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m London； as he was riding past the manse； his lordship stopped to enquire for my health； and I went to the door to speak to him。 I thought that he did not meet me with that blithe countenance he was wont； and in going away； he said with a blush； 〃I fear I dare not ask you to come to the castle。〃 I had heard of his concubine； and I said； 〃In saying so； my lord； you show a spark of grace； for it would not become me to see what I have heard； and I am surprised； my lord； you will not rather take a lady of your own。〃 He looked kindly； but confused； saying； he did not know where to get one； so seeing his shame； and not wishing to put him out of conceit entirely with himself； I replied； 〃Na； na； my lord； there's nobody will believe that； for there never was a silly Jock； but there was as silly a Jenny；〃 at which he laughed heartily； and rode away。 But I know not what was in't； I was troubled in mind about him； and thought； as he was riding away； that I would never see him again； and sure enough it so happened； for the next day； being airing in his coach with Miss Spangle； the lady he had brought； he happened to see Mungo Argyle with his dogs and his gun； and my lord being as particular about his game as the other was about boxes of tea and kegs of brandy； he jumped out of the carriage； and ran to take the gun。 Words passed； and the exciseman shot my lord。 Never shall I forget that day； such riding； such running； the whole country side afoot； but the same night my lord breathed his last； and the mad and wild reprobate that did the deed was taken up and sent off to Edinburgh。 This was a woeful riddance of that oppressor； for my lord was a good landlord and a kind…hearted man； and albeit； though a little thoughtless； was aye ready to make his power； when the way was pointed out； minister to good works。 The whole parish mourned for him； and there was not a sorer heart in all its bounds than my own。 Never was such a sight seen as his burial： the whole country side was there； and all as solemn as if they had been assembled in the valley of Jehoshaphat in the latter day。 The hedges where the funeral was to pass were clad with weans； like bunches of hips and haws； and the kirkyard was as if all its own dead were risen。 Never； do I think； was such a multitude gathered together。 Some thought there could not be less than three thousand grown men； besides women and children。
Scarcely was this great public calamity past； for it could be reckoned no less； when one Saturday afternoon； as Miss Sabrina； the schoolmistress； was dining with Lady Macadam； her ladyship was stricken with the paralytics； and her face so thrown in the course of a few minutes； that Miss Sabrina came flying to the manse for the help and advice of Mrs Balwhidder。 A doctor was gotten with all speed by express； but her ladyship was smitten beyond the reach of medicine。 She lived； however； some time after； but oh！ she was such an object； that it was a grief to see her。 She could only mutter when she tried to speak； and was as helpless as a baby。 Though she never liked me； nor could I say there was many things in her demeanour that pleased me； yet she was a free…handed woman to the needful； and when she died she was more missed than it was thought she could have been。
Shortly after her funeral； which was managed by a gentleman sent from her friends in Edinburgh； that I wrote to about her condition； the Major； her son； with his lady； Kate Malcolm； and two pretty bairns； came and stayed in her house for a time； and they were a great happiness to us all； both in the way of drinking tea； and sometimes taking a bit of dinner； their only mother now； the worthy and pious Mrs Malcolm； being regularly of the company。
Before the end of the year； I should mention； that the fortune of Mrs Malcolm's family got another shove upwards； by the promotion of her second son； Robert Malcolm； who； being grown an expert and careful mariner； was made captain of a grand ship； whereof Provost Maitland of Glasgow； that was kind to his mother in her distresses； was the owner。 But that douce lad Willie； her youngest son； who was at the university of Glasgow under the Lord Eaglesham's patronage； was like to have suffered a blight。 However； Major Macadam； when I spoke to him anent the young man's loss of his patron； said； with a pleasant generosity； he should not be stickit； and； accordingly； he made up； as far as money could； for the loss of his lordship； but there was none that made up for the great power and influence； which； I have no doubt； the Earl would have exerted in his behalf； when he was ripened for the church。 So that； although in time William came out a sound and heart…searching preacher； he was long obliged； like many another unfriended saint； to cultivate sand； and wash Ethiopians in the shape of an east country gentleman's camstrairy weans； than which； as he wrote me himself； there cannot be on earth a greater trial of temper。 However； in the end he was rewarded； and is not only now a placed minister； but a doctor of divinity。
The death of Lady Macadam was followed by another parochial misfortune； for； considering the time when it happened； we could count it as nothing less。 Auld Thomas Howkings； the betheral； fell sick； and died in the course of a week's illness； about the end of November； and the measles coming at that time upon the parish； there was such a smashery of the poor weans as had not been known for an age； insomuch that James Banes； the lad who was Thomas Howkings' helper； rose in open rebellion against the session during his superior's illness； and we were constrained to augment his pay； and to promise him the place if Thomas did not recover； which it was then thought he could not do。 On the day this happened； there were three dead children in the clachan； and a panic and consternation spread about the burial of them when James Bane's insurrection was known； which made both me and the session glad to hush up the affair； that the heart of the public might have no more than the sufferings of individuals to hurt it。Thus ended a year； on many accounts； heavy to be remembered。
CHAPTER XXIII YEAR 1782
Although I have not been particular in noticing it； from time to time； there had been an occasional going off； at fairs and on market…days； of the lads of the parish as soldiers； and when Captain Malcolm got the command of his ship； no less than four young men sailed with him from the clachan； so that we were deeper and deeper interested in the proceedings of the doleful war that was raging in the plantations。 By one post we heard of no less than three brave fellows belonging to us being slain in one battle； for which there was a loud and general lamentation。
Shortly after this； I got a letter from Charles Malcolm； a very pretty letter it indeed was： he had heard of my Lord Eaglesham's murder； and grieved for the loss； both because his lordship was a good man； and because he had been such a friend to him and his family。 〃But；〃 said Charles； 〃the best way I can show my gratitude for his patronage； is to prove myself a good officer to my king and country。〃 Which I thought a brave sentiment； and was pleased thereat； for somehow Charles； from the time he brought me the limes to make a bowl of punch； in his pocket from Jamaica； had built a nest of affection in my heart。 But； oh！ the wicked wastry of life in war。 In less than a month after； the news came of a victory over the French fleet； and by the same post I got a letter from Mr Howard； that was the midshipman who came to see us with Charles； telling me that poor Charles had been mortally wounded in the action； and had afterwards died of his wounds。 〃He was a hero in the engagement；〃 said Mr Howard； 〃and he died as a good and a brave man should。〃These tidings gave me one of the sorest hearts I ever suffered； and it was long before I could gather fortitude to disclose the tidings to poor Charles's mother。 But the callants of the school had heard of the victory； and were going shouting about； and had set the steeple bell a…ringing； by which Mrs Malcolm heard the news； and knowing that Charles's ship was with the fleet； she came over to the manse in great anxiety to hear the particulars； somebody telling her that there had been a foreign letter to me by the postman。
When I saw her I could not speak； but looked at her in pity； and； the tear fleeing up into my eyes； she guessed what had happened。 After giving a deep and sore sigh； she enquired； 〃How did he behave？ I hope well； for he was aye a gallant laddie！〃and then she wept very bitterly。 However； growing calmer； I read to her the letter； and； when I had done； she begged me to give it to her to keep； saying； 〃It's all that I have now left of my pretty boy； but it's mair precious to me than the wealth of the Indies；〃 and she begged me to return thanks to the Lord for all the comforts and manifold mercies with which her lot had been blessed； since the hour she put her trust in him alone； and that was when she was left a penniless widow； with her five fatherless bairns。
It was just an edification of the spirit to see the Christian resignation of this worthy woman。 Mrs Balwhidder was confounded； and said； there was more sorrow in seeing the d