annals of the parish(教区年鉴)-第40节
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showed it was but into their proper sphere by their demeanour after。 She
lived to see her second son； the captain； rise into affluence； married； and
with a thriving young family； and she had the very great satisfaction； on
the last day she was able to go to church； to see her youngest son the
clergyman standing in my pulpit； a doctor of divinity； and the placed
minister of a richer parish than mine。 Well indeed might she have said on
that day； 〃Lord； let thy servant depart in peace； for mine eyes have seen
thy salvation。〃
For some time it had been manifest to all who saw her； that her latter
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end was drawing nigh； and therefore； as I had kept up a correspondence
with her daughters； Mrs Macadam and Mrs Howard； I wrote them a
particular account of her case； which brought them to the clachan。 They
both came in their own carriages； for Colonel Macadam was now a
general； and had succeeded to a great property by an English uncle； his
mother's brother； and Captain Howard； by the death of his father； was also
a man； as it was said； with a lord's living。 Robert Malcolm； her son the
captain； was in the West Indies at the time； but his wife came on the first
summons； as did William the minister。
They all arrived about four o'clock in the afternoon； and at seven a
message came for me and Mrs Balwhidder to go over to them； which we
did； and found the strangers seated by the heavenly patient's bedside。 On
my entering； she turned her eyes towards me； and said； 〃Bear witness； sir；
that I die thankful for an extraordinary portion of temporal mercies。 The
heart of my youth was withered like the leaf that is scared with the
lightning； but in my children I have received a great indemnification for
the sorrows of that trial。〃 She then requested me to pray； saying； 〃No； let it
be a thanksgiving。 My term is out； and I have nothing more to hope or
fear from the good or evil of this world。 But I have had much to make
me grateful； therefore； sir； return thanks for the time I have been spared；
for the goodness granted so long unto me； and the gentle hand with which
the way from this world is smoothed for my passing。〃
There was something so sweet and consolatory in the way she said this；
that although it moved all present to tears； they were tears without the
wonted bitterness of grief。 Accordingly； I knelt down and did as she had
required； and there was a great stillness while I prayed。 At the
conclusion we looked to the bed； but the spirit had； in the mean time；
departed； and there was nothing remaining but the clay tenement。
It was expected by the parish； considering the vast affluence of the
daughters； that there would have been a grand funeral； and Mrs Howard
thought it was necessary； but her sister； who had from her youth upward a
superior discernment of propriety； said； 〃No； as my mother has lived； so
shall be her end。〃 Accordingly； everybody of any respect in the clachan
was invited to the funeral； but none of the gentry； saving only such as had
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been numbered among the acquaintance of the deceased。 But Mr
Cayenne came unbidden； saying to me； that although he did not know Mrs
Malcolm personally； he had often heard she was an amiable woman； and
therefore he thought it a proper compliment to her family； who were out of
the parish； to show in what respect she was held among us； for he was a
man that would take his own way； and do what he thought was right；
heedless alike of blame or approbation。
If； however； the funeral was plain； though respectable； the ladies
distributed a liberal sum among the poor families； but before they went
away； a silent token of their mother's virtue came to light； which was at
once a source of sorrow and pleasure。 Mrs Malcolm was first well
provided by the Macadams； afterwards the Howards settled on her an
equal annuity； by which she spent her latter days in great comfort。 Many
a year before； she had repaid Provost Maitland the money he sent her in
the day of her utmost distress； and at this period he was long dead； having
died of a broken heart at the time of his failure。 From that time his
widow and her daughters had been in very straitened circumstances； but
unknown to all but herself； and Him from whom nothing is hid； Mrs
Malcolm from time to time had sent them； in a blank letter； an occasional
note to the young ladies to buy a gown。 After her death； a bank…bill for a
sum of money； her own savings； was found in her scrutoire； with a note of
her own writing pinned to the same； stating； that the amount being more
than she had needed for herself； belonged of right to those who had so
generously provided for her； but as they were not in want of such a trifle；
it would be a token of respect to her memory； if they would give the bill to
Mrs Maitland and her daughters； which was done with the most glad
alacrity； and； in the doing of it； the private kindness was brought to light。
Thus ended the history of Mrs Malcolm； as connected with our Parish
Annals。 Her house was sold； and is the same now inhabited by the
millwright； Mr Periffery； and a neat house it still is； for the possessor is an
Englishman； and the English have an uncommon taste for snod houses and
trim gardens； but at the time it was built； there was not a better in the town；
though it's now but of the second class。 Yearly we hear both from Mrs
Macadam and her sister； with a five…pound note from each to the poor of
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the parish； as a token of their remembrance； but they are far off； and； were
any thing ailing me； I suppose the gift will not be continued。 As for
Captain Malcolm； he has proved； in many ways； a friend to such of our
young men as have gone to sea。 He has now left it off himself； and
settled at London； where he latterly sailed from； and； I understand； is in a
great way as a shipowner。 These things I have thought it fitting to record；
and will now resume my historical narration。
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CHAPTER XLI YEAR 1800
The same quietude and regularity that marked the progress of the last
year； continued throughout the whole of this。 We sowed and reaped in
tranquillity； though the sough of distant war came heavily from a distance。
The cotton…mill did well for the company； and there was a sobriety in the
minds of the spinners and weavers； which showed that the crisis of their
political distemperature was over； there was something more of the old
prudence in men's reflections； and it was plain to see that the elements of
reconciliation were coming together throughout the world。 The
conflagration of the French Revolution was indeed not extinguished； but it
was evidently burning out； and their old reverence for the Grand
Monarque was beginning to revive among them； though they only called
him a consul。 Upon the king's fast I preached on this subject； and when
the peace was concluded； I got great credit for my foresight； but there was
no merit in't。 I had only lived longer than the most of those around me；
and had been all my days a close observer of the signs of the times； so that
what was lightly called prophecy and prediction； were but a probability
that experience had taught me to discern。
In the affairs of the parish； the most remarkable generality （for we had
no particular catastrophe） was a great death of old people in the spring。
Among others； Miss Sabrina； the school mistress； paid the debt of nature；
but we could now better spare her than we did her predecessor；
