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She had also a taste in the mantua…making line； which she had learnt in
Glasgow； and I could date from the very Sabbath of her first appearance in
the kirk； a change growing in the garb of the younger lassies； who from
that day began to lay aside the silken plaidie over the head； the which had
been the pride and bravery of their grandmothers； and instead of the snood；
that was so snod and simple； they hided their heads in round…eared bees…
cap mutches； made of gauze and catgut； and other curious contrivances of
French millendery； all which brought a deal of custom to Miss Sabrina；
over and above the incomings and Candlemas offerings of school；
insomuch that she saved money； and in the course of three years had ten
pounds to put in the bank。
At the time； these alterations and revolutions in the parish were
thought a great advantage； but now when I look back upon them； as a
traveller on the hill over the road he has passed； I have my doubts。 For
with wealth come wants； like a troop of clamorous beggars at the heels of
a generous man； and it's hard to tell wherein the benefit of improvement in
a country parish consists； especially to those who live by the sweat of their
brow。 But it is not for me to make reflections； my task and duty is to
note the changes of time and habitudes。
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CHAPTER X YEAR 1769
I have my doubts whether it was in the beginning of this year； or in the
end of the last； that a very extraordinary thing came to light in the parish；
but； howsoever that may be； there is nothing more certain than the fact；
which it is my duty to record。 I have mentioned already how it was that
the toll； or trust…road； was set a…going； on account of the Lord Eaglesham's
tumbling on the midden in the Vennel。 Well； it happened to one of the
labouring men； in breaking the stones to make metal for the new road； that
he broke a stone that was both large and remarkable； and in the heart of it；
which was boss； there was found a living creature； that jumped out the
moment it saw the light of heaven； to the great terrification of the man；
who could think it was nothing but an evil spirit that had been imprisoned
therein for a time。 The man came to me like a demented creature； and the
whole clachan gathered out； young and old； and I went at their head to see
what the miracle could be； for the man said it was a fiery dragon； spewing
smoke and flames。 But when we came to the spot； it was just a yird toad；
and the laddie weans nevelled it to death with stones； before I could
persuade them to give over。 Since then； I have read of such things
coming to light in the Scots Magazine； a very valuable book。
Soon after the affair of 〃the wee deil in the stane；〃 as it was called； a
sough reached us that the Americas were seized with the rebellious spirit
of the ten tribes； and were snapping their fingers in the face of the king's
government。 The news came on a Saturday night； for we had no
newspapers in those days； and was brought by Robin Modiwort； that
fetched the letters from the Irville post。 Thomas Fullarton （he has been
dead many a day） kept the grocery shop at Irville； and he had been in at
Glasgow； as was his yearly custom； to settle his accounts； and to buy a
hogshead of tobacco； with sugar and other spiceries； and being in Glasgow；
Thomas was told by the merchant of a great rise in tobacco； that had
happened by reason of the contumacity of the plantations； and it was
thought that blood would be spilt before things were ended； for that the
King and Parliament were in a great passion with them。 But as Charles
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
Malcolm； in the king's ship； was the only one belonging to the parish that
was likely to be art and part in the business； we were in a manner little
troubled at the time with this first gasp of the monster of war； who； for our
sins； was ordained to swallow up and devour so many of our fellow…
subjects； before he was bound again in the chains of mercy and peace。
I had； in the meantime； written a letter to the Lord Eaglesham； to get
Charles Malcolm out of the clutches of the pressgang in the man… of…war；
and about a month after； his lordship sent me an answer； wherein was
enclosed a letter from the captain of the ship； saying； that Charles
Malcolm was so good a man that he was reluctant to part with him； and
that Charles himself was well contented to remain aboard。 Anent which；
his lordship said to me； that he had written back to the captain to make a
midshipman of Charles； and that he would take him under his own
protection； which was great joy on two accounts to us all； especially to his
mother； first； to hear that Charles was a good man； although in years still
but a youth； and； secondly； that my lord had； of his own free…will； taken
him under the wing of his patronage。
But the sweet of this world is never to be enjoyed without some of the
sour。 The coal bark between Irville and Belfast； in which Robert
Malcolm； the second son of his mother； was serving his time to be a sailor；
got a charter； as it was called； to go with to Norway for deals； which
grieved Mrs Malcolm to the very heart； for there was then no short cut by
the canal； as now is； between the rivers of the Forth and Clyde； but every
ship was obligated to go far away round by the Orkneys； which； although
a voyage in the summer not overly dangerous； there being long days and
short nights then； yet in the winter it was far otherwise； many vessels
being frozen up in the Baltic till the spring； and there was a story told at
the time； of an Irville bark coming home in the dead of the year； that lost
her way altogether； and was supposed to have sailed north into utter
darkness； for she was never more heard of： and many an awful thing was
said of what the auld mariners about the shore thought concerning the
crew of that misfortunate vessel。 However； Mrs Malcolm was a woman
of great faith； and having placed her reliance on Him who is the orphan's
stay and widow's trust； she resigned her bairn into his hands； with a
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religious submission to his pleasure； though the mother's tear of weak
human nature was on her cheek and in her e'e。 And her faith was well
rewarded； for the vessel brought him safe home； and he had seen such a
world of things； that it was just to read a story…book to hear him tell of
Elsineur and Gottenburg； and other fine and great places that we had never
heard of till that time； and he brought me a bottle of Riga balsam； which
for healing cuts was just miraculous； besides a clear bottle of Rososolus
for his mother； a spirit which for cordiality could not be told； for though
since that time we have had many a sort of Dantzic cordial； I have never
tasted any to compare with Robin Malcolm's Rososolus。 The Lady
Macadam； who had a knowledge of such things； declared it was the best of
the best sort； for Mrs Malcolm sent her ladyship some of it in a doctor's
bottle； as well as to Mrs Balwhidder； who was then at the downlying with
our daughter Janeta woman now in the married state； that makes a most
excellent wife； having been brought up with great pains； and well educated；
as I shall have to record by…and…by。
About the Christmas of this year； Lady Macadam's son having been
perfected in the art of war at a school in France； had； with the help of his
mother's friends； and his father's fame； got a stand of colours in the Royal
Scots regiment； he came to show himself in his regimentals to his lady
mother； like a dutiful son； as he certainly was。 It happened that he was in
the kirk in his scarlets and gold； on the