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t with their peaceable lot； but dominion for a time had been given to the power of contrariness； and it had quite an opposite effect。 It begot a curiosity； egging on to enterprise； and； greatly to my sorrow； three of the brawest lads in the parish； or in any parish； all in one day took on with a party of the Scots Greys that were then lying in Ayr； and nothing would satisfy the callans at Mr Lorimore's school； but； instead of their innocent plays with girs； and shinties； and sicklike； they must go ranking like soldiers； and fight sham…fights in bodies。 In short； things grew to a perfect hostility； for a swarm of weans came out from the schools of Irville on a Saturday afternoon； and； forgathering with ours； they had a battle with stones on the toll…road； such as was dreadful to hear of； for many a one got a mark that day he will take to the grave with him。
It was not； however； by accidents of the field only； that we were afflicted； those of the flood； too； were sent likewise against us。 In the month of October； when the corn was yet in the holms； and on the cold land by the river side； the water of Irville swelled to a great spait； from bank to brae； sweeping all before it； and roaring； in its might； like an agent of divine displeasure； sent forth to punish the inhabitants of the earth。 The loss of the victual was a thing reparable； and those that suffered did not greatly complain； for； in other respects； their harvest had been plenteous： but the river； in its fury； not content with overflowing the lands； burst through the sandy hills with a raging force； and a riving asunder of the solid ground； as when the fountains of the great deep were broken up。 All in the parish was a…foot； and on the hills； some weeping and wringing their hands； not knowing what would happen； when they beheld the landmarks of the waters deserted； and the river breaking away through the country； like the war…horse set loose in his pasture； and glorying in his might。 By this change in the way and channel of the river； all the mills in our parish were left more than half a mile from dam or lade； and the farmers through the whole winter； till the new mills were built； had to travel through a heavy road with their victual； which was a great grievance； and added not a little to the afflictions of this unhappy year； which to me were not without a particularity； by the death of a full cousin of Mrs Balwhidder； my first wife； she was grievously burnt by looting over a candle。 Her mutch； which was of the high structure then in vogue； took fire； and being fastened with corking…pins to a great toupee； it could not be got off until she had sustained a deadly injury； of which； after lingering long； she was kindly eased by her removal from trouble。 This sore accident was to me a matter of deep concern and cogitation； but as it happened in Tarbolton； and no in our parish； I have only alluded to it to show； that when my people were chastised by the hand of Providence； their pastor was not spared； but had a drop from the same vial。
CHAPTER XIX YEAR 1778
This year was as the shadow of the bygane： there was less actual suffering； but what we came through cast a gloom among us； and we did not get up our spirits till the spring was far advanced； the corn was in the ear； and the sun far towards midsummer height； before there was any regular show of gladness in the parish。
It was clear to me that the wars were not to be soon over； for I noticed； in the course of this year； that there was a greater christening of lad bairns than had ever been in any year during my incumbency； and grave and wise persons； observant of the signs of the times； said； that it had been long held as a sure prognostication of war； when the births of male children outnumbered that of females。
Our chief misfortune in this year was a revival of that wicked mother of many mischiefs； the smuggling trade； which concerned me greatly； but it was not allowed to it to make any thing like a permanent stay among us； though in some of the neighbouring parishes； its ravages； both in morals and property； were very distressing； and many a mailing was sold to pay for the triumphs of the cutters and gaugers； for the government was by this time grown more eager； and the war caused the king's ships to be out and about； which increased the trouble of the smugglers； whose wits in their turn were thereby much sharpened。
After Mrs Malcolm； by the settlement of Captain Macadam； had given up her dealing； two maiden women； that were sisters； Betty and Janet Pawkie； came in among us from Ayr； where they had friends in league with some of the laigh land folk； that carried on the contraband with the Isle of Man； which was the very eye of the smuggling。 They took up the tea…selling； which Mrs Malcolm had dropped； and did business on a larger scale； having a general huxtry； with parliament…cakes； and candles； and pincushions； as well as other groceries； in their window。 Whether they had any contraband dealings； or were only back…bitten； I cannot take it upon me to say； but it was jealoused in the parish that the meal in the sacks； that came to their door at night； and was sent to the Glasgow market in the morning； was not made of corn。 They were； however； decent women； both sedate and orderly； the eldest； Betty Pawkie； was of a manly stature； and had a long beard； which made her have a coarse look； but she was； nevertheless； a worthy； well…doing creature； and at her death she left ten pounds to the poor of the parish； as may be seen in the mortification board that the session put up in the kirk as a testification and an example。
Shortly after the revival of the smuggling； an exciseman was put among us； and the first was Robin Bicker； a very civil lad that had been a flunkey with Sir Hugh Montgomerie； when he was a residenter in Edinburgh； before the old Sir Hugh's death。 He was a queer fellow； and had a coothy way of getting in about folk； the which was very serviceable to him in his vocation； nor was he overly gleg： but when a job was ill done； and he was obliged to notice it； he would often break out on the smugglers for being so stupid； so that for an exciseman he was wonderful well liked； and did not object to a waught of brandy at a time； when the auld wives ca'd it well… water。 It happened； however； that some unneighbourly person sent him notice of a clecking of tea chests； or brandy kegs； at which both Jenny and Betty Pawkie were the howdies。 Robin could not but therefore enter their house； however； before going in； he just cried at the door to somebody on the road； so as to let the twa industrious lassies hear he was at hand。 They were not slack in closing the trance…door； and putting stoups and stools behind it； so as to cause trouble； and give time before any body could get in。 They then emptied their chaff…bed； and filled the tikeing with tea； and Betty went in on the top； covering herself with the blanket； and graining like a woman in labour。 It was thought that Robin Bicker himself would not have been overly particular in searching the house； considering there was a woman seemingly in the death…thraws； but a sorner； an incomer from the east country； and that hung about the change…house as a divor hostler； that would rather gang a day's journey in the dark than turn a spade in day…light； came to him as he stood at the door； and went in with him to see the sport。 Robin； for some reason； could not bid him go away； and both Betty and Janet were sure he was in the plot against them； indeed； it was always thought he was an informer； and no doubt he was something not canny； for he had a down look。
It was some time before the doorway was cleared of the stoups and stools； and Jenny was in great concern； and flustered； as she said； for her poor sister； who was taken with a heart…colic。 〃I'm sorry for her；〃 said Robin； 〃but I'll be as quiet as possible；〃 and so he searched all the house； but found nothing； at the which his companion； the divor east country hostler； swore an oath that could not be misunderstood； so； without more ado； but as all thought against the grain； Robin went up to sympathize with Betty in the bed； whose groans were loud and vehement。 〃Let me feel your pulse；〃 said Robin； and he looted down as she put forth her arm from aneath the clothes； and laying his hand on the bed； cried； 〃Hey！ what's this？ this is a costly filling。〃 Upon which Betty jumpet up quite recovered； and Jenny fell to the wailing and railing； while the hostler from the east country took the bed of tea on his back； to carry it to the change…house； till a cart was gotten to take it into the custom…house at Irville。
Betty Pawkie being thus suddenly cured； and grudging the loss of property； took a knife in her hand； and as the divor was crossing the burn at the stepping…stones that lead to the back of the change… house； she ran after him and ripped up the tikeing； and sent all the tea floating away on the burn； which was thought a brave action of Betty； and the story not a little helped to lighten our melancholy meditations。
Robin Bicker was soon after this affair removed to another district； and we got in his place one Mungo Argyle； who was as proud as a provost； being come of Highland parentage。 Bl