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made out of a narrow stipend。
The other memorable was the death of Mrs Malcolm。 If ever there was a saint on this earth； she was surely one。 She had been for some time bedfast； having all her days from the date of her widowhood been a tender woman； but no change made any alteration on the Christian contentment of her mind。 She bore adversity with an honest pride； she toiled in the day of penury and affliction with thankfulness for her earnings； although ever so little。 She bent her head to the Lord in resignation when her first…born fell in battle； nor was she puffed up with vanity when her daughters were married； as it was said； so far above their degree； though they showed it was but into their proper sphere by their demeanour after。 She lived to see her second son； the captain； rise into affluence； married； and with a thriving young family； and she had the very great satisfaction； on the last day she was able to go to church； to see her youngest son the clergyman standing in my pulpit； a doctor of divinity； and the placed minister of a richer parish than mine。 Well indeed might she have said on that day； 〃Lord； let thy servant depart in peace； for mine eyes have seen thy salvation。〃
For some time it had been manifest to all who saw her； that her latter end was drawing nigh； and therefore； as I had kept up a correspondence with her daughters； Mrs Macadam and Mrs Howard； I wrote them a particular account of her case； which brought them to the clachan。 They both came in their own carriages； for Colonel Macadam was now a general； and had succeeded to a great property by an English uncle； his mother's brother； and Captain Howard； by the death of his father； was also a man； as it was said； with a lord's living。 Robert Malcolm； her son the captain； was in the West Indies at the time； but his wife came on the first summons； as did William the minister。
They all arrived about four o'clock in the afternoon； and at seven a message came for me and Mrs Balwhidder to go over to them； which we did； and found the strangers seated by the heavenly patient's bedside。 On my entering； she turned her eyes towards me； and said； 〃Bear witness； sir； that I die thankful for an extraordinary portion of temporal mercies。 The heart of my youth was withered like the leaf that is scared with the lightning； but in my children I have received a great indemnification for the sorrows of that trial。〃 She then requested me to pray； saying； 〃No； let it be a thanksgiving。 My term is out； and I have nothing more to hope or fear from the good or evil of this world。 But I have had much to make me grateful； therefore； sir； return thanks for the time I have been spared； for the goodness granted so long unto me； and the gentle hand with which the way from this world is smoothed for my passing。〃
There was something so sweet and consolatory in the way she said this； that although it moved all present to tears； they were tears without the wonted bitterness of grief。 Accordingly； I knelt down and did as she had required； and there was a great stillness while I prayed。 At the conclusion we looked to the bed； but the spirit had； in the mean time； departed； and there was nothing remaining but the clay tenement。
It was expected by the parish； considering the vast affluence of the daughters； that there would have been a grand funeral； and Mrs Howard thought it was necessary； but her sister； who had from her youth upward a superior discernment of propriety； said； 〃No； as my mother has lived； so shall be her end。〃 Accordingly； everybody of any respect in the clachan was invited to the funeral； but none of the gentry； saving only such as had been numbered among the acquaintance of the deceased。 But Mr Cayenne came unbidden； saying to me； that although he did not know Mrs Malcolm personally； he had often heard she was an amiable woman； and therefore he thought it a proper compliment to her family； who were out of the parish； to show in what respect she was held among us； for he was a man that would take his own way； and do what he thought was right； heedless alike of blame or approbation。
If； however； the funeral was plain； though respectable； the ladies distributed a liberal sum among the poor families； but before they went away； a silent token of their mother's virtue came to light； which was at once a source of sorrow and pleasure。 Mrs Malcolm was first well provided by the Macadams； afterwards the Howards settled on her an equal annuity； by which she spent her latter days in great comfort。 Many a year before； she had repaid Provost Maitland the money he sent her in the day of her utmost distress； and at this period he was long dead； having died of a broken heart at the time of his failure。 From that time his widow and her daughters had been in very straitened circumstances； but unknown to all but herself； and Him from whom nothing is hid； Mrs Malcolm from time to time had sent them； in a blank letter； an occasional note to the young ladies to buy a gown。 After her death； a bank…bill for a sum of money； her own savings； was found in her scrutoire； with a note of her own writing pinned to the same； stating； that the amount being more than she had needed for herself； belonged of right to those who had so generously provided for her； but as they were not in want of such a trifle； it would be a token of respect to her memory； if they would give the bill to Mrs Maitland and her daughters； which was done with the most glad alacrity； and； in the doing of it； the private kindness was brought to light。
Thus ended the history of Mrs Malcolm； as connected with our Parish Annals。 Her house was sold； and is the same now inhabited by the millwright； Mr Periffery； and a neat house it still is； for the possessor is an Englishman； and the English have an uncommon taste for snod houses and trim gardens； but at the time it was built； there was not a better in the town； though it's now but of the second class。 Yearly we hear both from Mrs Macadam and her sister； with a five…pound note from each to the poor of the parish； as a token of their remembrance； but they are far off； and； were any thing ailing me； I suppose the gift will not be continued。 As for Captain Malcolm； he has proved； in many ways； a friend to such of our young men as have gone to sea。 He has now left it off himself； and settled at London； where he latterly sailed from； and； I understand； is in a great way as a shipowner。 These things I have thought it fitting to record； and will now resume my historical narration。
CHAPTER XLI YEAR 1800
The same quietude and regularity that marked the progress of the last year； continued throughout the whole of this。 We sowed and reaped in tranquillity； though the sough of distant war came heavily from a distance。 The cotton…mill did well for the company； and there was a sobriety in the minds of the spinners and weavers； which showed that the crisis of their political distemperature was over； there was something more of the old prudence in men's reflections； and it was plain to see that the elements of reconciliation were coming together throughout the world。 The conflagration of the French Revolution was indeed not extinguished； but it was evidently burning out； and their old reverence for the Grand Monarque was beginning to revive among them； though they only called him a consul。 Upon the king's fast I preached on this subject； and when the peace was concluded； I got great credit for my foresight； but there was no merit in't。 I had only lived longer than the most of those around me； and had been all my days a close observer of the signs of the times； so that what was lightly called prophecy and prediction； were but a probability that experience had taught me to discern。
In the affairs of the parish； the most remarkable generality （for we had no particular catastrophe） was a great death of old people in the spring。 Among others； Miss Sabrina； the school mistress； paid the debt of nature； but we could now better spare her than we did her predecessor； for at Cayenneville there was a broken manufacturer's wife； an excellent teacher； and a genteel and modernised woman； who took the better order of children； and Miss Sabrina having been long frail （for she was never stout）； a decent and discreet carlin； Mrs M'Caffie； the widow of a custom…house officer； that was a native of the parish； set up another for plainer work。 Her opposition Miss Sabrina did not mind； but she was sorely displeased at the interloping of Mrs Pirn at Cayenneville； and some said it helped to kill herof that； however； I am not so certain； for Dr。 Tanzey had told me in the winter； that he thought the sharp winds in March would blow out her candle； as it was burnt to the snuff； accordingly； she took her departure from this life； on the twenty…fifth day of that month； after there had； for some days prior； been a most cold and piercing east wind。
Miss Sabrina； who was always an oddity and aping grandeur； it was found； had made a will； leaving her gatherings to her favourites； with all regular formality。 To one she bequeathed a gown； to another this； and a third that； and to me a pair of black silk stockings。 I was amazed when I heard this； but judge what I felt； when a pair