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t Jenny； and had got at the bottom of the whole plot and mischief。 But I； who knew her ladyship's light way； would fain have had the elders to overlook it； rather than expose myself to her tantrums； but they considered the thing as a great scandal； so I was obligated to conform to their wishes。 I might； however； have as well stayed at home； for her ladyship was in one of her jocose humours when I went to speak to her on the subject； and it was so far from my power to make a proper impression on her of the enormity that had been committed； that she made me laugh； in spite of my reason； at the fantastical drollery of her malicious prank on Miss Betty Wudrife。
It； however； did not end here； for the session； knowing that it was profitless to speak to the daft mother and daughter； who had been the instruments； gave orders to Willy Howking； the betheral； not to let them again so far into the kirk； and Willy； having scarcely more sense than them both； thought proper to keep them out next Sunday altogether。 The twa said nothing at the time； but the adversary was busy with them； for； on the Wednesday following； there being a meeting of the synod at Ayr； to my utter amazement the mother and daughter made their appearance there in all their finery； and raised a complaint against me and the session； for debarring them from church privileges。 No stage play could have produced such an effect。 I was perfectly dumfoundered； and every member of the synod might have been tied with a straw； they were so overcome with this new device of that endless woman； when bent on provocationthe Lady Macadam； in whom the saying was verified； that old folk are twice bairns； for in such plays； pranks； and projects； she was as playrife as a very lassie at her sampler； and this is but a swatch to what lengths she would go。 The complaint was dismissed； by which the session and me were assoilzied； but I'll never forget till the day of my death what I suffered on that occasion； to be so put to the wall by two born idiots。
CHAPTER XVII YEAR 1776
It belongs to the chroniclers of the realm to describe the damage and detriment which fell on the power and prosperity of the kingdom； by reason of the rebellion； that was fired into open war； against the name and authority of the king in the plantations of America； for my task is to describe what happened within the narrow bound of the pasturage of the Lord's flock； of which； in his bounty and mercy； he made me the humble； willing； but alas！ the weak and ineffectual shepherd。
About the month of February； a recruiting party came to our neighbour town of Irville； to beat up for men to be soldiers against the rebels； and thus the battle was brought； as it were； to our gates； for the very first man that took on with them was one Thomas Wilson； a cottar in our clachan； who； up to that time； had been a decent and creditable character。 He was at first a farmer lad； but had forgathered with a doited tawpy； whom he married； and had offspring three or four。 For some time it was noticed that he had a down and thoughtful look； that his cleeding was growing bare； and that his wife kept an untrig house； which； it was feared by many； was the cause of Thomas going o'er often to the change…house； he was； in short； during the greater part of the winter； evidently a man foregone in the pleasures of this world； which made all that knew him compassionate his situation。
No doubt； it was his household ills that burdened him past bearing； and made him go into Irville； when he heard of the recruiting； and take on to be a soldier。 Such a wally…wallying as the news of this caused at every door； for the red…coatsfrom the persecuting days； when the black…cuffs rampaged through the countrysoldiers that fought for hire were held in dread and as a horror among us； and terrible were the stories that were told of their cruelty and sinfulness； indeed； there had not been wanting in our time a sample of what they were； as witness the murder of Jean Glaikit by Patrick O'Neil； the Irish corporal； anent which I have treated at large in the memorables of the year 1774。
A meeting of the session was forthwith held； for here was Thomas Wilson's wife and all his weans； an awful cess； thrown upon the parish； and it was settled outright among us； that Mr Docken； who was then an elder； but is since dead； a worthy man； with a soft tongue and a pleasing manner； should go to Irville； and get Thomas； if possible； released from the recruiters。 But it was all in vain； the sergeant would not listen to him； for Thomas was a strapping lad； nor would the poor infatuated man himself agree to go back； but cursed like a cadger； and swore that； if he stayed any longer among his plagues； he would commit some rash act； so we were saddled with his family； which was the first taste and preeing of what war is when it comes into our hearths； and among the breadwinners。
The evil； however； did not stop here。 Thomas； when he was dressed out in the king's clothes； came over to see his bairns； and take a farewell of his friends； and he looked so gallant； that the very next market…day another lad of the parish listed with him； but he was a ramplor； roving sort of a creature； and； upon the whole； it was thought he did well for the parish when he went to serve the king。
The listing was a catching distemper。 Before the summer was over； the other three of the farming lads went off with the drum； and there was a wailing in the parish； which made me preach a touching discourse。 I likened the parish to a widow woman with a small family； sitting in her cottage by the fireside； herself spinning with an eident wheel； ettling her best to get them a bit and a brat； and the poor weans all canty about the hearthstanethe little ones at their playocks； and the elder at their tasksthe callans working with hooks and lines to catch them a meal of fish in the morning and the lassies working stockings to sell at the next Marymas fair。… …And then I likened war to a calamity coming among themthe callans drowned at their fishingthe lassies led to a misdoingand the feckless wee bairns laid on the bed of sickness； and their poor forlorn mother sitting by herself at the embers of a cauldrife fire； her tow done； and no a bodle to buy more； drooping a silent and salt tear for her babies； and thinking of days that war gone； and； like Rachel weeping for her children； she would not be comforted。 With this I concluded； for my own heart filled full with the thought； and there was a deep sob in the Church； verily it was Rachel weeping for her children。
In the latter end of the year； the man…of…war； with Charles Malcolm in her； came to the tail of the Bank at Greenock； to press men as it was thought； and Charles got leave from his captain to come and see his mother； and he brought with him Mr Howard； another midshipman； the son of a great parliament man in London； which； as we have tasted the sorrow； gave us some insight into the pomp of war； Charles was now grown up into a fine young man； rattling； light… hearted； and just a cordial of gladness； and his companion was every bit like him。 They were dressed in their fine gold…laced garbs and nobody knew Charles when he came to the clachan； but all wondered； for they were on horseback； and rode to the house where his mother lived when he went away； but which was then occupied by Miss Sabrina and her school。 Miss Sabrina had never seen Charles； but she had heard of him； and when he enquired for his mother； she guessed who he was； and showed him the way to the new house that the captain had bought for her。
Miss Sabrina； who was a little overly perjink at times； behaved herself on this occasion with a true spirit； and gave her lassies the play immediately； so that the news of Charles's return was spread by them like wildfire； and there was a wonderful joy in the whole town。 When Charles had seen his mother； and his sister Effie； with that douce and well…mannered lad William； his brotherfor of their meeting I cannot speak； not being presenthe then came with his friend to see me at the manse； and was most jocose with me； and； in a way of great pleasance； got Mrs Balwhidder to ask his friend to sleep at the manse。 In short； we had just a ploy the whole two days they stayed with us； and I got leave from Lord Eaglesham's steward to let them shoot on my lord's land； and I believe every laddie wean in the parish attended them to the field。 As for old Lady Macadam； Charles being； as she said； a near relation； and she having likewise some knowledge of his comrade's family； she was just in her element with them； though they were but youths； for she a woman naturally of a fantastical； and； as I have narrated； given to comical devices； and pranks to a degree。 She made for them a ball； to which she invited all the bonniest lassies； far and near； in the parish； and was out of the body with mirth； and had a fiddler from Irville； and it was thought by those that were there； that had she not been crippled with the rheumatics； she would have danced herself。 But I was concerned to hear both Charles and his friend； like hungry hawks； rejoicing at the prospect of the war； hoping thereby； as soon as their midship term was out； to be made lieutenants； saving this