annals of the parish(教区年鉴)-第41节
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but we could now better spare her than we did her predecessor； for at
Cayenneville there was a broken manufacturer's wife； an excellent teacher；
and a genteel and modernised woman； who took the better order of
children； and Miss Sabrina having been long frail （for she was never stout）；
a decent and discreet carlin； Mrs M'Caffie； the widow of a custom…house
officer； that was a native of the parish； set up another for plainer work。
Her opposition Miss Sabrina did not mind； but she was sorely displeased
at the interloping of Mrs Pirn at Cayenneville； and some said it helped to
kill herof that； however； I am not so certain； for Dr。 Tanzey had told me
in the winter； that he thought the sharp winds in March would blow out her
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candle； as it was burnt to the snuff； accordingly； she took her departure
from this life； on the twenty…fifth day of that month； after there had； for
some days prior； been a most cold and piercing east wind。
Miss Sabrina； who was always an oddity and aping grandeur； it was
found； had made a will； leaving her gatherings to her favourites； with all
regular formality。 To one she bequeathed a gown； to another this； and a
third that； and to me a pair of black silk stockings。 I was amazed when I
heard this； but judge what I felt； when a pair of old marrowless stockings；
darned in the heel； and not whole enough in the legs to make a pair of
mittens to Mrs Balwhidder； were delivered to me by her executor； Mr
Caption； the lawyer。 Saving； however； this kind of flummery； Miss
Sabrina was a harmless creature； and could quote poetry in discourse more
glibly than texts of Scriptureher father having spared no pains on her
mind： as for her body； it could not be mended； but that was not her fault。
After her death； the session held a consultation； and we agreed to give
the same salary that Miss Sabrina enjoyed to Mrs M'Caffie； which angered
Mr Cayenne； who thought it should have been given to the head mistress；
and it made him give Mrs Pirn； out of his own pocket； double the sum。
But we considered that the parish funds were for the poor of the parish；
and therefore it was our duty to provide for the instruction of the poor
children。 Saving； therefore； those few notations； I have nothing further to
say concerning the topics and progress of this Ann。 Dom。
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
CHAPTER XLII YEAR 1801
It is often to me very curious food for meditation； that as the parish
increased in population； there should have been less cause for matter to
record。 Things that in former days would have occasioned great
discourse and cogitation； are forgotten with the day in which they happen；
and there is no longer that searching into personalities which was so much
in vogue during the first epoch of my ministry； which I reckon the period
before the American war； nor has there been any such germinal changes
among us； as those which took place in the second epoch； counting
backward from the building of the cotton…mill that gave rise to the town of
Cayenneville。 But still we were not； even at this era； of which this Ann。
Dom。 is the beginning； without occasional personality； or an event that
deserved to be called a germinal。
Some years before； I had noted among the callans at Mr Lorimore's
school a long soople laddie； who； like all bairns that grow fast and tall； had
but little smeddum。 He could not be called a dolt； for he was observant
and thoughtful； and giving to asking sagacious questions； but there was a
sleepiness about him； especially in the kirk； and he gave； as the master
said； but little application to his lessons； so that folk thought he would turn
out a sort of gaunt…at… the…door； more mindful of meat than work。 He
was； however； a good… natured lad； and； when I was taking my solitary
walks of meditation； I sometimes fell in with him sitting alone on the brae
by the water… side； and sometimes lying on the grass； with his hands under
his head； on the sunny green knolls where Mr Cylinder； the English
engineer belonging to the cotton…work； has built the bonny house that he
calls Diryhill Cottage。 This was when Colin Mavis was a laddie at the
school； and when I spoke to him； I was surprised at the discretion of his
answers； so that gradually I began to think and say； that there was more
about Colin than the neighbours knew。 Nothing； however； for many a day；
came out to his advantage； so that his mother； who was by this time a
widow woman； did not well know what to do with him； and folk pitied her
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heavy handful of such a droud。
By…and…by； however； it happened that one of the young clerks at the
cotton…mill shattered his right…hand thumb by a gun bursting； and； being
no longer able to write； was sent into the army to be an ensign； which
caused a vacancy in the office； and； through the help of Mr Cayenne； I got
Colin Mavis into the place； where； to the surprise of everybody； he proved
a wonderful eident and active lad； and； from less to more； has come at the
head of all the clerks； and deep in the confidentials of his employers。 But
although this was a great satisfaction to me； and to the widow woman his
mother； it somehow was not so much so to the rest of the parish； who
seemed； as it were； angry that poor Colin had not proved himself such a
dolt as they had expected and foretold。
Among other ways that Colin had of spending his leisure； was that of
playing music on an instrument； in which it was said he made a wonderful
proficiency； but being long and thin； and of a delicate habit of body； he
was obligated to refrain from this recreation； so he betook himself to
books； and from reading he began to try writing； but； as this was done in a
corner； nobody jealoused what he was about； till one evening in this year
he came to the manse； and asked a word in private with me。 I thought
that perhaps he had fallen in with a lass； and was come to consult me anent
matrimony； but when we were by ourselves； in my study； he took out of
his pocket a number of the Scots Magazine； and said； 〃Sir； you have been
long pleased to notice me more than any other body； and when I got this； I
could not refrain from bringing it； to let you see't。 Ye maun ken； sir； that
I have been long in secret given to trying my hand at rhyme； and； wishing
to ascertain what others thought of my power in that way； I sent by the
post twa three verses to the Scots Magazine； and they have not only
inserted them； but placed them in the body of the book； in such a way that
I kenna what to think。〃 So I looked at the Magazine； and read his verses；
which were certainly very well…made verses for one who had no regular
education。 But I said to him； as the Greenock magistrates said to John
Wilson； the author of 〃Clyde；〃 when they stipulated with him to give up
the art； that poem…making was a profane and unprofitable trade； and he
would do well to turn his talent to something of more solidity； which he
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promised to do； but he has since put out a book； whereby he has angered
all those that had foretold he would be a do…nae…gude。 Thus has our
parish walked sidy for sidy with all the national improvements； having an
author of its own； and getting a literary character in the ancient and
famous republic of letters。
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CHAPTER XLIII YEAR 1802
〃Experience teaches fools；〃 was the first moral apothegm th
