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the annals of the parish-第22章

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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 deep grief of her fortitude than tongue could tell。

Having taken a glass of wine with her; I walked out to conduct her to her own house; but in the way we met with a severe trial。  All the weans were out parading with napkins and kail…blades on sticks; rejoicing and triumphing in the glad tidings of victory。  But when they saw me and Mrs Malcolm coming slowly along; they guessed what had happened; and threw away their banners of joy; and standing all up in a row; with silence and sadness; along the kirkyard wall as we passed; showed an instinct of compassion that penetrated to my very soul。  The poor mother burst into fresh affliction; and some of the bairns into an audible weeping; and; taking one another by the hand; they followed us to her door; like mourners at a funeral。  Never was such a sight seen in any town before。  The neighbours came to look at it as we walked along; and the men turned aside to hide their faces; while the mothers pressed their babies fondlier to their bosoms; and watered their innocent faces with their tears。

I prepared a suitable sermon; taking as the words of my text; 〃Howl; ye ships of Tarshish; for your strength is laid waste。〃  But when I saw around me so many of my people clad in complimentary mourning for the gallant Charles Malcolm; and that even poor daft Jenny Gaffaw; and her daughter; had on an old black riband; and when I thought of him; the spirited laddie; coming home from Jamaica with his parrot on his shoulder; and his limes for me; my heart filled full; and I was obliged to sit down in the pulpit; and drop a tear。

After a pause; and the Lord having vouchsafed to compose me; I rose up; and gave out that anthem of triumph; the 124th psalm; the singing of which brought the congregation round to themselves; but still I felt that I could not preach as I had meant to do; therefore I only said a few words of prayer; and singing another psalm; dismissed the congregation。



CHAPTER XXIV  YEAR 1783



This was another Sabbath year of my ministry。  It has left me nothing to record but a silent increase of prosperity in the parish。 I myself had now in the bank more than a thousand pounds; and every thing was thriving around。  My two bairns; Gilbert; that is now the merchant in Glasgow; was grown into a sturdy ramplor laddie; and Janet; that is married upon Dr。 Kittleword; the minister of Swappington; was as fine a lassie for her years as the eyes of a parent could desire to see。

Shortly after the news of the peace; an event at which all gave themselves up to joy; a thing happened among us that at the time caused much talk; but although very dreadful; was yet not so serious; some how or other; as such an awsome doing should have been。  Poor Jenny Gaffaw happened to take a heavy cold; and soon thereafter died。  Meg went about from house to house; begging dead… clothes; and got the body straighted in a wonderful decent manner; with a plate of earth and salt placed upon itan admonitory type of mortality and eternal life that has ill…advisedly gone out of fashion。  When I heard of this; I could not but go to see how a creature that was not thought possessed of a grain of understanding; could have done so much herself。  On entering the door; I beheld Meg sitting with two or three of the neighbouring kimmers; and the corpse laid out on a bed。  〃Come awa'; sir;〃 said Meg; 〃this is an altered house。  They're gane that keepit it bein; but; sir; we maun a' come to thiswe maun pay the debt o' naturedeath is a grim creditor; and a doctor but brittle bail when the hour of reckoning's at han'!  What a pity it is; mother; that you're now dead; for here's the minister come to see you。  Oh; sir! but she would have had a proud heart to see you in her dwelling; for she had a genteel turn; and would not let me; her only daughter; mess or mell wi' the lathron lasses of the clachan。  Ay; ay; she brought me up with care; and edicated me for a lady:  nae coarse wark darkened my lily…white hands。  But I maun work now; I maun dree the penalty of man。〃

Having stopped some time; listening to the curious maunnering of Meg; I rose to come away; but she laid her hand on my arm; saying; 〃No; sir; ye maun taste before ye gang!  My mother had aye plenty in her life; nor shall her latter day be needy。〃

Accordingly; Meg; with all the due formality common on such occasions; produced a bottle of water; and a dram…glass; which she filled and tasted; then presented to me; at the same time offering me a bit of bread on a slate。  It was a consternation to everybody how the daft creature had learnt all the ceremonies; which she performed in a manner past the power of pen to describe; making the solemnity of death; by her strange mockery; a kind of merriment; that was more painful than sorrow; but some spirits are gifted with a faculty of observation; that; by the strength of a little fancy; enables them to make a wonderful and truthlike semblance of things and events; which they never saw; and poor Meg seemed to have this gift。

The same night; the session having provided a coffin; the body was put in; and removed to Mr Mutchkin's brewhouse; where the lads and lassies kept the late…wake。

Saving this; the year flowed in a calm; and we floated on in the stream of time towards the great ocean of eternity; like ducks and geese in the river's tide; that are carried down without being sensible of the speed of the current。  Alas! we have not wings like them; to fly back to the place we set out from。



CHAPTER XXV  YEAR 1784



I have ever thought that this was a bright year; truly an Ann。 Dom。; for in it many of the lads came home that had listed to be soldiers; and Mr Howard; that was the midshipman; being now a captain of a man…of…war; came down from England and married Effie Malcolm; and took her up with him to London; where she wrote to her mother; that she found his family people of great note; and more kind to her than she could write。  By this time; also; Major Macadam was made a colonel; and lived with his lady in Edinburgh; where they were much respected by the genteeler classes; Mrs Macadam being considered a great unco among them for all manner of ladylike ornaments; she having been taught every sort of perfection in that way by the old lady; who was educated at the court of France; and was; from her birth; a person of quality。  In this year; also; Captain Malcolm; her brother; married a daughter of a Glasgow merchant; so that Mrs Malcolm; in her declining years; had the prospect of a bright setting; but nothing could change the sober Christianity of her settled mind; and although she was strongly invited; both by the Macadams and the Howards; to see their felicity; she ever declined the same; saying〃No!  I have been long out of the world; or rather; I have never been in it; my ways are not as theirs; and although I ken their hearts would be glad to be kind to me; I might fash their servants; or their friends might think me unlike other folk; by which; instead of causing pleasure; mortification might ensue; so I will remain in my own house; trusting that; when they can spare the time; they will come and see me。〃

There was a spirit of true wisdom in this resolution; for it required a forbearance that in weaker minds would have relaxed; but though a person of a most slender and delicate frame of body; she was a Judith in fortitude; and in all the fortune that seemed now smiling upon her; she never was lifted up; but bore always that pale and meek look; which gave a saintliness to her endeavours in the days of her suffering and poverty。

But when we enjoy most; we have least to tell。  I look back on this year as on a sunny spot in the valley; amidst the shadows of the clouds of time; and I have nothing to record; save the remembrance of welcomings and weddings; and a meeting of bairns and parents; that the wars and the waters had long raged between。  Contentment within the bosom; lent a livelier grace to the countenance of Nature; and everybody said; that in this year the hedges were greener than common; the gowans brighter on the brae; and the heads of the statelier trees adorned with a richer coronal of leaves and blossoms。  All things were animated with the gladness of thankfulness; and testified to the goodness of their Maker。



CHAPTER XXVI  YEAR 1785



Well may we say; in the pious words of my old friend and neighbour; the Reverend Mr Keekie of Loupinton; that the world is such a wheel… carriage; that it might very properly be called the WHIRL'D。  This reflection was brought home to me in a very striking manner; while I was preparing a discourse for my people; to be preached on the anniversary day of my placing; in which I took a view of what had passed in the parish during the five…and…twenty years that I had been; by the grace of God; the pastor thereof。  The bairns; that were bairns when I came among my people; were ripened unto parents; and a new generation was swelling in the bud around me。  But it is what happened that I have to give an account of。

This year the Lady Macadam's jointure…house that was; havi
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