annals of the parish(教区年鉴)-第26节
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was wont； and in going away； he said with a blush； 〃I fear I dare not ask
you to come to the castle。〃 I had heard of his concubine； and I said； 〃In
saying so； my lord； you show a spark of grace； for it would not become me
to see what I have heard； and I am surprised； my lord； you will not rather
take a lady of your own。〃 He looked kindly； but confused； saying； he did
not know where to get one； so seeing his shame； and not wishing to put
him out of conceit entirely with himself； I replied； 〃Na； na； my lord； there's
nobody will believe that； for there never was a silly Jock； but there was as
silly a Jenny；〃 at which he laughed heartily； and rode away。 But I know
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not what was in't； I was troubled in mind about him； and thought； as he
was riding away； that I would never see him again； and sure enough it so
happened； for the next day； being airing in his coach with Miss Spangle；
the lady he had brought； he happened to see Mungo Argyle with his dogs
and his gun； and my lord being as particular about his game as the other
was about boxes of tea and kegs of brandy； he jumped out of the carriage；
and ran to take the gun。 Words passed； and the exciseman shot my lord。
Never shall I forget that day； such riding； such running； the whole country
side afoot； but the same night my lord breathed his last； and the mad and
wild reprobate that did the deed was taken up and sent off to Edinburgh。
This was a woeful riddance of that oppressor； for my lord was a good
landlord and a kind…hearted man； and albeit； though a little thoughtless；
was aye ready to make his power； when the way was pointed out； minister
to good works。 The whole parish mourned for him； and there was not a
sorer heart in all its bounds than my own。 Never was such a sight seen as
his burial： the whole country side was there； and all as solemn as if they
had been assembled in the valley of Jehoshaphat in the latter day。 The
hedges where the funeral was to pass were clad with weans； like bunches
of hips and haws； and the kirkyard was as if all its own dead were risen。
Never； do I think； was such a multitude gathered together。 Some thought
there could not be less than three thousand grown men； besides women
and children。
Scarcely was this great public calamity past； for it could be reckoned
no less； when one Saturday afternoon； as Miss Sabrina； the schoolmistress；
was dining with Lady Macadam； her ladyship was stricken with the
paralytics； and her face so thrown in the course of a few minutes； that Miss
Sabrina came flying to the manse for the help and advice of Mrs
Balwhidder。 A doctor was gotten with all speed by express； but her
ladyship was smitten beyond the reach of medicine。 She lived； however；
some time after； but oh！ she was such an object； that it was a grief to see
her。 She could only mutter when she tried to speak； and was as helpless
as a baby。 Though she never liked me； nor could I say there was many
things in her demeanour that pleased me； yet she was a free…handed
woman to the needful； and when she died she was more missed than it was
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thought she could have been。
Shortly after her funeral； which was managed by a gentleman sent
from her friends in Edinburgh； that I wrote to about her condition； the
Major； her son； with his lady； Kate Malcolm； and two pretty bairns； came
and stayed in her house for a time； and they were a great happiness to us
all； both in the way of drinking tea； and sometimes taking a bit of dinner；
their only mother now； the worthy and pious Mrs Malcolm； being
regularly of the company。
Before the end of the year； I should mention； that the fortune of Mrs
Malcolm's family got another shove upwards； by the promotion of her
second son； Robert Malcolm； who； being grown an expert and careful
mariner； was made captain of a grand ship； whereof Provost Maitland of
Glasgow； that was kind to his mother in her distresses； was the owner。
But that douce lad Willie； her youngest son； who was at the university of
Glasgow under the Lord Eaglesham's patronage； was like to have suffered
a blight。 However； Major Macadam； when I spoke to him anent the
young man's loss of his patron； said； with a pleasant generosity； he should
not be stickit； and； accordingly； he made up； as far as money could； for the
loss of his lordship； but there was none that made up for the great power
and influence； which； I have no doubt； the Earl would have exerted in his
behalf； when he was ripened for the church。 So that； although in time
William came out a sound and heart…searching preacher； he was long
obliged； like many another unfriended saint； to cultivate sand； and wash
Ethiopians in the shape of an east country gentleman's camstrairy weans；
than which； as he wrote me himself； there cannot be on earth a greater trial
of temper。 However； in the end he was rewarded； and is not only now a
placed minister； but a doctor of divinity。
The death of Lady Macadam was followed by another parochial
misfortune； for； considering the time when it happened； we could count it
as nothing less。 Auld Thomas Howkings； the betheral； fell sick； and died
in the course of a week's illness； about the end of November； and the
measles coming at that time upon the parish； there was such a smashery of
the poor weans as had not been known for an age； insomuch that James
Banes； the lad who was Thomas Howkings' helper； rose in open rebellion
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against the session during his superior's illness； and we were constrained
to augment his pay； and to promise him the place if Thomas did not
recover； which it was then thought he could not do。 On the day this
happened； there were three dead children in the clachan； and a panic and
consternation spread about the burial of them when James Bane's
insurrection was known； which made both me and the session glad to hush
up the affair； that the heart of the public might have no more than the
sufferings of individuals to hurt it。Thus ended a year； on many accounts；
heavy to be remembered。
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CHAPTER XXIII YEAR 1782
Although I have not been particular in noticing it； from time to time；
there had been an occasional going off； at fairs and on market…days； of the
lads of the parish as soldiers； and when Captain Malcolm got the
command of his ship； no less than four young men sailed with him from
the clachan； so that we were deeper and deeper interested in the
proceedings of the doleful war that was raging in the plantations。 By one
post we heard of no less than three brave fellows belonging to us being
slain in one battle； for which there was a loud and general lamentation。
Shortly after this； I got a letter from Charles Malcolm； a very pretty
letter it indeed was： he had heard of my Lord Eaglesham's murder； and
grieved for the loss； both because his lordship was a good man； and
because he had been such a friend to him and his family。 〃But；〃 said
Charles； 〃the best way I can show my gratitude for his patronage； is to
prove myself a good officer to my king and country。〃 Which I thought a
brave sentiment； and was pleased thereat； for somehow Charles； from the
time he brought me the limes to make a bowl of punch； in his pocket from
Jamaica； had built a nest of affection in my heart。 But； oh！ the wicked
wastry of life in war。 In less than a month after； the news came of a
victory over the French fleet； and by the same post I got a letter from Mr
Howard； that was the midshipman who came
