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the war； hoping thereby； as soon as their midship term was out； to be made lieutenants； saving this； there was no allay in the happiness they brought with them to the parish； and it was a delight to see how auld and young of all degrees made of Charles； for we were proud of him； and none more than myself； though he began to take liberties with me； calling me old governor； it was； however； in a warm…hearted manner； only I did not like it when any of the elders heard。 As for his mother； she deported herself like a saint on the occasion。 There was a temperance in the pleasure of her heart； and in her thankfulness； that is past the compass of words to describe。 Even Lady Macadam； who never could think a serious thought all her days； said； in her wild way that the gods had bestowed more care in the making of Mrs Malcolm's temper； than on the bodies and souls of all the saints in the calendar。 On the Sunday the strangers attended divine worship； and I preached a sermon purposely for them； and enlarged at great length and fulness on how David overcame Goliath； and they both told me that they had never heard such a good discourse； but I do not think they were great judges of preachings。 How； indeed； could Mr Howard know anything of sound doctrine； being educated； as he told me； at Eton school； a prelatic establishment！ Nevertheless； he was a fine lad； and though a little given to frolic and diversion； he had a principle of integrity； that afterwards kythed into much virtue； for； during this visit； he took a notion of Effie Malcolm； and the lassie of him； then a sprightly and blooming creature； fair to look upon； and blithe to see； and he kept up a correspondence with her till the war was over； when being a captain of a frigate； he came down among us； and they were married by me； as shall be related in its proper place。
CHAPTER XVIII YEAR 1777
This may well be called the year of the heavy heart； for we had sad tidings of the lads that went away as soldiers to America。 First； there was a boding in the minds of all their friends that they were never to see them more； and their sadness； like a mist spreading from the waters and covering the fields； darkened the spirit of the neighbours。 Secondly； a sound was bruited about that the king's forces would have a hot and a sore struggle before the rebels were put down； if they were ever put down。 Then came the cruel truth of all that the poor lads' friends had feared。 But it is fit and proper that I should relate at length； under their several heads； the sorrows and afflictions as they came to pass。
One evening； as I was taking my walk alone； meditating my discourse for the next Sabbathit was shortly after Candlemasit was a fine clear frosty evening； just as the sun was setting。 Taking my walk alone； and thinking of the dreadfulness of Almighty power； and how that； if it was not tempered and restrained by infinite goodness； and wisdom； and mercy； the miserable sinner； man； and all things that live； would be in a woeful state； I drew near the beild where old Widow Mirkland lived by herself； who was grand…mother to Jock Hempy； the ramplor lad； that was the second who took on for a soldier。 I did mind of this at the time； but； passing the house； I heard the croon； as it were； of a laden soul busy with the Lord； and； not to disturb the holy workings of grace； I paused and listened。 It was old Mizy Mirkland herself； sitting at the gable of the house； looking at the sun setting in all his glory behind the Arran hills； but she was not prayingonly moaning to herselfan oozing out； as it might be called； of the spirit from her heart； then grievously oppressed with sorrow； and heavy bodements of grey hairs and poverty。〃Yonder it slips awa'；〃 she was saying； 〃and my poor bairn； that's o'er the seas in America； is maybe looking on its bright face； thinking of his hame； and aiblins of me； that did my best to breed him up in the fear of the Lord； but I couldna warsle wi' what was ordained。 Ay； Jock！ as ye look at the sun gaun down； as many a time； when ye were a wee innocent laddie at my knee here； I hae bade ye look at him as a type of your Maker； ye will hae a sore heart； for ye hae left me in my need； when ye should hae been near at hand to help me； for the hard labour and industry with which I brought you up。 But it's the Lord's will。 Blessed be the name of the Lord； that makes us to thole the tribulations of this world； and will reward us； through the mediation of Jesus； hereafter。