annals of the parish(教区年鉴)-第11节
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His lordship could not turn back； and the coal…carts were in no less
perplexity。 Every body was out of doors to see and to help； when； in
trying to get his lordship's carriage over the top of a midden； the horses
gave a sudden loup； and couped the coach； and threw my lord； head
foremost； into the very scent…bottle of the whole commodity； which made
him go perfect mad； and he swore like a trooper that he would get an act
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of parliament to put down the nuisancethe which now ripened in the
course of this year into the undertaking of the trust…road。
His lordship； being in a woeful plight； left the carriage and came to the
manse； till his servant went to the castle for a change for him； but he could
not wait nor abide himself： so he got the lend of my best suit of clothes；
and was wonderful jocose both with Mrs Balwhidder and me； for he was a
portly man； and I but a thin body； and it was really a droll curiosity to see
his lordship clad in my garments。
Out of this accident grew a sort of a neighbourliness between that Lord
Eaglesham and me； so that when Andrew Lanshaw； the brother that was of
the first Mrs Balwhidder； came to think of going to India； I wrote to my
lord for his behoof； and his lordship got him sent out as a cadet； and was
extraordinary discreet to Andrew when he went up to London to take his
passage； speaking to him of me as if I had been a very saint； which the
Searcher of Hearts knows I am far from thinking myself。
But to return to the making of the trust…road； which； as I have said；
turned the town inside out。 It was agreed among the heritors； that it
should run along the back side of the south houses； and that there should
be steadings fued off on each side； according to a plan that was laid down；
and this being gone into； the town gradually； in the course of years； grew
up into that orderlyness which makes it now a pattern to the country side
all which was mainly owing to the accident that befell the Lord Eaglesham；
which is a clear proof how improvements come about； as it were； by the
immediate instigation of Providence； which should make the heart of man
humble； and change his eyes of pride and haughtiness into a lowly
demeanour。
But although this making of the trust…road was surely a great thing for
the parish； and of an advantage to my people； we met； in this year； with a
loss not to be compensatedthat was the death of Nanse Banks； the
schoolmistress。 She had been long in a weak and frail state； but being a
methodical creature； still kept on the school； laying the foundation for
many a worthy wife and mother。 However； about the decline of the year
her complaints increased； and she sent for me to consult about her giving
up the school； and I went to see her on Saturday afternoon； when the bit
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lassies； her scholars； had put the house in order； and gone home till the
Monday。
She was sitting in the window…nook； reading THE WORD to herself；
when I entered； but she closed the book； and put her spectacles in for a
mark when she saw me； and； as it was expected I would come； her easy…
chair； with a clean cover； had been set out for me by the scholars； by
which I discerned that there was something more than common to happen；
and so it appeared when I had taken my seat。
〃Sir；〃 said she； 〃I hae sent for you on a thing troubles me sairly。 I have
warsled with poortith in this shed； which it has pleased the Lord to allow
me to possess； but my strength is worn out； and I fear I maun yield in the
strife；〃 and she wiped her eye with her apron。 I told her； however； to be of
good cheer； and then she said； 〃That she could no longer thole the din of
the school； and that she was weary； and ready to lay herself down to die
whenever the Lord was pleased to permit。〃 〃But；〃 continued she； 〃what
can I do without the school； and； alas！ I can neither work nor want； and I
am wae to go on the session； for I am come of a decent family。〃 I
comforted her； and told her； that I thought she had done so much good in
the parish； that the session was deep in her debt； and that what they might
give her was but a just payment for her service。 〃I would rather； however；
sir；〃 said she； 〃try first what some of my auld scholars will do； and it was
for that I wanted to speak with you。 If some of them would but just； from
time to time； look in upon me； that I may not die alane； and the little pick
and drap that I require would not be hard upon themI am more sure that
in this way their gratitude would be no discredit； than I am of having any
claim on the session。〃
As I had always a great respect for an honest pride； I assured her that I
would do what she wanted； and accordingly； the very morning after； being
Sabbath； I preached a sermon on the helplessness of them that have no
help of man； meaning aged single women； living in garret…rooms； whose
forlorn state； in the gloaming of life； I made manifest to the hearts and
understandings of the congregation； in such a manner that many shed tears；
and went away sorrowful。
Having thus roused the feelings of my people； I went round the houses
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on the Monday morning； and mentioned what I had to say more
particularly about poor old Nanse Banks； the schoolmistress； and truly I
was rejoiced at the condition of the hearts of my people。 There was a
universal sympathy among them； and it was soon ordered that； what with
one and another； her decay should be provided for。 But it was not ordained
that she should be long heavy on their good… will。 On the Monday the
school was given up； and there was nothing but wailing among the bit
lassies； the scholars； for getting the vacance； as the poor things said；
because the mistress was going to lie down to dee。 And； indeed； so it
came to pass； for she took to her bed the same afternoon； and； in the
course of the week； dwindled away； and slipped out of this howling
wilderness into the kingdom of heaven； on the Sabbath following； as
quietly as a blessed saint could do。 And here I should mention； that the
Lady Macadam； when I told her of Nanse Banks's case； enquired if she
was a snuffer； and； being answered by me that she was； her ladyship sent
her a pretty French enamel box full of macabaw； a fine snuff that she had
in a bottle； and； among the macabaw； was found a guinea； at the bottom of
the box； after Nanse Banks had departed this life； which was a kind thing
of Lady Macadam to do。
About the close of this year there was a great sough of old prophecies；
foretelling mutations and adversities； chiefly on account of the canal that
was spoken of to join the rivers of the Clyde and the Forth； it being
thought an impossible thing to be done； and the Adam and Eve pear…tree；
in our garden； budded out in an awful manner； and had divers flourishes
on it at Yule； which was thought an ominous thing； especially as the
second Mrs Balwhidder was at the downlying with my eldest son Gilbert；
that is； the merchant in Glasgow； but nothing came o't； and the howdie
said she had an easy time when the child came into the world； which was
on the very last day of the year； to the great satisfaction of me； and of my
people； who were wonderful lifted up because their minister had a man…
child born unto him。
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CHAPTER IX YEAR 1768
It's a surprising thing how time flieth away； carrying off our youth and
strength； and leaving us nothing but wrinkles and the ails of old age。
Gilbert； my son； that is now a corpulent man； and a Glasgow merchant；
when I take up my pen to record
