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so that he knew what crop should follow another； and nothing could
surpass the regularity of his rigs and furrows。Well do I remember the
admiration that I had； when； in a fine sunny morning of the first spring
after he took the Breadland； I saw his braird on what had been the cows'
grass； as even and pretty as if it had been worked and stripped in the loom
with a shuttle。 Truly； when I look back at the example he set； and when I
think on the method and dexterity of his management； I must say； that his
coming to the parish was a great godsend； and tended to do far more for
the benefit of my people； than if the young laird had rebuilded the
Breadland…House in a fashionable style； as was at one time spoken of。
But the year of the great calamity was memorable for another thing：…
in the December foregoing； the wind blew； as I have recorded in the
chronicle of the last year； and broke down the bough of the tree whereon
the kirk…bell had hung from the time； as was supposed； of the persecution；
before the bringing over of King William。 Mr Kibbock； my father…in…law
then that was； being a man of a discerning spirit； when he heard of the
unfortunate fall of the bell； advised me to get the heritors to big a steeple；
but which； when I thought of the expense； I was afraid to do。 He；
however； having a great skill in the heart of man； gave me no rest on the
subject； but told me； that if I allowed the time to go by till the heritors
were used to come to the kirk without a bell； I would get no steeple at all。 I
often wondered what made Mr Kibbock so fond of a steeple； which is a
thing that I never could see a good reason for； saving that it is an
ecclesiastical adjunct； like the gown and bands。 However； he set me on
to get a steeple proposed； and after no little argol…bargling with the heritors；
it was agreed to。 This was chiefly owing to the instrumentality of Lady
Moneyplack； who； in that winter； was much subjected to the rheumatics；
she having； one cold and raw Sunday morning； there being no bell to
announce the time； come half an hour too soon to the kirk； made her bestir
herself to get an interest awakened among the heritors in behalf of a
steeple。
But when the steeple was built； a new contention arose。 It was
thought that the bell； which had been used in the ash…tree； would not do in
a stone and lime fabric； so； after great agitation among the heritors； it was
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
resolved to sell the old bell to a foundery in Glasgow； and buy a new bell
suitable to the steeple； which was a very comely fabric。 The buying of
the new bell led to other considerations； and the old Lady Breadland；
being at the time in a decaying condition； and making her will； she left a
mortification to the parish； as I have intimated； to get a clock； so that； by
the time the steeple was finished； and the bell put up； the Lady Breadland's
legacy came to be implemented； according to the ordination of the
testatrix。
Of the casualities that happened in this year； I should not forget to put
down； as a thing for remembrance； that an aged woman； one Nanse Birrel；
a distillator of herbs； and well skilled in the healing of sores； who had a
great repute among the quarriers and colliersshe having gone to the
physic well in the sandy hills to draw water； was found； with her feet
uppermost in the well； by some of the bairns of Mr Lorimore's school； and
there was a great debate whether Nanse had fallen in by accident head
foremost； or； in a temptation； thrown herself in that position； with her feet
sticking up to the evil one； for Nanse was a curious discontented blear…
eyed woman； and it was only with great ado that I could get the people
keepit from calling her a witchwife。
I should likewise place on record； that the first ass that had ever been
seen in this part of the country； came in the course of this year with a gang
of tinklers； that made horn…spoons and mended bellows。 Where they
came from never was well made out； but being a blackaviced crew； they
were generally thought to be Egyptians。 They tarried about a week
among us； living in tents； with their little ones squattling among the litter；
and one of the older men of them set and tempered to me two razors； that
were as good as nothing； but which he made better than when they were
new。
Shortly after； but I am not quite sure whether it was in the end of this
year； or the beginning of the next； although I have a notion that it was in
this； there came over from Ireland a troop of wild Irish； seeking for work
as they said； but they made free quarters； for they herrit the roosts of the
clachan； and cutted the throat of a sow of ours； the carcass of which they
no doubt intended to steal； but something came over them； and it was
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found lying at the back side of the manse； to the great vexation of Mrs
Balwhidder； for she had set her mind on a clecking of pigs； and only
waited for the China boar； that had been brought down from London by
Lord Eaglesham； to mend the breed of porka profitable commodity； that
her father； Mr Kibbock； cultivated for the Glasgow market。 The
destruction of our sow； under such circumstances； was therefore held to be
a great crime and cruelty； and it had the effect to raise up such a spirit in
the clachan； that the Irish were obligated to decamp； and they set out for
Glasgow； where one of them was afterwards hanged for a fact； but the
truth concerning how he did it； I either never heard； or it has passed from
my mind； like many other things I should have carefully treasured。
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CHAPTER VIII YEAR 1767
All things in our parish were now beginning to shoot up into a great
prosperity。 The spirit of farming began to get the upper hand of the spirit
of smuggling； and the coal…heughs that had been opened in the Douray；
now brought a pour of money among us。 In the manse； the thrift and
frugality of the second Mrs Balwhidder throve exceedingly； so that we
could save the whole stipend for the bank。
The king's highway； as I have related in the foregoing； ran through the
Vennel； which was a narrow and a crooked street； with many big stones
here and there； and every now and then； both in the spring and the fall； a
gathering of middens for the fields； insomuch that the coal…carts from the
Douray moor were often reested in the middle of the causey； and on more
than one occasion some of them laired altogether in the middens； and
others of them broke down。 Great complaint was made by the carters
anent these difficulties； and there was； for many a day； a talk and sound of
an alteration and amendment； but nothing was fulfilled in the matter till
the month of March in this year； when the Lord Eaglesham was coming
from London to see the new lands that he had bought in our parish。 His
lordship was a man of a genteel spirit； and very fond of his horses； which
were the most beautiful creatures of their kind that had been seen in all the
country side。 Coming； as I was noting； to see his new lands； he was
obliged to pass through the clachan one day； when all the middens were
gathered out； reeking and sappy； in the middle of the causey。 Just as his
lordship was driving in with his prancing steeds； like a Jehu； at one end of
the vennel； a long string of loaded coal…carts came in at the other； and
there was hardly room for my lord to pass them。 What was to be done？
His lordship could not turn bac