annals of the parish(教区年鉴)-第38节
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wit； and could joke and banter in a most agreeable manner。 He came
very often to the manse to see me； and took great pleasure in my company；
and really used a freedom that was so droll； I could scarcely keep my
composity and decorum with him。 Among others that shared in his
attention； was daft Meg Gaffaw； whom he had forgathered with one day in
coming to see me； and after conversing with her for some time； he handed
her； as she told me herself； over the kirk…stile like a lady of high degree；
and came with her to the manse door linking by the arm。
From the ill…timed daffin of that hour； poor Meg fell deep in love with
Mr Melcomb； and it was just a playacting to see the arts and antics she put
in practice to win his attention。 In her garb； she had never any sense of a
proper propriety； but went about the country asking for shapings of silks
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and satins； with which she patched her duds； calling them by the divers
names of robes and negligees。 All hitherto； however； had been
moderation； compared to the daffadile of vanity which she was now seen；
when she had searched； as she said； to the bottom of her coffer。 I cannot
take it upon me to describe her； but she kythed in such a variety of cuffs
and ruffles； feathers； old gumflowers； painted paper knots； ribbons； and
furs； and laces； and went about gecking and simpering with an old fan in
her hand； that it was not in the power of nature to look at her with sobriety。
Her first appearance in this masquerading was at the kirk on the
Sunday following her adventure with Mr Melcomb； and it was with a
sore difficulty that I could keep my eyes off her； even in prayer； and when
the kirk skailed； she walked before him； spreading all her grandeur to
catch his eye； in such a manner as had not been seen or heard of since the
prank that Lady Macadam played Miss Betty Wudrife。
Any other but Mr Melcomb would have been provoked by the fool's
folly； but he humoured her wit； and； to the amazement of the whole people；
presented her his hand； and allemanded her along in a manner that should
not have been seen in any street out of a king's court； and far less on the
Lord's day。 But； alas！ this sport did not last long。 Mr Melcomb had
come from England to be 'married' to his cousin； Miss Virginia Cayenne；
and poor daft Meg never heard of it till the banns for their purpose of
marriage was read out by Mr Lorimore on the Sabbath after。 The words
were scarcely out of his mouth； when the simple and innocent natural gave
a loud shriek； that terrified the whole congregation； and ran out of the kirk
demented。 There was no more finery for poor Meg； but she went and sat
opposite to the windows of Mr Cayenne's house； where Mr Melcomb was；
with clasped hands and beseeching eyes； like a monumental statue in
alabaster； and no entreaty could drive her away。 Mr Melcomb sent her
money； and the bride many a fine thing； but Meg flung them from her； and
clasped her hands again； and still sat。 Mr Cayenne would have let loose
the house…dog on her； but was not permitted。
In the evening it began to rain； and they thought that and the coming
darkness would drive her away； but when the servants looked out before
barring the doors； there she was in the same posture。 I was to perform
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the marriage ceremony at seven o'clock in the morning； for the young pair
were to go that night to Edinburgh； and when I went； there was Meg
sitting looking at the windows with her hands clasped。 When she saw me
she gave a shrill cry； and took me by the hand； and wised me to go back；
crying out in a heart…breaking voice； 〃O； Sir！ No yetno yet！ He'll
maybe draw back； and think of a far truer bride。〃 I was wae for her and
very angry with the servants for laughing at the fond folly of the ill…less
thing。
When the marriage was over； and the carriage at the door； the
bridegroom handed in the bride。 Poor Meg saw this； and jumping up
from where she sat； was at his side like a spirit； as he was stepping in； and；
taking him by the hand； she looked in his face so piteously； that every
heart was sorrowful； for she could say nothing。 When he pulled away his
hand； and the door was shut； she stood as if she had been charmed to the
spot； and saw the chaise drive away。 All that were about the door then
spoke to her； but she heard us not。 At last she gave a deep sigh； and the
water coming into her eye； she said； 〃The wormthe worm is my bonny
bridegroom； and Jenny with the many…feet my bridal maid。 The mill…
dam water's the wine o' the wedding； and the clay and the clod shall be my
bedding。 A lang night is meet for a bridal； but none shall be langer than
mine。〃 In saying which words； she fled from among us； with heels like
the wind。 The servants pursued； but long before they could stop her； she
was past redemption in the deepest plumb of the cotton…mill dam。
Few deaths had for many a day happened in the parish； to cause so
much sorrow as that of this poor silly creature。 She was a sort of
household familiar among us； and there was much like the inner side of
wisdom in the pattern of her sayings； many of which are still preserved as
proverbs。
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CHAPTER XXXIX YEAR 1798
This was one of the heaviest years in the whole course of my ministry。
The spring was slow of coming； and cold and wet when it did come； the
dibs were full； the roads foul； and the ground that should have been dry at
the seed…time； was as claggy as clay； and clung to the harrow。 The labour
of man and beast was thereby augmented； and all nature being in a state of
sluggish indisposition； it was evident to every eye of experience that there
would be a great disappointment to the hopes of the husbandman。
Foreseeing this； I gathered the opinion of all the most sagacious of my
parishioners； and consulted with them for a provision against the evil day；
and we spoke to Mr Cayenne on the subject； for he had a talent by
common in matters of mercantile management。 It was amazing；
considering his hot temper； with what patience he heard the grounds of our
apprehension； and how he questioned and sifted the experience of the old
farmers； till he was thoroughly convinced that all similar seed…times were
ever followed by a short crop。 He then said； that he would prove himself
a better friend to the parish than he was thought。 Accordingly； as he
afterwards told me himself； he wrote off that very night to his
correspondents in America； to buy for his account all the wheat and flour
they could get； and ship it to arrive early in the fall； and he bought up
likewise in countries round the Baltic great store of victual； and brought in
two cargoes to Irville on purpose for the parish； against the time of need；
making for the occasion a garnel of one of the warehouses of the cotton…
mill。
The event came to pass as had been foretold： the harvest fell short；
and Mr Cayenne's cargoes from America and the Baltic came home in due
season； by which he made a terrible power of money； clearing thousands
on thousands by post after postmaking more profit； as he said himself； in
the course of one month； he believed； than ever was made by any
individual within the kingdom of Scotland in the course of a year。He said；
however that he might have made more if he had bought up the corn at
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home； but being convinced by us that there would be a scarcity； he thought
it his duty as an honest man to draw from the stores and granaries of
foreign c