〃 She wept bitterly as she said this； for her heart was tried； but the blessing of a religious contentment was shed upon her； and I stepped up to her； and asked about her concerns； for； saving as a parishioner； and a decent old woman； I knew little of her。 Brief was her story； but it was one of misfortune。〃But I will not complain；〃 she said； 〃of the measure that has been meted unto me。 I was left myself an orphan； when I grew up； and was married to my gude…man； I had known but scant and want。 Our days of felicity were few； and he was ta'en awa' from me shortly after my Mary was born。 A wailing baby； and a widow's heart； was a' he left me。 I nursed her with my salt tears； and bred her in straits； but the favour of God was with us； and she grew up to womanhood as lovely as the rose； and as blameless as the lily。 In her time she was married to a farming lad。 There never was a brawer pair in the kirk； than on that day when they gaed there first as man and wife。 My heart was proud； and it pleased the Lord to chastise my prideto nip my happiness； even in the bud。 The very next day he got his arm crushed。 It never got well again； and he fell into a decay； and died in the winter； leaving my Mary far on in the road to be a mother。
〃When her time drew near； we both happened to be working in the yard。 She was delving to plant potatoes； and I told her it would do her hurt； but she was eager to provide something； as she said； for what might happen。 Oh！ it was an ill…omened word。 The same night her trouble came on； and before the morning she was a cauld corpse； and another wee wee fatherless baby was greeting at my bosomit was him that's noo awa' in America。 He grew up to be a fine bairn； with a warm heart； but a light head； and； wanting the rein of a father's power upon him； was no sa douce as I could have wished； but he was no man's foe save his own。 I thought； and hoped； as he grew to years of discretion； he would have sobered； and been a consolation to my old age； but he's gone； and he'll never come back disappointment is my portion in this world； and I have no hope； while I can do； I will seek no help； but threescore and fifteen can do little； and a small ail is a great evil to an aged woman； who has but the distaff for her breadwinner。〃
I did all that I could to bid her be of good cheer； but the comfort of a hopeful spirit was dead within her； and she told me； that by many tokens she was assured her bairn was already slain。〃Thrice；〃 said she； 〃I have seen his wraiththe first time he was in the pride of his young manhood； the next he was pale and wan； with a bloody and gashy wound in his side； and the third time there was a smoke； and； when it cleared away； I saw him in a grave； with neither winding…sheet nor coffin。〃
The tale of this pious and resigned spirit dwelt in mine ear； and； when I went home； Mrs Balwhidder thought that I had met with an o'ercome； and was very uneasy； so she got the tea soon ready to make me better； but scarcely had we tasted the first cup when a loud lamentation was heard in the kitchen。 This was from that tawpy the wife of Thomas Wilson； with her three weans。 They had been seeking their meat among the farmer houses； and； in coming home； forgathered on the road with the Glasgow carrier； who told them that news had come； in the London Gazette； of a battle； in which the regiment that Thomas had listed in was engaged； and had suffered loss both in rank and file； none doubting that their head was in the number of the slain； the whole family grat aloud； and came to the manse； bewailing him as no more； and it afterwards turned out to be the case； making it plain to me that there is a farseeing discernment in the spirit； that reaches beyond the scope of our incarnate senses。
But the weight of the war did not end with these afflictions； for； instead of the sorrow that the listing caused； and the anxiety after； and the grief of the bloody tidings； operating as wholesome admonition to our young men； the natural perversity of the human heart was more and more manifested。 A wonderful interest was raised among us all to hear of what was going on in the world； insomuch； that I myself was no longer contented with the relation of the news of the month in the Scots Magazine； but joined with my father…in… law； Mr Kibbock； to get a newspaper twice a…week from Edinburgh。 As for Lady Macadam； who being naturally an impatient woman； she had one sent to her three times a…week from London； so that we had something fresh five times every week； and the old papers were lent out to the families who had friends in the wars。 This was done on my suggestion； hoping it would make all content with their peaceable lot； but dominion for a time had been given to the power of contrariness； and