annals of the parish(教区年鉴)-第21节
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made of Charles； for we were proud of him； and none more than myself；
though he began to take liberties with me； calling me old governor； it was；
however； in a warm…hearted manner； only I did not like it when any of the
elders heard。 As for his mother； she deported herself like a saint on the
occasion。 There was a temperance in the pleasure of her heart； and in her
thankfulness； that is past the compass of words to describe。 Even Lady
Macadam； who never could think a serious thought all her days； said； in
her wild way that the gods had bestowed more care in the making of Mrs
Malcolm's temper； than on the bodies and souls of all the saints in the
calendar。 On the Sunday the strangers attended divine worship； and I
preached a sermon purposely for them； and enlarged at great length and
fulness on how David overcame Goliath； and they both told me that they
had never heard such a good discourse； but I do not think they were great
judges of preachings。 How； indeed； could Mr Howard know anything of
sound doctrine； being educated； as he told me； at Eton school； a prelatic
establishment！ Nevertheless； he was a fine lad； and though a little given
to frolic and diversion； he had a principle of integrity； that afterwards
kythed into much virtue； for； during this visit； he took a notion of Effie
Malcolm； and the lassie of him； then a sprightly and blooming creature；
fair to look upon； and blithe to see； and he kept up a correspondence with
her till the war was over； when being a captain of a frigate； he came down
among us； and they were married by me； as shall be related in its proper
place。
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CHAPTER XVIII YEAR 1777
This may well be called the year of the heavy heart； for we had sad
tidings of the lads that went away as soldiers to America。 First； there was
a boding in the minds of all their friends that they were never to see them
more； and their sadness； like a mist spreading from the waters and
covering the fields； darkened the spirit of the neighbours。 Secondly； a
sound was bruited about that the king's forces would have a hot and a sore
struggle before the rebels were put down； if they were ever put down。
Then came the cruel truth of all that the poor lads' friends had feared。
But it is fit and proper that I should relate at length； under their several
heads； the sorrows and afflictions as they came to pass。
One evening； as I was taking my walk alone； meditating my discourse
for the next Sabbathit was shortly after Candlemasit was a fine clear
frosty evening； just as the sun was setting。 Taking my walk alone； and
thinking of the dreadfulness of Almighty power； and how that； if it was not
tempered and restrained by infinite goodness； and wisdom； and mercy； the
miserable sinner； man； and all things that live； would be in a woeful state；
I drew near the beild where old Widow Mirkland lived by herself； who
was grand…mother to Jock Hempy； the ramplor lad； that was the second
who took on for a soldier。 I did mind of this at the time； but； passing the
house； I heard the croon； as it were； of a laden soul busy with the Lord；
and； not to disturb the holy workings of grace； I paused and listened。 It
was old Mizy Mirkland herself； sitting at the gable of the house； looking at
the sun setting in all his glory behind the Arran hills； but she was not
prayingonly moaning to herselfan oozing out； as it might be called； of
the spirit from her heart； then grievously oppressed with sorrow； and
heavy bodements of grey hairs and poverty。〃Yonder it slips awa'；〃 she
was saying； 〃and my poor bairn； that's o'er the seas in America； is maybe
looking on its bright face； thinking of his hame； and aiblins of me； that did
my best to breed him up in the fear of the Lord； but I couldna warsle wi'
what was ordained。 Ay； Jock！ as ye look at the sun gaun down； as many a
time； when ye were a wee innocent laddie at my knee here； I hae bade ye
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look at him as a type of your Maker； ye will hae a sore heart； for ye hae
left me in my need； when ye should hae been near at hand to help me； for
the hard labour and industry with which I brought you up。 But it's the
Lord's will。 Blessed be the name of the Lord； that makes us to thole the
tribulations of this world； and will reward us； through the mediation of
Jesus； hereafter。〃 She wept bitterly as she said this； for her heart was
tried； but the blessing of a religious contentment was shed upon her； and I
stepped up to her； and asked about her concerns； for； saving as a
parishioner； and a decent old woman； I knew little of her。 Brief was her
story； but it was one of misfortune。〃But I will not complain；〃 she said；
〃of the measure that has been meted unto me。 I was left myself an
orphan； when I grew up； and was married to my gude…man； I had known
but scant and want。 Our days of felicity were few； and he was ta'en awa'
from me shortly after my Mary was born。 A wailing baby； and a widow's
heart； was a' he left me。 I nursed her with my salt tears； and bred her in
straits； but the favour of God was with us； and she grew up to womanhood
as lovely as the rose； and as blameless as the lily。 In her time she was
married to a farming lad。 There never was a brawer pair in the kirk； than
on that day when they gaed there first as man and wife。 My heart was
proud； and it pleased the Lord to chastise my prideto nip my happiness；
even in the bud。 The very next day he got his arm crushed。 It never got
well again； and he fell into a decay； and died in the winter； leaving my
Mary far on in the road to be a mother。
〃When her time drew near； we both happened to be working in the
yard。 She was delving to plant potatoes； and I told her it would do her
hurt； but she was eager to provide something； as she said； for what might
happen。 Oh！ it was an ill…omened word。 The same night her trouble
came on； and before the morning she was a cauld corpse； and another wee
wee fatherless baby was greeting at my bosomit was him that's noo awa'
in America。 He grew up to be a fine bairn； with a warm heart； but a light
head； and； wanting the rein of a father's power upon him； was no sa douce
as I could have wished； but he was no man's foe save his own。 I thought；
and hoped； as he grew to years of discretion； he would have sobered； and
been a consolation to my old age； but he's gone； and he'll never come
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back disappointment is my portion in this world； and I have no hope；
while I can do； I will seek no help； but threescore and fifteen can do little；
and a small ail is a great evil to an aged woman； who has but the distaff for
her breadwinner。〃
I did all that I could to bid her be of good cheer； but the comfort of a
hopeful spirit was dead within her； and she told me； that by many tokens
she was assured her bairn was already slain。〃Thrice；〃 said she； 〃I have
seen his wraiththe first time he was in the pride of his young manhood；
the next he was pale and wan； with a bloody and gashy wound in his side；
and the third time there was a smoke； and； when it cleared away； I saw him
in a grave； with neither winding…sheet nor coffin。〃
The tale of this pious and resigned spirit dwelt in mine ear； and； when I
went home； Mrs Balwhidder thought that I had met with an o'ercome； and
was very uneasy； so she got the tea soon ready to make me better； but
scarcely had we tasted the first cup when a loud lamentation was heard in
the kitchen。 This was from that tawpy the wife of Thomas Wilson； with
her three weans。 They had been seeking their meat among the farmer
houses； and； in coming home； forgathered on the road with the Glasgow
carrier； who told them t
