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！
In the evening； however； I was strengthened； and convened the elders at the manse to consult with them on what was best to be done； for it was well known that the sufferers had made no provision for a sore foot。 But all our gathered judgments could determine nothing； and therefore we resolved to wait the issue； not doubting but that He who sends the night； would bring the day in His good and gracious time； which so fell out。 Some of them who had the largest experience of such vicissitudes； immediately began to pack up their ends and their awls； and to hie them into Glasgow and Paisley in quest of employ； but those who trusted to the hopes that Mr Speckle himself still cherished； lingered long； and were obligated to submit to sore distress。 After a time； however； it was found that the company was ruined； and the mill being sold for the benefit of the creditors； it was bought by another Glasgow company； who； by getting a good bargain； and managing well； have it still； and have made it again a blessing to the country。 At the time of the stoppage； however； we saw that commercial prosperity； flush as it might be； was but a perishable commodity； and from thence； both by public discourse and private exhortation； I have recommended to the workmen to lay up something for a reverse； and showed that； by doing with their bawbees and pennies what the great do with their pounds； they might in time get a pose to help them in the day of need。 This advice they have followed； and made up a Savings Bank； which is a pillow of comfort to many an industrious head of a family。
But I should not close this account of the disaster that befell Mr Speckle； and the cotton…mill company； without relating a very melancholy case that was the consequence。 Among the overseers there was a Mr Dwining； an Englishman from Manchester； where he had seen better days； having had himself there of his own property； once as large a mill； according to report； as the Cayenneville mill。 He was certainly a man above the common； and his wife was a lady in every point； but they held themselves by themselves； and shunned all manner of civility； giving up their whole attention to their two little boys； who were really like creatures of a better race than the callans of our clachan。
On the failure of the company； Mr Dwining was observed by those who were present to be particularly distressed： his salary being his all； but he said little； and went thoughtfully home。 Some days after he was seen walking by himself with a pale face； a heavy eye； and slow stepall tokens of a sorrowful heart。 Soon after； he was missed altogether； nobody saw him。 The door of his house was however open； and his two pretty boys were as lively as usual； on the green before the door。 I happened to pass when they were there； and I asked them how their father and mother were。 They said they were still in bed； and would not waken； and the innocent lambs took me by the hand； to make me waken their parents。 I know not what was in it； but I trembled from head to foot； and I was led in by the babies； as if I had not the power to resist。 Never shall I forget what I saw in that bed。
* * * * *
I found a letter on the table； and I came away； locking the door behind me； and took the lovely prattling orphans home。 I could but shake my head and weep； as I gave them to the care of Mrs Balwhidder； and she was terrified but said nothing。 I then read the letter。 It was to send the bairns to a gentleman； their uncle； in London。 Oh！ it is a terrible tale； but the winding…sheet and the earth is over it。 I sent for two of my elders。 I related what I had seen。 Two coffins were got； and the bodies laid in them； and the next day； with one of the fatherless bairns in each hand； I followed them to the grave； which was dug in that part of the kirkyard where unchristened babies are laid。 We durst not take it upon us to do more； but few knew the reason； and some thought it was because the deceased were strangers； and had no regular lair。
I dressed the two bonny orphans in the best mourning at my own cost； and kept them in the manse till we could get an answer from their uncle； to whom I sent their father's letter。 It stung him to the quick； and he came down all the way from London； and took the children away himself。 Oh！ he was a vexed man when the beautiful bairns； on being told he was their uncle； ran into his arms； and complained that their papa and mamma had slept so long； that they would never waken。
CHAPTER L YEAR 1809
As I come towards the events of these latter days； I am surprised to
find myself not at all so distinct in my recollection of them as in those of the first of my ministry； being apt to confound the things of one occasion with those of another； which Mrs Balwhidder says is an admonishment to me to leave off my writing。 But； please God； I will endeavour to fulfil this as I have through life tried； to the best of my capacity； to do every other duty； and； with the help of Mrs Balwhidder； who has a very clear understanding； I think I may get through my task in a creditable manner； which is all I aspire after； not writing for a vain world； but only to testify to posterity anent the great changes that have happened in my day and generationa period which all the best…informed writers say； has not had its match in the history of the world since the beginning of time。
By the failure of the cotton…mill company； whose affairs were not settled till the spring of this year； there was great suffering during the winter； but my people； those that still adhered to the establishment； bore their share of the dispensation with meekness and patience； nor was there wanting edifying monuments of resignation even among the stravaigers。
On the day that the Canaille Meeting…house was opened； which was in the summer； I was smitten to the heart to see the empty seats that were in my kirk； for all the thoughtless； and some that I had a better opinion of； went to hear the opening discourse。 Satan that day had power given to him to buffet me as he did Job of old； and when I looked around and saw the empty seats； my corruption rose； and I forgot myself in the remembering prayer； for when I prayed for all denominations of Christians； and worshippers； and infidels； I could not speak of the schismatics with patience； but entreated the Lord to do with the hobleshow at Cayenneville； as he saw meet in his displeasure； the which； when I came afterwards to think upon； I grieved at with a sore contrition。
In the course of the week following； the elders； in a body； came to me in the manse； and after much commendation of my godly ministry； they said； that seeing I was now growing old； they thought they could not testify their respect for me in a better manner than by agreeing to get me a helper。 But I would not at that time listen to such a proposal； for I felt no falling off in my powers of preaching； on the contrary； I found myself growing better at it； as I was enabled to hold forth； in an easy manner； often a whole half hour longer； than I could do a dozen years before。 Therefore nothing was done in this year anent my resignation； but during the winter； Mrs Balwhidder was often grieved； in the bad weather； that I should preach； and； in short； so worked upon my affections； that I began to think it was fitting for me to comply with the advice of my friends。 Accordingly； in the course of the winter； the elders began to cast about for a helper； and during the bleak weather in the ensuing spring； several young men spared me from the necessity of preaching。 But this relates to the concerns of the next and last year of my ministry。 So I will now proceed to give an account of it； very thankful that I have been permitted； in unmolested tranquillity； to bring my history to such a point。
CHAPTER LI YEAR 1810
My tasks are all near a close； and in writing this final record of my ministry； the very sound of my pen admonishes me that my life is a burden on the back of flying Time； that he will soon be obliged to lay down in his great storehousethe grave。 Old age has； indeed； long warned me to prepare for rest； and the darkened windows of my sight show that the night is coming on； while deafness； like a door fast barred； has shut out all the pleasant sounds of this world； and inclosed me； as it were； in a prison； even from the voices of my friends。
I have lived longer than the common lot of man； and I have seen； in my time； many mutations and turnings； and ups and downs； notwithstanding the great spread that has been in our national prosperity。 I have beheld them that were flourishing like the green bay…trees； made desolate； and their branches scattered。 But； in my own estate； I have had a large and liberal experience of goodness。
At the beginning of my ministry I was reviled and rejected； but my honest endeavours to prove a faithful shepherd were blessed from on high； and rewarded with the affection of my flock。 Perhaps； in the vanity of doting old age； I thought in this there was a merit due to myself； which made the Lord to send the chastisement of the Canaille schism among my people； for I was then wroth without judgment； and by my heat hastened into an open division the flaw that