the annals of the parish-第29节
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！
arer and nearer。
Whether it was； however； that the lads belonging to the place did not like to show themselves with the enlistment cockades among their acquaintance； or that there was any other reason； I cannot take it upon me to say； but certain it is； the recruiting party came no
speed； and； in consequence； were removed about the end of March。
Another thing happened in this year； too remarkable for me to neglect to put on record； as it strangely and strikingly marked the rapid revolutions that were going on。 In the month of August at the time of the fair； a gang of playactors came； and hired Thomas Thacklan's barn for their enactments。 They were the first of that clanjamfrey who had ever been in the parish； and there was a wonderful excitement caused by the rumours concerning them。 Their first performance was DOUGLAS TRAGEDY and the GENTLE SHEPHERD： and the general opinion was； that the lad who played Norval in the play； and Patie in the farce； was an English lord's son； who had run away from his parents rather than marry an old cracket lady with a great portion。 But； whatever truth there might be in this notion； certain it is； the whole pack was in a state of perfect beggary； and yet； for all that； they not only in their parts； as I was told； laughed most heartily； but made others do the same； for I was constrained to let my daughter go to see them； with some of her acquaintance； and she gave me such an account of what they did； that I thought I would have liked to have gotten a keek at them myself。 At the same time； I must own this was a sinful curiosity； and I stifled it to the best of my ability。 Among other plays that they did； was one called MACBETH AND THE WITCHES； which the Miss Cayennes had seen performed in London； when they were there in the winter time with their father； for three months； seeing the world； after coming from the boarding…school。 But it was no more like the true play of Shakespeare the poet； according to their account； than a duddy betheral； set up to fright the sparrows from the peas； is like a living gentleman。 The hungry players； instead of behaving like guests at the royal banquet； were voracious on the needful feast of bread； and the strong ale； that served for wine in decanters。 But the greatest sport of all was about a kail…pot； that acted the part of a caldron； and which should have sunk with thunder and lightning into the earth； however； it did quite as well； for it made its exit； as Miss Virginia said； by walking quietly off； being pulled by a string fastened to one of its feet。 No scene of the play was so much applauded as this one； and the actor who did the part of King Macbeth made a most polite bow of thankfulness to the audience； for the approbation with which they had received the performance of the pot。
We had likewise； shortly after the 〃Omnes exeunt〃 of the players； an exhibition of a different sort in the same barn。 This was by two English quakers； and a quaker lady； tanners of Kendal； who had been at Ayr on some leather business； where they preached； but made no proselytes。 The travellers were all three in a whisky； drawn by one of the best…ordered horses； as the hostler at the Cross…Keys told me； ever seen。 They came to the Inn to their dinner； and meaning to stay all night； sent round； to let it be known that they would hold a meeting in Friend Thacklan's barn； but Thomas denied they were either kith or kin to him： this； however； was their way of speaking。
In the evening； owing to the notice； a great congregation was assembled in the barn； and I myself； along with Mr Archibald Dozendale； went there likewise； to keep the people in awe； for we feared the strangers might be jeered and insulted。 The three were seated aloft on a high stage； prepared on purpose； with two mares and scaffold…deals； borrowed from Mr Trowel the mason。 They sat long； and silent； but at last the spirit moved the woman； and she rose； and delivered a very sensible exposition of Christianity。 I was really surprised to hear such sound doctrine； and Mr Dozendale said； justly； that it was more to the purpose than some that my younger brethren from Edinburgh endeavoured to teach。 So； that those who went to laugh at the sincere simplicity of the pious quakers； were rebuked by a very edifying discourse on the moral duties of a Christian's life。
Upon the whole； however； this； to the best of my recollection； was another unsatisfactory year。 In this we were； doubtless； brought more into the world； but we had a greater variety of temptation set before us； and there was still jealousy and estrangement in the dispositions of the gentry； and the lower orders； particularly the manufacturers。 I cannot say； indeed； that there was any increase of corruption among the rural portion of my people； for their vocation calling them to work apart； in the purity of the free air of heaven； they were kept uncontaminated by that seditious infection which fevered the minds of the sedentary weavers； and working like flatulence in the stomachs of the cotton…spinners； sent up into their heads a vain and diseased fume of infidel philosophy。
CHAPTER XXXVII YEAR 1796
The prosperity of fortune is like the blossoms of spring； or the golden hue of the evening cloud。 It delighteth the spirit； and passeth away；
In the month of February my second wife was gathered to the Lord。 She had been very ill for some time with an income in her side； which no medicine could remove。 I had the best doctors in the country side to her； but their skill was of no avail； their opinions being that her ail was caused by an internal abscess； for which physic has provided no cure。 Her death was to me a great sorrow； for she was a most excellent wife； industrious to a degree； and managed every thing with so brisk a hand； that nothing went wrong that she put it to。 With her I had grown richer than any other minister in the presbytery； but； above all； she was the mother of my bairns； which gave her a double claim upon me。
I laid her by the side of my first love； Betty Lanshaw； my own cousin that was； and I inscribed her name upon the same headstone； but time had drained my poetical vein； and I have not yet been able to indite an epitaph on her merits and virtues； for she had an eminent share of both。 Her greatest faultthe best have their faultswas an over…earnestness to gather gear； in the doing of which I thought she sometimes sacrificed the comforts of a pleasant fireside； for she was never in her element but when she was keeping the servants eident at their work。 But； if by this she subtracted something from the quietude that was most consonant to my nature； she has left cause； both in bank and bond； for me and her bairns to bless her great household activity。
She was not long deposited in her place of rest till I had occasion to find her loss。 All my things were kept by her in a most perjink and excellent order； but they soon fell into an amazing confusion； for； as she often said to me； I had a turn for heedlessness； insomuch； that although my daughter Janet was grown up； and able to keep the house； I saw that it would be necessary； as soon as decency would allow； for me to take another wife。 I was moved to this chiefly by foreseeing that my daughter would in time be married； and taken away from me； but more on account of the servant lasses； who grew out of all bounds； verifying the proverb； 〃Well kens the mouse when the cat's out of the house。〃 Besides this； I was now far down in the vale of years； and could not expect to be long without feeling some of the penalties of old age； although I was still a hail and sound man。 It therefore behoved me to look in time for a helpmate； to tend me in my approaching infirmities。
Upon this important concern I reflected； as I may say； in the watches of the night； and； considering the circumstances of my situation； I saw it would not do for me to look out for an overly young woman； nor yet would it do for one of my ways to take an elderly maiden； ladies of that sort being liable to possess strong… set particularities。 I therefore resolved that my choice should lie among widows of a discreet age； and I had a glimmer in my mind of speaking to Mrs Malcolm； but when I reflected on the saintly steadiness of her character； I was satisfied it would be of no use to think of her。 Accordingly； I bent my brows； and looked towards Irville； which is an abundant trone for widows and other single women； and I fixed my purpose on Mrs Nugent； the relic of a professor in the university of Glasgow； both because she was a well… bred woman； without any children to plea about the interest of my own two； and likewise because she was held in great estimation by all who knew her； as a lady of a Christian principle。
It was some time in the summer； however； before I made up my mind to speak to her on the subject； but one afternoon； in the month of August； I resolved to do so； and with that intent walked leisurely over to Irville； and after calling on the Rev。 Dr。 Dinwiddie； the minister； I stepped in； as if by chance； to Mrs Nugent's。 I could see that she was a little surprised at my visit； however； she treated me with every possible civility； and her servant lass bringing in the tea…thing
