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nd it was thought that blood would be spilt before things were ended； for that the King and Parliament were in a great passion with them。 But as Charles Malcolm； in the king's ship； was the only one belonging to the parish that was likely to be art and part in the business； we were in a manner little troubled at the time with this first gasp of the monster of war； who； for our sins； was ordained to swallow up and devour so many of our fellow…subjects； before he was bound again in the chains of mercy and peace。
I had； in the meantime； written a letter to the Lord Eaglesham； to get Charles Malcolm out of the clutches of the pressgang in the man… of…war； and about a month after； his lordship sent me an answer； wherein was enclosed a letter from the captain of the ship； saying； that Charles Malcolm was so good a man that he was reluctant to part with him； and that Charles himself was well contented to remain aboard。 Anent which； his lordship said to me； that he had written back to the captain to make a midshipman of Charles； and that he would take him under his own protection； which was great joy on two accounts to us all； especially to his mother； first； to hear that Charles was a good man； although in years still but a youth； and； secondly； that my lord had； of his own free…will； taken him under the wing of his patronage。
But the sweet of this world is never to be enjoyed without some of the sour。 The coal bark between Irville and Belfast； in which Robert Malcolm； the second son of his mother； was serving his time to be a sailor； got a charter； as it was called； to go with to Norway for deals； which grieved Mrs Malcolm to the very heart； for there was then no short cut by the canal； as now is； between the rivers of the Forth and Clyde； but every ship was obligated to go far away round by the Orkneys； which； although a voyage in the summer not overly dangerous； there being long days and short nights then； yet in the winter it was far otherwise； many vessels being frozen up in the Baltic till the spring； and there was a story told at the time； of an Irville bark coming home in the dead of the year； that lost her way altogether； and was supposed to have sailed north into utter darkness； for she was never more heard of： and many an awful thing was said of what the auld mariners about the shore thought concerning the crew of that misfortunate vessel。 However； Mrs Malcolm was a woman of great faith； and having placed her reliance on Him who is the orphan's stay and widow's trust； she resigned her bairn into his hands； with a religious submission to his pleasure； though the mother's tear of weak human nature was on her cheek and in her e'e。 And her faith was well rewarded； for the vessel brought him safe home； and he had seen such a world of things； that it was just to read a story…book to hear him tell of Elsineur and Gottenburg； and other fine and great places that we had never heard of till that time； and he brought me a bottle of Riga balsam； which for healing cuts was just miraculous； besides a clear bottle of Rososolus for his mother； a spirit which for cordiality could not be told； for though since that time we have had many a sort of Dantzic cordial； I have never tasted any to compare with Robin Malcolm's Rososolus。 The Lady Macadam； who had a knowledge of such things； declared it was the best of the best sort； for Mrs Malcolm sent her ladyship some of it in a doctor's bottle； as well as to Mrs Balwhidder； who was then at the downlying with our daughter Janeta woman now in the married state； that makes a most excellent wife； having been brought up with great pains； and well educated； as I shall have to record by…and…by。
About the Christmas of this year； Lady Macadam's son having been perfected in the art of war at a school in France； had； with the help of his mother's friends； and his father's fame； got a stand of colours in the Royal Scots regiment； he came to show himself in his regimentals to his lady mother； like a dutiful son； as he certainly was。 It happened that he was in the kirk in his scarlets and gold； on the same Sunday that Robert Malcolm came home from the long voyage to Norway for deals； and I thought when I saw the soldier and the sailor from the pulpit； that it was an omen of war； among our harmless country folks； like swords and cannon amidst ploughs and sickles； coming upon us； and I became laden in spirit； and had a most weighty prayer upon the occasion； which was long after remembered； many thinking； when the American war broke out； that I had been gifted with a glimmering of prophecy on that day。
It was during this visit to his lady mother； that young Laird Macadam settled the correspondence with Kate Malcolm； which； in the process of time； caused us all so much trouble； for it was a clandestine concern： but the time is not yet ripe for me to speak of it more at large。 I should； however； mention； before concluding this annal； that Mrs Malcolm herself was this winter brought to death's door by a terrible host that came on her in the kirk； by taking a kittling in her throat。 It was a terrification to hear her sometimes； but she got the better of it in the spring； and was more herself thereafter than she had been for years before； and her daughter Effie or Euphemia； as she was called by Miss Sabrina； the schoolmistress； was growing up to be a gleg and clever quean； she was； indeed； such a spirit in her way； that the folks called her Spunkie； while her son William； that was the youngest of the five； was making a wonderful proficiency with Mr Lorimore。 He was indeed a douce； well…doing laddie； of a composed nature； insomuch that the master said he was surely chosen for the ministry。 In short； the more I think on what befell this family； and of the great meekness and Christian worth of the parent； I verily believe there never could have been in any parish such a manifestation of the truth； that they who put their trust in the Lord； are sure of having a friend that will never forsake them。
CHAPTER XI YEAR 1770
This blessed Ann。 Dom。 was one of the Sabbaths of my ministry。 When I look back upon it； all is quiet and good order： the darkest cloud of the smuggling had passed over； at least from my people； and the rumours of rebellion in America were but like the distant sound of the bars of Ayr。 We sat； as it were； in a lown and pleasant place； beholding our prosperity； like the apple…tree adorned with her garlands of flourishes； in the first fair mornings of the spring； when the birds were returning thanks to their Maker for the coming again of the seed…time； and the busy bee goeth forth from her cell； to gather honey from the flowers of the field； and the broom of the hill； and the blue…bells and gowans； which Nature； with a gracious and a gentle hand； scatters in the valley； as she walketh forth in her beauty； to testify to the goodness of the Father of all mercies。
Both at the spring and the harvest sacraments； the weather was as that which is in Paradise； there was a glad composure in all hearts； and the minds of men were softened towards each other。 The number of communicants was greater than had been known for many years； and the tables were filled by the pious from many a neighbouring parish： those of my hearers who had opposed my placing； declared openly； for a testimony of satisfaction and holy thankfulness； that the tent； so surrounded as it was on both occasions； was a sight they never had expected to see。 I was； to be sure； assisted by some of the best divines then in the land； but I had not been a sluggard myself in the vineyard。
Often； when I think on this year； so fruitful in pleasant intimacies； has the thought come into my mind； that as the Lord blesses the earth from time to time with a harvest of more than the usual increase； so； in like manner； he is sometimes for a season pleased to pour into the breasts of mankind a larger portion of good…will and charity； disposing them to love one another； to be kindly to all creatures； and filled with the delight of thankfulness to himself； which is the greatest of blessings。
It was in this year that the Earl of Eaglesham ordered the fair to be established in the village； and it was a day of wonderful festivity to all the bairns； and lads and lassies； for miles round。 I think； indeed； that there has never been such a fair as the first since； for although we have more mountebanks and merry…andrews now； and richer cargoes of groceries and packman's stands； yet there has been a falling off in the light…hearted daffing； while the hobleshows in the change…houses have been awfully augmented。 It was on this occasion that Punch's opera was first seen in our country side； and surely never was there such a funny curiosity； for although Mr Punch himself was but a timber idol； he was as droll as a true living thing； and napped with his head so comical； but oh！ he was a sorrowful contumacious captain； and it was just a sport to see how he rampaged； and triumphed； and sang。 For months after； the laddie weans did nothing but squeak and sing like Punch。 In short； a blithe spirit was among us throughout this year； and the briefness of the chronicle bears witness to the innocency of the time。
CHAPTER XII YEAR 1771
It