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old garb of an American huntsman； like； as I was told； a Robin Hood in the play is； and it was just a sport to see him； feckless man； trying to march so crousely with his lean； shaking hands。 But the whole affair proved a false alarm； and our men； when they heard it； were as well pleased that they had been constrained to sleep in their warm beds at home； instead of lying on coils of cables； like the gallant Greenock sharp…shooters。
CHAPTER XLVI YEAR 1805
For some time I had meditated a reformation in the parish； and this year I carried the same into effect。 I had often noticed with concern； that； out of a mistaken notion of paying respect to the dead； my people were wont to go to great lengths at their burials； and dealt round short…bread and sugar…biscuit； with wine and other confections； as if there had been no ha'd in their hands； which straitened many a poor family； making the dispensation of the Lord a heavier temporal calamity than it should naturally have been。 Accordingly； on consulting with Mrs Balwhidder； who has a most judicious judgment； it was thought that my interference would go a great way to lighten the evil。 I therefore advised with those whose friends were taken from them； not to make that amplitude of preparation which used to be the fashion； nor to continue handing about as long as the folk would take； but only at the very most to go no more than three times round with the service。 Objections were made to this； as if it would be thought mean； but I put on a stern visage； and told them； that if they did more I would rise up； and rebuke and forbid the extravagance。 So three services became the uttermost modicum at all burials。 This was doing much； but it was not all that I wished to do。
I considered that the best reformations are those which proceed step by step； and stop at that point where the consent to what has been established becomes general； and so I governed myself； and therefore interfered no farther； but I was determined to set an example。 Accordingly； at the very next dregy； after I partook of one service； I made a bow to the servitors and they passed on； but all before me had partaken of the second service； some； however； of those after me did as I did； so I foresaw that in a quiet canny way I would bring in the fashion of being satisfied with one service。 I therefore； from that time； always took my place as near as possible to the door； where the chief mourner sat； and made a point of nodding away the second service； which has now grown into a custom； to the great advantage of surviving relations。
But in this reforming business I was not altogether pleased with our poet； for he took a pawkie view of my endeavours； and indited a ballad on the subject； in the which he makes a clattering carlin describe what took place； so as to turn a very solemn matter into a kind of derision。 When he brought his verse and read it to me； I told him that I thought it was overly natural； for I could not find another term to designate the cause of the dissatisfaction that I had with it； but Mrs Balwhidder said that it might help my plan if it were made public； so upon her advice we got some of Mr Lorimore's best writers to make copies of it for distribution； which was not without fruit and influence。 But a sore thing happened at the very next burial。 As soon as the nodding away of the second service began； I could see that the gravity of the whole meeting was discomposed； and some of the irreverent young chiels almost broke out into even…down laughter； which vexed me exceedingly。 Mrs Balwhidder； howsoever； comforted me by saying； that custom in time would make it familiar； and by…and…by the thing would pass as a matter of course； until one service would be all that folk would offer； and truly the thing is coming to that； for only two services are now handed round； and the second is regularly nodded by。
CHAPTER XLVII YEAR 1806
Mr Cayenne of Wheatrig having for several years been in a declining way； partly brought on by the consuming fire of his furious passion； and partly by the decay of old age； sent for me on the evening of the first Sabbath of March in this year。 I was surprised at the message； and went to the Wheatrig House directly； where； by the lights in the windows as I gaed up through the policy to the door； I saw something extraordinary was going on。 Sambo； the blackamoor servant； opened the door； and； without speaking； shook his head； for it was an affectionate creature； and as fond of his master as if he had been his own father。 By this sign I guessed that the old gentleman was thought to be drawing near his latter end； so I walked softly after Sambo up the stair； and was shown into the chamber where Mr Cayenne； since he had been confined to the house； usually sat。 His wife had been dead some years before。
Mr Cayenne was sitting in his easy chair； with a white cotton nightcap on his head； and a pillow at his shoulders to keep him straight。 But his head had fallen down on his breast； and he breathed like a panting baby。 His legs were swelled； and his feet rested on a footstool。 His face； which was wont to be the colour of a peony rose； was of a yellow hue； with a patch of red on each cheek like a wafer； and his nose was shirpit and sharp； and of an unnatural purple。 Death was evidently fighting with nature for the possession of the body。 〃Heaven have mercy on his soul！〃 said I to myself； as I sat down beside him。
When I had been seated some time； the power was given him to raise his head as it were a…jee； and he looked at me with the tail of his eye； which I saw was glittering and glassy。 〃Doctor；〃 for he always called me doctor； though I am not of that degree； 〃I am glad to see you；〃 were his words； uttered with some difficulty。
〃How do you find yourself； sir？〃 I replied； in a sympathising manner。
〃Damned bad；〃 said he； as if I had been the cause of his suffering。 I was daunted to the very heart to hear him in such an unregenerate state； but after a short pause I addressed myself to him again； saying； that 〃I hoped he would soon be more at ease； and he should bear in mind that the Lord chasteneth whom he loveth。〃
〃The devil take such love！〃 was his awful answer； which was to me as a blow on the forehead with a mell。 However； I was resolved to do my duty to the miserable sinner； let him say what he would。 Accordingly； I stooped towards him with my hands on my knees； and said in a compassionate voice； 〃It's very true； sir； that you are in great agony； but the goodness of God is without bound。〃
〃Curse me if I think so； doctor！〃 replied the dying uncircumcised Philistine。 But he added at whiles； his breathlessness being grievous； and often broken by a sore hiccup； 〃I am； however； no saint； as you know； doctor； so I wish you to put in a word for me； doctor； for you know that in these times； doctor； it is the duty of every good subject to die a Christian。〃
This was a poor account of the state of his soul； but it was plain I could make no better o't； by entering into any religious discourse or controversy with him； he being then in the last gasp； so I knelt down and prayed for him with great sincerity； imploring the Lord； as an awakening sense of grace to the dying man； that it would please him to lift up； though it were but for the season of a minute； the chastening hand which was laid so heavily upon his aged servant； at which Mr Cayenne； as if； indeed； the hand had been then lifted； cried out； 〃None of that stuff； doctor； you know that I cannot call myself his servant。〃
Was ever a minister in his prayer so broken in upon by a perishing sinner！ However； I had the weight of a duty upon me； and made no reply； but continued； 〃Thou hearest； O Lord； how he confesses his unworthiness！ Let not thy compassion； therefore； be withheld； but verify to him the words that I have spoken in faith； of the boundlessness of thy goodness； and the infinite multitude of thy tender mercies。〃 I then calmly； but sadly； sat down； and presently； as if my prayer had been heard； relief was granted； for Mr Cayenne raised his head； and giving me a queer look； said； 〃That last clause of your petition； doctor； was well put； and I think； too； it has been granted； for I am easier〃adding； 〃I have no doubt； doctor； given much offence in the world； and oftenest when I meant to do good； but I have wilfully injured no man； and as God is my judge； and his goodness； you say； is so great； he may； perhaps； take my soul into his holy keeping。〃 In saying which words； Mr Cayenne dropped his head upon his breast； his breathing ceased； and he was wafted away out of this world with as little trouble as a blameless baby。
This event soon led to a change among us。 In the settling of Mr Cayenne's affairs in the Cotton…mill Company； it was found that he had left such a power of money； that it was needful to the concern； in order that they might settle with the doers under his testament； to take in other partners。 By this Mr Speckle came to be a resident in the parish； he having taken up a portion of Mr Cayenne's share。 He likewise took a tack of the house and policy of Wheatrig。 But although Mr Speckle was a far more conversible man than his predecessor； and had a wonderful plausibil