按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
fault； for that the greatest men of all times had been reformers；〃Was not；〃 they said； 〃our Lord Jesus Christ a reformer？〃〃And what the devil did he make of it？〃 cried Mr Cayenne； bursting with passion； 〃Was he not crucified？〃
I thought； when I heard these words； that the pillars of the earth sank beneath me； and that the roof of the house was carried away in a whirlwind。 The drums of my ears crackit； blue starns danced before my sight； and I was fain to leave the house and hie me home to the manse； where I sat down in my study； like a stupified creature； awaiting what would betide。 Nothing； however； was found against the weaver lads； but I never from that day could look on Mr Cayenne as a Christian； though surely he was a true government…man。
Soon after this affair； there was a pleasant re…edification of a gospel…spirit among the heritors； especially when they heard how I had handled the regicides in France； and on the following Sunday； I had the comfortable satisfaction to see many a gentleman in their pews； that had not been for years within a kirk…door。 The democrats； who took a world of trouble to misrepresent the actions of the gentry； insinuated that all this was not from any new sense of grace； but in fear of their being reported as suspected persons to the king's government。 But I could not think so； and considered their renewal of communion with the church as a swearing of allegiance to the King of kings； against that host of French atheists； who had torn the mortcloth from the coffin； and made it a banner； with which they were gone forth to war against the Lamb。 The whole year was； however； spent in great uneasiness； and the proclamation of the war was followed by an appalling stop in trade。 We heard of nothing but failures on all hands； and among others that grieved me； was that of Mr Maitland of Glasgow； who had befriended Mrs Malcolm in the days of her affliction； and gave her son Robert his fine ship。 It was a sore thing to hear of so many breakings； especially of old respected merchants like him； who had been a Lord Provost； and was far declined into the afternoon of life。 He did not； however； long survive the mutation of his fortune； but bending his aged head in sorrow； sank down beneath the stroke； to rise no more。
CHAPTER XXXV YEAR 1794
This year had opened into all the leafiness of midsummer before anything memorable happened in the parish； further than that the sad division of my people into government…men and jacobins was perfected。 This calamity； for I never could consider such heartburning among neighbours as any thing less than a very heavy calamity； was assuredly occasioned by faults on both sides； but it must be confessed that the gentry did nothing to win the commonality from the errors of their way。 A little more condescension on their part would not have made things worse； and might have made them better； but pride interposed； and caused them to think that any show of affability from them would be construed by the democrats into a terror of their power； while the democrats were no less to blame； for hearing how their compeers were thriving in France； and demolishing every obstacle to their ascendency； they were crouse and really insolent； evidencing none of that temperance in prosperity that proves the possessors worthy of their good fortune。
As for me； my duty in these circumstances was plain and simple。 The Christian religion was attempted to be brought into disrepute； the rising generation were taught to gibe at its holiest ordinances； and the kirk was more frequented as a place to while away the time on a rainy Sunday； than for any insight of the admonitions and revelations in the sacred book。 Knowing this； I perceived that it would be of no effect to handle much the mysteries of the faith； but as there was at the time a bruit and a sound about universal benevolence； philanthropy； utility； and all the other disguises with which an infidel philosophy appropriated to itself the charity； brotherly love； and welldoing inculcated by our holy religion； I set myself to task upon these heads； and thought it no robbery to use a little of the stratagem employed against Christ's kingdom； to promote the interests thereof in the hearts and understandings of those whose ears would have been sealed against me； had I attempted to expound higher things。 Accordingly； on one day it was my practice to show what the nature of Christian charity was； comparing it to the light and warmth of the sun； that shines impartially on the just and the unjustshowing that man； without the sense of it as a duty； was as the beasts that perish； and that every feeling of his nature was intimately selfish； but then when actuated by this divine impulse； he rose out of himself； and became as a god； zealous to abate the sufferings of all things that live； and； on the next day； I demonstrated that the new benevolence which had come so much into vogue； was but another version of this Christian virtue。 In like manner； I dealt with brotherly love； bringing it home to the business and bosoms of my hearers； that the Christianity of it was neither enlarged nor bettered by being baptized with the Greek name of philanthropy。 With welldoing； however； I went more roundly to work； I told my people that I thought they had more sense than to secede from Christianity to become Utilitarians； for that it would be a confession of ignorance of the faith they deserved； seeing that it was the main duty inculcated by our religion to do all in morals and manners to which the newfangled doctrine of utility pretended。
These discourses； which I continued for sometime； had no great effect on the men； but being prepared in a familiar household manner； they took the fancies of the young women； which was to me an assurance that the seed I had planted would in time shoot forth； for I reasoned with myself； that if the gudeman of the immediate generation should continue free…thinkers； their wives will take care that those of the next shall not lack that spunk of grace； so I was cheered under that obscurity which fell upon Christianity at this time； with a vista beyond； in which I saw； as it were； the children unborn； walking on the bright green； and in the unclouded splendour of the faith。
But what with the decay of trade； and the temptation of the king's bounty； and； over all； the witlessness that was in the spirit of man at this time； the number that enlisted in the course for the year from the parish was prodigious。 In one week no less than three weavers and two cotton…spinners went over to Ayr； and took the bounty of the Royal Artillery。 But I could not help remarking to myself； that the people were grown so used to changes and extraordinary adventures； that the single enlistment of Thomas Wilson； at the beginning of the American war； occasioned a far greater grief and work among us； than all the swarms that went off week after week in the months of November and December of this year。
CHAPTER XXXVI YEAR 1795
The present Ann。 Dom。 was ushered in with an event that I had never dreaded to see in my day； in our once sober and religious country parish。 The number of lads that had gone over to Ayr to be soldiers from among the spinners and weavers of Cayenneville had been so great； that the government got note of it； and sent a recruiting party to be quartered in the town； for the term clachan was beginning by this time to wear out of fashion： indeed； the place itself was outgrowing the fitness of that title。 Never shall I forget the dunt that the first tap of the drum gied to my heart； as I was sitting on Hansel Monday by myself at the parlour fireside； Mrs Balwhidder being throng with the lassies looking out a washing； and my daughter at Ayr； spending a few days with her old comrades of the boarding school。 I thought it was the enemy； and then anon the sound of the fife came shrill to the ear； for the night was lown and peaceful。 My wife and all the lassies came flying in upon me； crying all in the name of heaven； what could it be？ by which I was obligated to put on my big…coat； and； with my hat and staff； go out to enquire。 The whole town was aloof； the aged at the doors in clusters； and the bairns following the tattoo； as it was called； and at every doubling beat of the drum； shouting as if they had been in the face of their foemen。
Mr Archibald Dozendale； one of my elders； was saying to several persons around him； just as I came up； 〃Hech； sirs！ but the battle draws near our gates；〃 upon which there was a heavy sigh from all that heard him； and then they told me of the sergeant's business； and we had a serious communing together anent the same。 But while we were thus standing discoursing on the causey； Mrs Balwhidder and the servant lassies could thole no longer； but in a troop came in quest of me； to hear what was doing。 In short； it was a night both of sorrow and anxiety。 Mr Dozendale walked back to the manse with us； and we had a sober tumbler of toddy together； marvelling exceedingly where these fearful portents and changes would stop； both of us being of opinion that the end of the world was drawing nearer and nearer。
Whether it was； however； that the lads belonging to the place did not like to sh