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Howard； that was the midshipman who came to see us with Charles；
telling me that poor Charles had been mortally wounded in the action； and
had afterwards died of his wounds。 〃He was a hero in the engagement；〃
said Mr Howard； 〃and he died as a good and a brave man should。〃These
tidings gave me one of the sorest hearts I ever suffered； and it was long
before I could gather fortitude to disclose the tidings to poor Charles's
mother。 But the callants of the school had heard of the victory； and were
going shouting about； and had set the steeple bell a…ringing； by which Mrs
Malcolm heard the news； and knowing that Charles's ship was with the
fleet； she came over to the manse in great anxiety to hear the particulars；
somebody telling her that there had been a foreign letter to me by the
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postman。
When I saw her I could not speak； but looked at her in pity； and； the
tear fleeing up into my eyes； she guessed what had happened。 After giving
a deep and sore sigh； she enquired； 〃How did he behave？ I hope well； for
he was aye a gallant laddie！〃and then she wept very bitterly。 However；
growing calmer； I read to her the letter； and； when I had done； she begged
me to give it to her to keep； saying； 〃It's all that I have now left of my
pretty boy； but it's mair precious to me than the wealth of the Indies；〃 and
she begged me to return thanks to the Lord for all the comforts and
manifold mercies with which her lot had been blessed； since the hour she
put her trust in him alone； and that was when she was left a penniless
widow； with her five fatherless bairns。
It was just an edification of the spirit to see the Christian resignation of
this worthy woman。 Mrs Balwhidder was confounded； and said； there
was more sorrow in seeing the deep grief of her fortitude than tongue
could tell。
Having taken a glass of wine with her； I walked out to conduct her to
her own house； but in the way we met with a severe trial。 All the weans
were out parading with napkins and kail…blades on sticks； rejoicing and
triumphing in the glad tidings of victory。 But when they saw me and Mrs
Malcolm coming slowly along； they guessed what had happened； and
threw away their banners of joy； and standing all up in a row； with silence
and sadness； along the kirkyard wall as we passed； showed an instinct of
compassion that penetrated to my very soul。 The poor mother burst into
fresh affliction； and some of the bairns into an audible weeping； and；
taking one another by the hand； they followed us to her door； like
mourners at a funeral。 Never was such a sight seen in any town before。
The neighbours came to look at it as we walked along； and the men turned
aside to hide their faces； while the mothers pressed their babies fondlier to
their bosoms； and watered their innocent faces with their tears。
I prepared a suitable sermon； taking as the words of my text； 〃Howl；
ye ships of Tarshish； for your strength is laid waste。〃 But when I saw
around me so many of my people clad in complimentary mourning for the
gallant Charles Malcolm； and that even poor daft Jenny Gaffaw； and her
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daughter； had on an old black riband； and when I thought of him； the
spirited laddie； coming home from Jamaica with his parrot on his shoulder；
and his limes for me； my heart filled full； and I was obliged to sit down in
the pulpit； and drop a tear。
After a pause； and the Lord having vouchsafed to compose me； I rose
up； and gave out that anthem of triumph； the 124th psalm； the singing of
which brought the congregation round to themselves； but still I felt that I
could not preach as I had meant to do； therefore I only said a few words of
prayer； and singing another psalm； dismissed the congregation。
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CHAPTER XXIV YEAR 1783
This was another Sabbath year of my ministry。 It has left me nothing
to record but a silent increase of prosperity in the parish。 I myself had now
in the bank more than a thousand pounds； and every thing was thriving
around。 My two bairns； Gilbert； that is now the merchant in Glasgow；
was grown into a sturdy ramplor laddie； and Janet； that is married upon Dr。
Kittleword； the minister of Swappington； was as fine a lassie for her years
as the eyes of a parent could desire to see。
Shortly after the news of the peace； an event at which all gave
themselves up to joy； a thing happened among us that at the time caused
much talk； but although very dreadful； was yet not so serious； some how
or other； as such an awsome doing should have been。 Poor Jenny Gaffaw
happened to take a heavy cold； and soon thereafter died。 Meg went about
from house to house； begging dead… clothes； and got the body straighted in
a wonderful decent manner； with a plate of earth and salt placed upon it
an admonitory type of mortality and eternal life that has ill…advisedly gone
out of fashion。 When I heard of this； I could not but go to see how a
creature that was not thought possessed of a grain of understanding； could
have done so much herself。 On entering the door； I beheld Meg sitting
with two or three of the neighbouring kimmers； and the corpse laid out on
a bed。 〃Come awa'； sir；〃 said Meg； 〃this is an altered house。 They're
gane that keepit it bein； but； sir； we maun a' come to thiswe maun pay the
debt o' naturedeath is a grim creditor； and a doctor but brittle bail when
the hour of reckoning's at han'！ What a pity it is； mother； that you're now
dead； for here's the minister come to see you。 Oh； sir！ but she would
have had a proud heart to see you in her dwelling； for she had a genteel
turn； and would not let me； her only daughter； mess or mell wi' the lathron
lasses of the clachan。 Ay； ay； she brought me up with care； and edicated
me for a lady： nae coarse wark darkened my lily…white hands。 But I
maun work now； I maun dree the penalty of man。〃
Having stopped some time； listening to the curious maunnering of
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Meg； I rose to come away； but she laid her hand on my arm； saying； 〃No；
sir； ye maun taste before ye gang！ My mother had aye plenty in her life；
nor shall her latter day be needy。〃
Accordingly； Meg； with all the due formality common on such
occasions； produced a bottle of water； and a dram…glass； which she filled
and tasted； then presented to me； at the same time offering me a bit of
bread on a slate。 It was a consternation to everybody how the daft
creature had learnt all the ceremonies； which she performed in a manner
past the power of pen to describe； making the solemnity of death； by her
strange mockery； a kind of merriment； that was more painful than sorrow；
but some spirits are gifted with a faculty of observation； that； by the
strength of a little fancy； enables them to make a wonderful and truthlike
semblance of things and events； which they never saw； and poor Meg
seemed to have this gift。
The same night； the session having provided a coffin； the body was put
in； and removed to Mr Mutchkin's brewhouse； where the lads and lassies
kept the late…wake。
Saving this； the year flowed in a calm； and we floated on in the stream
of time towards the great ocean of eternity； like ducks and geese in the
river's tide； that are carried down without being sensible of the speed of
the current。 Alas！ we have not wings like them； to fly back to the place
we set out from。
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CHAPTER XXV