annals of the parish(教区年鉴)-第5节
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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
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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
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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； insomuch that； by the advice of the first Mrs Balwhidder；
Mrs Malcolm took in tea to sell； and in this way was enabled to eke
something to the small profits of her wheel。 Thus the tide that had been
so long ebbing to her； began to turn； and here I am bound in truth to say；
that although I never could abide the smuggling； both on its own account；
and the evils that grew therefrom to the country side； I lost some of my
dislike to the tea after Mrs Malcolm began to traffic in it； and we then had
it for our breakfast in the morning at the manse； as well as in the afternoon。
But what I thought most of it for was； that it did no harm to the head of the
drinkers； which was not always the case with the possets that were in
fashion before。 There is no meeting now in the summer evenings； as I
remember often happened in my younger days； with decent ladies coming
home with red faces； tosy and cosh； from a posset…masking； so； both for its
temperance and on account of Mrs Malcolm's sale； I refrained from the
November in this year to preach against tea； but I never lifted the weight
of my displeasure from off the smuggling trade； until it was utterly put
down by the strong hand of government。
There was no other thing of note in this year； saving only that I planted
in the garden the big pear…tree； which had the two great branches that we
call the Adam and Eve。 I got the plant； then a sapling； from Mr Graft；
that was Lord Eaglesham's head…gardener； and he said it was； as indeed all
the parish now knows well； a most juicy sweet pear； such as was not
known in Scotland till my lord brought down the father plant from the
king's garden in London； in the forty…five when he went up to testify his
loyalty to the House of Hanover。
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CHAPTER IV YEAR 1763
The An。 Dom。 1763； was； in many a respect； a memorable year； both in
public and in private。 The King granted peace to the French； and Charlie
Malcolm； that went to sea in the Tobacco trader； came home to see his
mother。 The ship； after being at America； had gone down to Jamaica； an
island in the West Indies； with a cargo of live lumber； as Charlie told me
himself； and had come home with more than a hundred and fifty hoggits of
sugar； and sixty…three puncheons full of rum； for she was； by all accounts；
a stately galley； and almost two hundred tons in the burthen； being the
largest vessel then sailing from the creditable town of Port…Glasgow。
Charlie was not expected； and his coming was a great thing to us all
