Mrs Malcolm； but when I reflected on
the saintly steadiness of her character； I was satisfied it would be of no use
to think of her。 Accordingly； I bent my brows； and looked towards Irville；
which is an abundant trone for widows and other single women； and I
fixed my purpose on Mrs Nugent； the relic of a professor in the university
of Glasgow； both because she was a well… bred woman； without any
children to plea about the interest of my own two； and likewise because
she was held in great estimation by all who knew her； as a lady of a
Christian principle。
It was some time in the summer； however； before I made up my mind
to speak to her on the subject； but one afternoon； in the month of August； I
resolved to do so； and with that intent walked leisurely over to Irville； and
after calling on the Rev。 Dr。 Dinwiddie； the minister； I stepped in； as if by
chance； to Mrs Nugent's。 I could see that she was a little surprised at my
visit； however； she treated me with every possible civility； and her servant
lass bringing in the tea…things in a most orderly manner； as punctually as
the clock was striking； she invited me to sit still； and drink my tea with her；
which I did； being none displeased to get such encouragement。 However；
I said nothing that time； but returned to the manse； very well content with
what I had observed； which made me fain to repeat my visit。 So； in the
course of the week； taking Janet my daughter with me； we walked over in
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the forenoon； and called at Mrs Nugent's first； before going to any other
house； and Janet saying； as we came out to go to the minister's； that she
thought Mrs Nugent an agreeable woman； I determined to knock the nail
on the head without further delay。
Accordingly； I invited the minister and his wife to dine with us on the
Thursday following； and before leaving the town； I made Janet； while the
minister and me were handling a subject； as a sort of thing in common
civility； go to Mrs Nugent； and invite her also。 Dr。 Dinwiddie was a gleg
man； of a jocose nature； and he； guessing something of what I was ettling
at； was very mirthful with me； but I kept my own counsel till a meet
season。
On the Thursday； the company as invited came； and nothing
extraordinary was seen