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poor lassie was very illnobody thought she could come through； and
when she did get the turn； she was for many a day a heavy handful；our
session being rich； and nobody on it but cripple Tammy Daidles； that was
at that time known through all the country side for begging on a horse； I
thought it my duty to call upon Mrs Malcolm in a sympathising way； and
offer her some assistance； but she refused it。
〃No； sir；〃 said she； 〃I canna take help from the poor's…box； although it's
very true that I am in great need； for it might hereafter be cast up to my
bairns； whom it may please God to restore to better circumstances when I
am no to see't； but I would fain borrow five pounds； and if； sir； you will
write to Mr Maitland； that is now the Lord Provost of Glasgow； and tell
him that Marion Shaw would be obliged to him for the lend of that soom； I
think he will not fail to send it。〃
I wrote the letter that night to Provost Maitland； and； by the retour of
the post； I got an answer； with twenty pounds for Mrs Malcolm； saying；
〃That it was with sorrow he heard so small a trifle could be serviceable。〃
When I took the letter and the money； which was in a bank…bill； she said；
〃This is just like himsel'。〃 She then told me that Mr Maitland had been a
gentleman's son of the east country； but driven out of his father's house；
when a laddie； by his stepmother； and that he had served as a servant lad
with her father； who was the Laird of Yillcogie； but ran through his estate；
and left her； his only daughter； in little better than beggary with her auntie；
the mother of Captain Malcolm； her husband that was。 Provost Maitland in
his servitude had ta'en a notion of her； and when he recovered his
patrimony； and had become a great Glasgow merchant； on hearing how
she was left by her father； he offered to marry her； but she had promised
herself to her cousin the captain； whose widow she was。 He then married
a rich lady； and in time grew； as he was； Lord Provost of the city； but his
letter with the twenty pounds to me； showed that he had not forgotten his
first love。 It was a short； but a well…written letter； in a fair hand of write；
containing much of the true gentleman； and Mrs Malcolm said； 〃Who
knows but out of the regard he once had for their mother； he may do
something for my five helpless orphans。〃
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
Thirdly； Upon the subject of taking my cousin； Miss Betty Lanshaw；
for my first wife； I have little to say。It was more out of a compassionate
habitual affection； than the passion of love。 We were brought up by our
grandmother in the same house； and it was a thing spoken of from the
beginning； that Betty and me were to be married。 So； when she heard that
the Laird of Breadland had given me the presentation of Dalmailing； she
began to prepare for the wedding； and as soon as the placing was well over；
and the manse in order； I gaed to Ayr； where she was； and we were quietly
married； and came home in a chaise； bringing with us her little brother
Andrew； that died in the East Indies； and he lived and was brought up by
us。
Now； this is all； I think； that happened in that year worthy of being
mentioned； except that at the sacrament； when old Mr Kilfuddy was
preaching in the tent； it came on such a thunder…plump； that there was not
a single soul stayed in the kirkyard to hear him； for the which he was
greatly mortified； and never after came to our preachings。
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
CHAPTER II YEAR 1761
It was in this year that the great smuggling trade corrupted all the west
coast； especially the laigh lands about the Troon and the Loans。 The tea
was going like the chaff； the brandy like well… water； and the wastrie of all
things was terrible。 There was nothing minded but the riding of cadgers
by day； and excisemen by nightand battles between the smugglers and
the king's men； both by sea and land。 There was a continual drunkenness
and debauchery； and our session； that was but on the lip of this whirlpool
of iniquity； had an awful time o't。 I did all that was in the power of
nature to keep my people from the contagion： I preached sixteen times
from the text； 〃Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's。〃 I visited；
and I exhorted； I warned； and I prophesied； I told them that； although the
money came in like sclate stones； it would go like the snow off the dyke。
But for all I could do； the evil got in among us； and we had no less than
three contested bastard bairns upon our hands at one time； which was a
thing never heard of in a parish of the shire of Ayr since the Reformation。
Two of the bairns； after no small sifting and searching； we got fathered at
last； but the third； that was by Meg Glaiks； and given to one Rab Rickerton；
was utterly refused； though the fact was not denied； but he was a
termagant fellow； and snappit his fingers at the elders。 The next day he
listed in the Scotch Greys； who were then quartered at Ayr； and we never
heard more of him； but thought he had been slain in battle； till one of the
parish； about three years since； went up to London to lift a legacy from a
cousin that died among the Hindoos。 When he was walking about；
seeing the curiosities； and among others Chelsea Hospital； he happened to
speak to some of the invalids； who found out from his tongue that he was a
Scotchman； and speaking to the invalids； one of them； a very old man；
with a grey head and a leg of timber； inquired what part of Scotland he
was come from； and when he mentioned my parish； the invalid gave a
great shout； and said he was from the same place himself； and who should
this old man be； but the very identical Rab Rickerton； that was art and part
in Meg Glaiks' disowned bairn。 Then they had a long converse together；
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
and he had come through many hardships； but had turned out a good
soldier； and so； in his old days； was an indoor pensioner； and very
comfortable； and he said that he had； to be sure； spent his youth in the
devil's service； and his manhood in the king's； but his old age was given to
that of his Maker； which I was blithe and thankful to hear； and he enquired
about many a one in the parish； the blooming and the green of his time；
but they were all dead and buried； and he had a contrite and penitent spirit；
and read his Bible every day； delighting most in the Book of Joshua； the
Chronicles； and the Kings。
Before this year； the drinking of tea was little known in the parish；
saving among a few of the heritors' houses on a Sabbath evening； but now
it became very rife： yet the commoner sort did not like to let it be known
that they were taking to the new luxury； especially the elderly women；
who； for that reason； had their ploys in out…houses and by…places； just as
the witches lang syne had their sinful possets and galravitchings； and they
made their tea for common in the pint…stoup； and drank it out of caps and
luggies； for there were but few among them that had cups and saucers。
Well do I remember one night in harvest； in this very year； as I was taking
my twilight dauner aneath the hedge along the back side of Thomas
Thorl's yard； meditating on the goodness of Providence； and looking at the
sheaves of victual on the field； that I heard his wife； and two three other
carlins； with their Bohea in the inside of the hedge； and no doubt but it had
a lacing of the conek； ｛3｝ for they were all cracking like pen…guns。 But I
gave them a sign； by a loud host； that Providence sees all； and it skailed
the bike； for I heard them； like guilty creatures； whispering； and gathering
up their truck…pots and trenchers； and cowering away home。
It was in this year that Patrick Dilworth （he had been schoolmaster of
the parish from the time； as his wife said； of Anna