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Gilbert； my son； that is now a corpulent man； and a Glasgow merchant；
when I take up my pen to record the memorables of this Ann。 Dom。； seems
to me yet but a suckling in swaddling clothes； mewing and peevish in the
arms of his mother； that has been long laid in the cold kirkyard； beside her
predecessor； in Abraham's bosom。 It is not； however； my design to speak
much anent my own affairs； which would be a very improper and
uncomely thing； but only of what happened in the parish； this book being
for a witness and testimony of my ministry。 Therefore； setting out of
view both me and mine； I will now resuscitate the concerns of Mrs
Malcolm and her children； for； as I think； never was there such a visible
preordination seen in the lives of any persons； as was seen in that of this
worthy decent woman； and her well…doing off…spring。 Her morning was
raw； and a sore blight fell upon her fortunes； but the sun looked out on her
midday； and her evening closed loun and warm； and the stars of the
firmament； that are the eyes of heaven； beamed as it were with gladness；
when she lay down to sleep the sleep of rest。
Her son Charles was by this time grown up into a stout buirdly lad；
and it was expected that； before the return of the Tobacco trader； he would
have been out of his time； and a man afore the mast； which was a great
step of preferment； as I heard say by persons skilled in seafaring concerns。
But this was not ordered to happen； for； when the Tobacco trader was
lying in the harbour of Virginia in the North Americas； a pressgang； that
was in need of men for a man…of…war； came on board； and pressed poor
Charles； and sailed away with him on a cruise； nobody； for many a day；
could tell where； till I thought of the Lord Eaglesham's kindness。 His
lordship having something to say with the king's government； I wrote to
him； telling him who I was； and how jocose he had been when buttoned in
my clothes； that he might recollect me； thanking him； at the same time； for
his condescension and patronage to Andrew Lanshaw； in his way to the
East Indies。 I then slipped in； at the end of the letter； a bit nota…bene
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concerning the case of Charles Malcolm； begging his lordship； on account
of the poor lad's widow mother； to enquire at the government if they could
tell us any thing about Charles。 In the due course of time； I got a most
civil reply from his lordship； stating all about the name of the man…of…war；
and where she was； and at the conclusion his lordship said； that I was
lucky in having the brother of a Lord of the Admiralty on this occasion for
my agent； as otherwise； from the vagueness of my statement； the
information might not have been procured； which remark of his lordship
was long a great riddle to me； for I could not think what he meant about an
agent； till； in the course of the year； we heard that his own brother was
concerned in the admiralty； so that all his lordship meant was only to
crack a joke with me； and that he was ever ready and free to do； as shall be
related in the sequel； for he was an excellent man。
There being a vacancy for a schoolmistress； it was proposed to Mrs
Malcolm； that； under her superintendence； her daughter Kate； that had
been learning great artifices in needle…work so long with Lady Macadam；
should take up the school； and the session undertook to make good to Kate
the sum of five pounds sterling per annum； over and above what the
scholars were to pay。 But Mrs Malcolm said she had not strength herself
to warsle with so many unruly brats； and that Kate； though a fine lassie；
was a tempestuous spirit； and might lame some of the bairns in her passion；
and that selfsame night； Lady Macadam wrote me a very complaining
letter； for trying to wile away her companion； but her ladyship was a
canary…headed woman； and given to flights and tantrums； having in her
youth been a great toast among the quality。 It would； however； have
saved her from a sore heart； had she never thought of keeping Kate
Malcolm。 For this year her only son； who was learning the art of war at
an academy in France； came to pay her； his lady mother； a visit。 He was
a brisk and light…hearted stripling； and Kate Malcolm was budding into a
very rose of beauty； so between them a hankering began； which； for a
season； was productive of great heaviness of heart to the poor old cripple
lady； indeed； she assured me herself； that all her rheumatics were nothing
to the heart…ache which she suffered in the progress of this business。 But
that will be more treated of hereafter； suffice it to say for the present； that
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we have thus recorded how the plan for making Kate Malcolm our
schoolmistress came to nought。 It pleased； however； Him； from whom
cometh every good and perfect gift； to send at this time among us a Miss
Sabrina Hooky； the daughter of old Mr Hooky； who had been
schoolmaster in a neighbouring parish。 She had gone； after his death； to
live with an auntie in Glasgow； that kept a shop in the Gallowgate。 It
was thought that the old woman would have left her heir to all her
gatherings； and so she said she would； but alas！ our life is but within our
lip。 Before her testament was made； she was carried suddenly off by an
apoplectick； an awful monument of the uncertainty of time and the
nearness of eternity； in her own shop； as she was in the very act of
weighing out an ounce of snuff to a professor of the College； as Miss
Sabrina herself told me。 Being thus destitute； it happened that Miss
Sabrina heard of the vacancy in our parish； as it were； just by the cry of a
passing bird； for she could not tell how； although I judge myself that
William Keckle the elder had a hand in it； as he was at the time in
Glasgow； and she wrote me a wonderful well…penned letter bespeaking the
situation； which letter came to hand on the morn following Lady
Macadam's stramash to me about Kate Malcolm； and I laid it before the
session the same day； so that； by the time her auntie's concern was taken
off her hands； she had a home and a howf among us to come in； to the
which she lived upwards of thirty years in credit and respect； although
some thought she had not the art of her predecessor； and was more uppish
in her carriage than befitted the decorum of her vocation。 Hers； however；
was but a harmless vanity； and； poor woman； she needed all manner of
graces to set her out； for she was made up of odds and ends； and had but
one good eye； the other being blind； and just like a blue bead。 At first she
plainly set her cap for Mr Lorimore； but after oggling and goggling at him
every Sunday in the kirk for a whole half…year and more； Miss Sabrina
desisted in despair。
But the most remarkable thing about her coming into the parish； was
the change that took place in Christian names among us。 Old Mr Hooky；
her father； had； from the time he read his Virgil； maintained a sort of
intromission with the nine muses； by which he was led to baptize her
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Sabrina； after a name mentioned by John Milton in one of his works。
Miss Sabrina began by calling our Jennies Jessies； and our Nannies
Nancies； alas！ I have lived to see even these likewise grow old…fashioned。
She had also a taste in the mantua…making line； which she had learnt in
Glasgow； and I could date from th