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！
surely a great judge of good preaching； said； 〃was a monument of divinity
whilk searched the heart of many a parent that day；〃 a thing I was well
pleased to hear； for Thomas； as I have related at length； was the most
zealous champion against my getting the parish； but； from this time； I set
him down in my mind for the next vacancy among the elders。 Worthy
man！ it was not permitted him to arrive at that honour。 In the fall of that
year he took an income in his legs； and couldna go about； and was laid up
for the remainder of his days； a perfect Lazarus； by the fire…side。 But he
was well supported in his affliction。 In due season； when it pleased Him
that alone can give and take； to pluck him from this life； as the fruit
15
… Page 16…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
ripened and ready for the gathering； his death； to all that knew him； was a
gentle dispensation； for truly he had been in sore trouble。
It was in this year that Charlie Malcolm； Mrs Malcolm's eldest son；
was sent to be a cabin…boy in the Tobacco trader； a three…masted ship； that
sailed between Port…Glasgow and Virginia in America。 She was
commanded by Captain Dickie； an Irville man； for at that time the Clyde
was supplied with the best sailors from our coast； the coal…trade with
Ireland being a better trade for bringing up good mariners than the long
voyages in the open sea； which was the reason； as I often heard said； why
the Clyde shipping got so many of their men from our country side。 The
going to sea of Charlie Malcolm was； on divers accounts； a very
remarkable thing to us all； for he was the first that ever went from our
parish； in the memory of man； to be a sailor； and everybody was
concerned at it； and some thought it was a great venture of his mother to
let him； his father having been lost at sea。 But what could the forlorn
widow do？ She had five weans； and little to give them； and； as she
herself said； he was aye in the hand of his Maker； go where he might； and
the will of God would be done； in spite of all earthly wiles and devices to
the contrary。
On the Monday morning； when Charlie was to go away to meet the
Irville carrier on the road； we were all up； and I walked by myself from the
manse into the clachan to bid him farewell； and I met him just coming
from his mother's door； as blithe as a bee； in his sailor's dress； with a stick；
and a bundle tied in a Barcelona silk handkerchief hanging o'er his
shoulder； and his two little brothers were with him； and his sisters； Kate
and Effie； looking out from the door all begreeten； but his mother was in
the house； praying to the Lord to protect her orphan； as she afterwards told
me。 All the weans of the clachan were gathered at the kirkyard yett to
see him pass； and they gave him three great shouts as he was going by；
and everybody was at their doors； and said something encouraging to him；
but there was a great laugh when auld Mizy Spaewell came hirpling with
her bauchle in her hand； and flung it after him for good…luck。 Mizy had a
wonderful faith in freats； and was just an oracle of sagacity at expounding
dreams； and bodes of every sort and descriptionbesides； she was
16
… Page 17…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
reckoned one of the best howdies in her day； but by this time she was
grown frail and feckless； and she died the same year on Hallowe'en； which
made everybody wonder that it should have so fallen out for her to die on
Hallowe'en。
Shortly after the departure of Charlie Malcolm； the Lady of Breadland；
with her three daughters； removed to Edinburgh； where the young laird；
that had been my pupil； was learning to be an advocate； and the
Breadland…house was set to Major Gilchrist； a nabob from India； but he
was a narrow ailing man； and his maiden…sister； Miss Girzie； was the
scrimpetest creature that could be； so that； in their hands； all the pretty
policy of the Breadlands； that had cost a power of money to the old laird
that was my patron； fell into decay and disorder； and the bonny yew…trees
that were cut into the shape of peacocks； soon grew out of all shape； and
are now doleful monuments of the major's tack； and that of Lady
Skimmilk； as Miss Girzie Gilchrist； his sister； was nick…named by every
ane that kent her。
But it was not so much on account of the neglect of the Breadland； that
the incoming of Major Gilchrist was to be deplored。 The old men that
had a light labour in keeping the policy in order； were thrown out of bread；
and could do little； and the poor women that whiles got a bit and a drap
from the kitchen of the family； soon felt the change； so that by little and
little we were obligated to give help from the session； insomuch that；
before the end of the year； I was necessitated to preach a discourse on
almsgiving； specially for the benefit of our own poor； a thing never before
known in the parish。
But one good thing came from the Gilchrists to Mrs Malcolm。 Miss
Girzie； whom they called Lady Skimmilk； had been in a very penurious
way as a seamstress； in the Gorbals of Glasgow； while her brother was
making the fortune in India； and she was a clever needle…woman none
better； as it was said； and she； having some things to make； took Kate
Malcolm to help her in the coarse work； and Kate； being a nimble and
birky thing； was so useful to the lady； and the complaining man the major；
that they invited her to stay with them at the Breadland for the winter；
where； although she was holden to her seam from morning to night； her
17
… Page 18…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
food lightened the hand of her mother； who； for the first time since her
coming into the parish； found the penny for the day's darg more than was
needed for the meal…basin； and the tea…drinking was beginning to spread
more openly； insomu