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The building of the new manse occasioned a heavy cess on the heritors；
which made them overly ready to pick holes in the coats of me and the
elders； so that； out of my forbearance and delicacy in time past； grew a
lordliness on their part； that was an ill return for the years that I had
endured no little inconveniency for their sake。 It was not in my heart or
principles to harm the hair of a dog； but when I discerned the austerity
with which they were disposed to treat their minister； I bethought me that；
for the preservation of what was due to the establishment and the
upholding of the decent administration of religion； I ought to set my face
against the sordid intolerance by which they were actuated。 This notion I
weighed well before divulging it to any person； but when I had assured
myself as to the rectitude thereof； I rode over one day to Mr Kibbock's；
and broke my mind to him about claiming out of the teinds an
augmentation of my stipend； not because I needed it； but in case； after me；
some bare and hungry gorbie of the Lord should be sent upon the parish；
in no such condition to plea with the heritors as I was。 Mr Kibbock
highly approved of my intent； and by his help； after much tribulation； I got
an augmentation both in glebe and income； and to mark my reason for
what I did； I took upon me to keep and clothe the wives and orphans of the
parish； who lost their breadwinners in the American war。 But for all that；
the heritors spoke of me as an avaricious Jew； and made the hard…won
fruits of Mrs Balwhidder's great thrift and good management a matter of
reproach against me。 Few of them would come to the church； but stayed
away； to the detriment of their own souls hereafter； in order； as they
thought； to punish me； so that； in the course of this year； there was a
visible decay of the sense of religion among the better orders of the parish；
and； as will be seen in the sequel； their evil example infected the minds of
many of the rising generation。
It was in this year that Mr Cayenne bought the mailing of the
Wheatrigs； but did not begin to build his house till the following spring；
for being ill to please with a plan； he fell out with the builders； and on one
occasion got into such a passion with Mr Trowel； the mason； that he struck
him a blow on the face； for which he was obligated to make atonement。
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It was thought the matter would have been carried before the Lords； but；
by the mediation of Mr Kibbock； with my helping hand； a reconciliation
was brought about； Mr Cayenne indemnifying the mason with a sum of
money to say no more anent it； after which； he employed him to build his
house； a thing that no man could have thought possible； who reflected on
the enmity between them。
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CHAPTER XXVIII YEAR 1787
There had been； as I have frequently observed； a visible improvement
going on in the parish。 From the time of the making of the toll… road；
every new house that was built in the clachan was built along that road。
Among other changes hereby caused； the Lady Macadam's jointure…house
that was； which stood in a pleasant parterre； inclosed within a stone wall
and an iron gate； having a pillar with a pineapple head on each side； came
to be in the middle of the town。 While Mr Cayenne inhabited the same； it
was maintained in good order； but on his flitting to his own new house on
the Wheatrigs； the parterre was soon overrun with weeds； and it began to
wear the look of a waste place。 Robert Toddy； who then kept the change…
house； and who had； from the lady's death； rented the coach…house for
stabling； in this juncture thought of it for an inn； so he set his own house to
Thomas Treddles the weaver； whose son； William； is now the great
Glasgow manufacturer； that has cotton…mills and steam… engines； and took；
〃the Place；〃 as it was called； and had a fine sign； THE CROSS…KEYS；
painted and put up in golden characters； by which it became one of the
most noted inns anywhere to be seen； and the civility of Mrs Toddy was
commended by all strangers。 But although this transmutation from a
change…house to an inn was a vast amendment； in a manner； to the parish；
there was little amendment of manners thereby； for the farmer lads began
to hold dancings and other riotous proceedings there； and to bring； as it
were； the evil practices of towns into the heart of the country。 All sort of
licence was allowed as to drink and hours； and the edifying example of Mr
Mutchkins and his pious family； was no longer held up to the imitation of
the wayfaring man。
Saving the mutation of 〃the Place〃 into an inn； nothing very
remarkable happened in this year。 We got into our new manse about the
middle of March； but it was rather damp； being new plastered； and it
caused me to have a severe attack of the rheumatics in the fall of the year。
I should not； in my notations； forget to mark a new luxury that got in
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among the commonality at this time。 By the opening of new roads； and
the traffic thereon with carts and carriers； and by our young men that were
sailors going to the Clyde； and sailing to Jamaica and the West Indies；
heaps of sugar and coffee…beans were brought home； while many； among
the kail…stocks and cabbages in their yards； had planted groset and berry
bushes； which two things happening together； the fashion to make jam and
jelly； which hitherto had been only known in the kitchens and
confectionaries of the gentry； came to be introduced into the clachan。 All
this； however； was not without a plausible pretext； for it was found that
jelly was an excellent medicine for a sore throat； and jam a remedy as
good as London candy for a cough； or a cold； or a shortness of breath。 I
could not； however； say that this gave me so much concern as the
smuggling trade； only it occasioned a great fasherie to Mrs Balwhidder；
for； in the berry time； there was no end to the borrowing of her brass…pan
to make jelly and jam； till Mrs Toddy of the Cross…Keys bought one；
which； in its turn； came into request； and saved ours。
It was in the Martinmas quarter of this year that I got the first payment
of my augmentation。 Having no desire to rip up old sores； I shall say no
more anent it； the worst being anticipated in my chronicle of the last year；
but there was a thing happened in the payment that occasioned a vexation
at the time； of a very disagreeable nature。 Daft Meg Gaffaw； who； from
the tragical death of her mother； was a privileged subject； used to come to
the manse on the Saturdays for a meal of meat； and so it fell out that as； by
some neglect of mine； no steps had been taken to regulate the disposal of
the victual that constituted the means of the augmentation； some of the
heritors； in an ungracious temper； sent what they called the tithe…ball （the
Lord knows it was not the fiftieth！） to the manse； where I had no place to
put it。 This fell out on a Saturday night； when I was busy with my
sermon； thinking not of silver or gold； but of much better； so that I was
greatly molested and disturbed thereby。 Daft Meg； who sat by the
kitchen chimley…lug； hearing a'； said nothing for a time； but when she saw
how Mrs Balwhidder and me were put to； she cried out with a loud voice；
like a soul under the inspiration of prophecy〃When the widow's cruse
had filled all the vessels in the house； the Lord stopped the increase。
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