the annals of the parish-第17节

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　the　war；　hoping　thereby；　as　soon　as　their　midship　term　was　out；　to　be　made　lieutenants；　saving　this；　there　was　no　allay　in　the　happiness　they　brought　with　them　to　the　parish；　and　it　was　a　delight　to　see　how　auld　and　young　of　all　degrees　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。



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　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　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　that　news　had　come；　in　the　London　Gazette；　of　a　battle；　in　which　the　regiment　that　Thomas　had　listed　in　was　engaged；　and　had　suffered　loss　both　in　rank　and　file；　none　doubting　that　their　head　was　in　the　number　of　the　slain；　the　whole　family　grat　aloud；　and　came　to　the　manse；　bewailing　him　as　no　more；　and　it　afterwards　turned　out　to　be　the　case；　making　it　plain　to　me　that　there　is　a　farseeing　discernment　in　the　spirit；　that　reaches　beyond　the　scope　of　our　incarnate　senses。

But　the　weight　of　the　war　did　not　end　with　these　afflictions；　for；　instead　of　the　sorrow　that　the　listing　caused；　and　the　anxiety　after；　and　the　grief　of　the　bloody　tidings；　operating　as　wholesome　admonition　to　our　young　men；　the　natural　perversity　of　the　human　heart　was　more　and　more　manifested。　　A　wonderful　interest　was　raised　among　us　all　to　hear　of　what　was　going　on　in　the　world；　insomuch；　that　I　myself　was　no　longer　contented　with　the　relation　of　the　news　of　the　month　in　the　Scots　Magazine；　but　joined　with　my　father…in…　law；　Mr　Kibbock；　to　get　a　newspaper　twice　a…week　from　Edinburgh。　　As　for　Lady　Macadam；　who　being　naturally　an　impatient　woman；　she　had　one　sent　to　her　three　times　a…week　from　London；　so　that　we　had　something　fresh　five　times　every　week；　and　the　old　papers　were　lent　out　to　the　families　who　had　friends　in　the　wars。　　This　was　done　on　my　suggestion；　hoping　it　would　make　all　content　with　their　peaceable　lot；　but　dominion　for　a　time　had　been　given　to　the　power　of　contrariness；　and