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to be no more verily； it was the reward of my ministrya faithful account
of which； year by year； I now sit down； in the evening of my days； to make
up； to the end that I may bear witness to the work of a beneficent
Providence； even in the narrow sphere of my parish； and the concerns of
that flock of which it was His most gracious pleasure to make me the
unworthy shepherd。
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
CHAPTER I YEAR 1760
The Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and sixty； was
remarkable for three things in the parish of Dalmailing。First and
foremost； there was my placing； then the coming of Mrs Malcolm with her
five children to settle among us； and next； my marriage upon my own
cousin； Miss Betty Lanshaw； by which the account of this year naturally
divides itself into three heads or portions。
First； of the placing。It was a great affair； for I was put in by the
patron； and the people knew nothing whatsoever of me； and their hearts
were stirred into strife on the occasion； and they did all that lay within the
compass of their power to keep me out； insomuch； that there was obliged
to be a guard of soldiers to protect the presbytery； and it was a thing that
made my heart grieve when I heard the drum beating and the fife playing
as we were going to the kirk。 The people were really mad and vicious；
and flung dirt upon us as we passed； and reviled us all； and held out the
finger of scorn at me； but I endured it with a resigned spirit；
compassionating their wilfulness and blindness。 Poor old Mr Kilfuddy of
the Braehill got such a clash of glar on the side of his face； that his eye
was almost extinguished。
When we got to the kirk door； it was found to be nailed up； so as by no
possibility to be opened。 The sergeant of the soldiers wanted to break it；
but I was afraid that the heritors would grudge and complain of the
expense of a new door； and I supplicated him to let it be as it was： we
were； therefore； obligated to go in by a window； and the crowd followed
us in the most unreverent manner； making the Lord's house like an inn on
a fair day； with their grievous yellyhooing。 During the time of the psalm
and the sermon； they behaved themselves better； but when the induction
came on； their clamour was dreadful； and Thomas Thorl； the weaver； a
pious zealot in that time； he got up and protested； and said； 〃Verily； verily；
I say unto you； he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold； but
climbeth up some other way； the same is a thief and a robber。〃 And I
thought I would have a hard and sore time of it with such an outstrapolous
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
people。 Mr Given； that was then the minister of Lugton； was a jocose
man； and would have his joke even at a solemnity。 When the laying of
the hands upon me was adoing； he could not get near enough to put on his；
but he stretched out his staff and touched my head； and said； to the great
diversion of the rest； 〃This will do well enough； timber to timber；〃 but it
was an unfriendly saying of Mr Given； considering the time and the place；
and the temper of my people。
After the ceremony； we then got out at the window； and it was a heavy
day to me； but we went to the manse； and there we had an excellent dinner；
which Mrs Watts of the new inns of Irville ｛2｝ prepared at my request； and
sent her chaise…driver to serve； for he was likewise her waiter； she having
then but one chaise； and that no often called for。
But； although my people received me in this unruly manner； I was
resolved to cultivate civility among them； and therefore； the very next
morning I began a round of visitations； but； oh！ it was a steep brae that I
had to climb； and it needed a stout heart。 For I found the doors in some
places barred against me； in others； the bairns； when they saw me coming；
ran crying to their mothers； 〃Here's the feckless Mess…John！〃 and then；
when I went into the houses； their parents wouldna ask me to sit down； but
with a scornful way； said； 〃Honest man； what's your pleasure here？〃
Nevertheless； I walked about from door to door like a dejected beggar； till
I got the almous deed of a civil receptionand who would have thought
it？ from no less a person than the same Thomas Thorl that was so bitter
against me in the kirk on the foregoing day。
Thomas was standing at the door with his green duffle apron； and his
red Kilmarnock nightcapI mind him as well as if it was but yesterday
and he had seen me going from house to house； and in what manner I was
rejected； and his bowels were moved； and he said to me in a kind manner；
〃Come in； sir； and ease yoursel'： this will never do； the clergy are God's
gorbies； and for their Master's sake it behoves us to respect them。 There
was no ane in the whole parish mair against you than mysel'； but this early
visitation is a symptom of grace that I couldna have expectit from a bird
out the nest of patronage。〃 I thanked Thomas； and went in with him； and
we had some solid conversation together； and I told him that it was not so
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much the pastor's duty to feed the flock； as to herd them well； and that；
although there might be some abler with the head than me； there wasna a
he within the bounds of Scotland more willing to watch the fold by night
and by day。 And Thomas said he had not heard a mair sound observe for
some time； and that； if I held to that doctrine in the poopit； it wouldna be
lang till I would work a change。〃I was mindit；〃 quoth he； 〃never to set
my foot within the kirk door while you were there； but to testify； and no to
condemn without a trial； I'll be there next Lord's day； and egg my
neighbours to be likewise； so ye'll no have to preach just to the bare walls
and the laird's family。〃
I have now to speak of the coming of Mrs Malcolm。She was the
widow of a Clyde shipmaster； that was lost at sea with his vessel。 She
was a genty body； calm and methodical。 From morning to night she sat
at her wheel； spinning the finest lint； which suited well with her pale hands。
She never changed her widow's weeds； and she was aye as if she had just
been ta'en out of a bandbox。 The tear was aften in her e'e when the
bairns were at the school； but when they came home； her spirit was lighted
up with gladness； although； poor woman； she had many a time very little
to give them。 They were； however； wonderful well…bred things； and took
with thankfulness whatever she set before them； for they knew that their
father； the breadwinner； was away； and that she had to work sore for their
bit and drap。 I dare say； the only vexation that ever she had from any of
them； on their own account； was when Charlie； the eldest laddie； had won
fourpence at pitch…and…toss at the school； which he brought home with a
proud heart to his mother。 I happened to be daunrin' by at the time； and
just looked in at the door to say gude…night： it was a sad sight。 There
was she sitting with the silent tear on her cheek； and Charlie greeting as if
he had done a great fault； and the other four looking on with sorrowful
faces。 Never； I am sure； did Charlie Malcolm gamble after that night。
I often wondered what brought Mrs Malcolm to our clachan； instead of
going to a populous town； where she might have taken up a huxtry… shop；
as she was but of a silly constitution； the which would have been better for
her than spinning from morning to far in the night； as if she was in verity
drawing the thread of life。 But it was； no doubt； from an honest pride to
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hide her poverty； for when her daughter Effie was ill with the measlesthe
poor lassie was very illnobody thought she could come through； and
when she did get the turn； she was for many a day a h