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though Mr Speckle was a far more conversible man than his predecessor； and had a wonderful plausibility in business； the affairs of the company did not thrive in his hands。 Some said this was owing to his having owre many irons in the fire； others； to the circumstances of the times： in my judgment； however； both helped； but the issue belongs to the events of another year。 In the meanwhile； I should here note； that in the course of this current Ann。 Dom。 it pleased Heaven to visit me with a severe trial； the nature of which I will here record at lengththe upshot I will make known hereafter。
From the planting of inhabitants in the cotton…mill town of Cayenneville； or as the country folk； not used to used to such lang… nebbit words； now call it； Canaille； there had come in upon the parish various sectarians among the weavers； some of whom were not satisfied with the gospel as I preached it； and endeavoured to practise it in my walk and conversation； and they began to speak of building a kirk for themselves； and of getting a minster that would give them the gospel more to their own ignorant fancies。 I was exceedingly wroth and disturbed when the thing was first mentioned to me； and I very earnestly； from the pulpit； next Lord's day； lectured on the growth of newfangled doctrines； which； however； instead of having the wonted effect of my discourses； set up the theological weavers in a bleeze； and the very Monday following they named a committee； to raise money by subscription to build a meeting…house。 This was the first overt act of insubordination； collectively manifested； in the parish； and it was conducted with all that crafty dexterity with which the infidel and jacobin spirit of the French Revolution had corrupted the honest simplicity of our good old hameward fashions。 In the course of a very short time； the Canaille folk had raised a large sum； and seduced not a few of my people into their schism； by which they were enabled to set about building their kirk； the foundations thereof were not； however； laid till the following year； but their proceedings gave me a het heart； for they were like an open rebellion to my authority； and a contemptuous disregard of that religious allegiance which is due from the flock to the pastor。
On Christmas…day the wind broke off the main arm of our Adam and Eve pear…tree； and I grieved for it more as a type and sign of the threatened partition； than on account of the damage； though the fruit was the juiciest in all the country side。
CHAPTER XLVIII YEAR 1807
This was a year to me of satisfaction in many points； for a greater number of my younger flock married in it； than had done for any one of ten years prior。 They were chiefly the offspring of the marriages that took place at the close of the American war； and I was pleased to see the duplification of well…doing； as I think marrying is； having always considered the command to increase and multiply； a holy ordinance； which the circumstances of this world but too often interfere to prevent。
It was also made manifest to me； that in this year there was a very general renewal in the hearts of men； of a sense of the utility； even in earthly affairs； of a religious life： in some； I trust it was more than prudence； and really a birth of grace。 Whether this was owing to the upshot of the French Revolution； all men being pretty well satisfied in their minds； that uproar and rebellion make but an ill way of righting wrongs； or that the swarm of unruly youth the offspring； as I have said； of the marriages after the American war； had grown sobered from their follies； and saw things in a better light； I cannot take upon me to say。 But it was very edifying to me； their minister； to see several lads who had been both wild and free in their principles； marrying with sobriety； and taking their wives to the kirk with the comely decorum of heads of families。
But I was now growing old； and could go seldomer out among my people than in former days； so that I was less a partaker of their ploys and banquets； either at birth； bridal； or burial。 I heard； however； all that went on at them； and I made it a rule； after giving the blessing at the end of the ceremony； to admonish the bride and bridegroom to ca' canny； and join trembling with their mirth。 It behoved me on one occasion； however； to break through a rule that age and frailty had imposed upon me； and to go to the wedding of Tibby Banes； the daughter of the betheral； because she had once been a servant in the manse； besides the obligation upon me； from her father's part both in the kirk and kirkyard。 Mrs Balwhidder went with me； for she liked to countenance the pleasantries of my people； and； over and above all； it was a pay…wedding； in order to set up the bridegroom in a shop。
There was； to be sure； a great multitude； gentle and semple； of all denominations； with two fiddles and a bass； and the volunteers' fife and drum； and the jollity that went on was a perfect feast of itself； though the wedding…supper was a prodigy of abundance。 The auld carles kecklet with fainness as they saw the young dancers； and the carlins sat on forms； as mim as May puddocks； with their shawls pinned apart； to show their muslin napkins。 But； after supper； when they had got a glass of the punch； their heels showed their mettle； and grannies danced with their oyes； holding out their hands as if they had been spinning with two rocks。 I told Colin Mavis； the poet； than an INFARE was a fine subject for his muse； and soon after he indited an excellent ballad under that title； which he projects to publish； with other ditties； by subscription； and I have no doubt a liberal and discerning public will give him all manner of encouragement； for that is the food of talent of every kind； and without cheering； no one can say what an author's faculty naturally is。
CHAPTER XLIX YEAR 1808
Through all the wars that have raged from the time of the King's accession to the throne； there has been a gradually coming nearer and nearer to our gates； which is a very alarming thing to think of。 In the first； at the time he came to the crown； we suffered nothing。 Not one belonging to the parish was engaged in the battles thereof； and the news of victories； before they reached us； which was generally by word of mouth； were old tales。 In the American war； as I have related at length； we had an immediate participation； but those that suffered were only a few individuals； and the evil was done at a distance； and reached us not until the worst of its effects were spent。 And during the first term of the present just and necessary contest for all that is dear to us as a people； although； by the offswarming of some of our restless youth； we had our part and portion in common with the rest of the Christian world； yet still there was at home a great augmentation of prosperity； and every thing had thriven in a surprising manner； somewhat； however； to the detriment of our country simplicity。 By the building of the cotton…mill； and the rising up of the new town of Cayenneville； we had intromitted so much with concerns of trade； that we were become a part of the great web of commercial reciprocities； and felt in our corner and extremity； every touch or stir that was made on any part of the texture。 The consequence of this I have now to relate。
Various rumours had been floating about the business of the cotton manufacturers not being so lucrative as it had been； and Bonaparte； as it is well known； was a perfect limb of Satan against our prosperity； having recourse to the most wicked means and purposes to bring ruin upon us as a nation。 His cantrips； in this year； began to have a dreadful effect。
For some time it had been observed in the parish； that Mr Specle of the cotton…mill； went very often to Glasgow； and was sometimes off at a few minutes' warning to London； and the neighbours began to guess and wonder at what could be the cause of all this running here； and riding there； as if the little…gude was at his heels。 Sober folk augured ill o't； and it was remarked； likewise； that there was a haste and confusion in his mind； which betokened a foretaste of some change of fortune。 At last； in the fulness of time； the babe was born。
On a Saturday night； Mr Speckle came out late from Glasgow； on the Sabbath he was with all his family at the kirk； looking as a man that had changed his way of life； and on the Monday； when the spinners went to the mill； they were told that the company had stopped payment。 Never did a thunder…clap daunt the heart like this news； for the bread in a moment was snatched from more than a thousand mouths。 It was a scene not to be described； to see the cotton…spinners and the weavers； with their wives and children； standing in bands along the road； all looking and speaking as if they had lost a dear friend or parent。 For my part； I could not bear the sight； but hid myself in my closet； and prayed to the Lord to mitigate a calamity which seemed to me past the capacity of man to remedy； for what could our parish fund do in the way of helping a whole town； thus suddenly thrown out of bread？
In the evening； however； I was strengthened； and convened the elders at the manse to consult with them on