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houses； and； in coming home； forgathered on the road with the Glasgow
carrier； who told them that news had come； in the London Gazette； of a
battle； in which the regiment that Thomas had listed in was engaged； and
had suffered loss both in rank and file； none doubting that their head was
in the number of the slain； the whole family grat aloud； and came to the
manse； bewailing him as no more； and it afterwards turned out to be the
case； making it plain to me that there is a farseeing discernment in the
spirit； that reaches beyond the scope of our incarnate senses。
But the weight of the war did not end with these afflictions； for；
instead of the sorrow that the listing caused； and the anxiety after； and the
grief of the bloody tidings； operating as wholesome admonition to our
young men； the natural perversity of the human heart was more and more
manifested。 A wonderful interest was raised among us all to hear of what
was going on in the world； insomuch； that I myself was no longer
contented with the relation of the news of the month in the Scots
Magazine； but joined with my father…in… law； Mr Kibbock； to get a
newspaper twice a…week from Edinburgh。 As for Lady Macadam； who
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being naturally an impatient woman； she had one sent to her three times a…
week from London； so that we had something fresh five times every week；
and the old papers were lent out to the families who had friends in the
wars。 This was done on my suggestion； hoping it would make all content
with their peaceable lot； but dominion for a time had been given to the
power of contrariness； and it had quite an opposite effect。 It begot a
curiosity； egging on to enterprise； and； greatly to my sorrow； three of the
brawest lads in the parish； or in any parish； all in one day took on with a
party of the Scots Greys that were then lying in Ayr； and nothing would
satisfy the callans at Mr Lorimore's school； but； instead of their innocent
plays with girs； and shinties； and sicklike； they must go ranking like
soldiers； and fight sham…fights in bodies。 In short； things grew to a
perfect hostility； for a swarm of weans came out from the schools of Irville
on a Saturday afternoon； and； forgathering with ours； they had a battle
with stones on the toll…road； such as was dreadful to hear of； for many a
one got a mark that day he will take to the grave with him。
It was not； however； by accidents of the field only； that we were
afflicted； those of the flood； too； were sent likewise against us。 In the
month of October； when the corn was yet in the holms； and on the cold
land by the river side； the water of Irville swelled to a great spait； from
bank to brae； sweeping all before it； and roaring； in its might； like an agent
of divine displeasure； sent forth to punish the inhabitants of the earth。
The loss of the victual was a thing reparable； and those that suffered did
not greatly complain； for； in other respects； their harvest had been
plenteous： but the river； in its fury； not content with overflowing the
lands； burst through the sandy hills with a raging force； and a riving
asunder of the solid ground； as when the fountains of the great deep were
broken up。 All in the parish was a…foot； and on the hills； some weeping
and wringing their hands； not knowing what would happen； when they
beheld the landmarks of the waters deserted； and the river breaking away
through the country； like the war…horse set loose in his pasture； and
glorying in his might。 By this change in the way and channel of the river；
all the mills in our parish were left more than half a mile from dam or lade；
and the farmers through the whole winter； till the new mills were built； had
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to travel through a heavy road with their victual； which was a great
grievance； and added not a little to the afflictions of this unhappy year；
which to me were not without a particularity； by the death of a full cousin
of Mrs Balwhidder； my first wife； she was grievously burnt by looting
over a candle。 Her mutch； which was of the high structure then in vogue；
took fire； and being fastened with corking…pins to a great toupee； it could
not be got off until she had sustained a deadly injury； of which； after
lingering long； she was kindly eased by her removal from trouble。 This
sore accident was to me a matter of deep concern and cogitation； but as it
happened in Tarbolton； and no in our parish； I have only alluded to it to
show； that when my people were chastised by the hand of Providence；
their pastor was not spared； but had a drop from the same vial。
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CHAPTER XIX YEAR 1778
This year was as the shadow of the bygane： there was less actual
suffering； but what we came through cast a gloom among us； and we did
not get up our spirits till the spring was far advanced； the corn was in the
ear； and the sun far towards midsummer height； before there was any
regular show of gladness in the parish。
It was clear to me that the wars were not to be soon over； for I noticed；
in the course of this year； that there was a greater christening of lad bairns
than had ever been in any year during my incumbency； and grave and wise
persons； observant of the signs of the times； said； that it had been long
held as a sure prognostication of war； when the births of male children
outnumbered that of females。
Our chief misfortune in this year was a revival of that wicked mother
of many mischiefs； the smuggling trade； which concerned me greatly； but
it was not allowed to it to make any thing like a permanent stay among us；
though in some of the neighbouring parishes； its ravages； both in morals
and property； were very distressing； and many a mailing was sold to pay
for the triumphs of the cutters and gaugers； for the government was by this
time grown more eager； and the war caused the king's ships to be out and
about； which increased the trouble of the smugglers； whose wits in their
turn were thereby much sharpened。
After Mrs Malcolm； by the settlement of Captain Macadam； had given
up her dealing； two maiden women； that were sisters； Betty and Janet
Pawkie； came in among us from Ayr； where they had friends in league
with some of the laigh land folk； that carried on the contraband with the
Isle of Man； which was the very eye of the smuggling。 They took up the
tea…selling； which Mrs Malcolm had dropped； and did business on a larger
scale； having a general huxtry； with parliament…cakes； and candles； and
pincushions； as well as other groceries； in their window。 Whether they
had any contraband dealings； or were only back…bitten； I cannot take it
upon me to say； but it was jealoused in the parish that the meal in the
sacks； that came to their door at night； and was sent to the Glasgow market
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in the morning； was not made of corn。 They were； however； decent
women； both sedate and orderly； the eldest； Betty Pawkie； was of a manly
stature； and had a long beard； which made her have a coarse look； but she
was； nevertheless； a worthy； well…doing creature； and at her death she left
ten pounds to the poor of the parish； as may be seen in the mortification
board that the session put up in the kirk as a testification and an example。
Shortly after the revival of the smuggling； an exciseman was put
among us； and the first was Robin Bicker； a very civil lad that had been a
flunkey