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the aged at the doors in clusters； and the bairns following the tattoo； as it
was called； and at every doubling beat of the drum； shouting as if they had
been in the face of their foemen。
Mr Archibald Dozendale； one of my elders； was saying to several
persons around him； just as I came up； 〃Hech； sirs！ but the battle draws
near our gates；〃 upon which there was a heavy sigh from all that heard him；
and then they told me of the sergeant's business； and we had a serious
communing together anent the same。 But while we were thus standing
discoursing on the causey； Mrs Balwhidder and the servant lassies could
thole no longer； but in a troop came in quest of me； to hear what was doing。
In short； it was a night both of sorrow and anxiety。 Mr Dozendale
walked back to the manse with us； and we had a sober tumbler of toddy
together； marvelling exceedingly where these fearful portents and changes
would stop； both of us being of opinion that the end of the world was
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drawing nearer and nearer。
Whether it was； however； that the lads belonging to the place did not
like to show themselves with the enlistment cockades among their
acquaintance； or that there was any other reason； I cannot take it upon me
to say； but certain it is； the recruiting party came no speed； and； in
consequence； were removed about the end of March。
Another thing happened in this year； too remarkable for me to neglect
to put on record； as it strangely and strikingly marked the rapid revolutions
that were going on。 In the month of August at the time of the fair； a gang
of playactors came； and hired Thomas Thacklan's barn for their
enactments。 They were the first of that clanjamfrey who had ever been in
the parish； and there was a wonderful excitement caused by the rumours
concerning them。 Their first performance was DOUGLAS TRAGEDY
and the GENTLE SHEPHERD： and the general opinion was； that the lad
who played Norval in the play； and Patie in the farce； was an English lord's
son； who had run away from his parents rather than marry an old cracket
lady with a great portion。 But； whatever truth there might be in this
notion； certain it is； the whole pack was in a state of perfect beggary； and
yet； for all that； they not only in their parts； as I was told； laughed most
heartily； but made others do the same； for I was constrained to let my
daughter go to see them； with some of her acquaintance； and she gave me
such an account of what they did； that I thought I would have liked to have
gotten a keek at them myself。 At the same time； I must own this was a
sinful curiosity； and I stifled it to the best of my ability。 Among other
plays that they did； was one called MACBETH AND THE WITCHES；
which the Miss Cayennes had seen performed in London； when they were
there in the winter time with their father； for three months； seeing the
world； after coming from the boarding…school。 But it was no more like
the true play of Shakespeare the poet； according to their account； than a
duddy betheral； set up to fright the sparrows from the peas； is like a living
gentleman。 The hungry players； instead of behaving like guests at the
royal banquet； were voracious on the needful feast of bread； and the strong
ale； that served for wine in decanters。 But the greatest sport of all was
about a kail…pot； that acted the part of a caldron； and which should have
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sunk with thunder and lightning into the earth； however； it did quite as
well； for it made its exit； as Miss Virginia said； by walking quietly off；
being pulled by a string fastened to one of its feet。 No scene of the play
was so much applauded as this one； and the actor who did the part of King
Macbeth made a most polite bow of thankfulness to the audience； for the
approbation with which they had received the performance of the pot。
We had likewise； shortly after the 〃Omnes exeunt〃 of the players； an
exhibition of a different sort in the same barn。 This was by two English
quakers； and a quaker lady； tanners of Kendal； who had been at Ayr on
some leather business； where they preached； but made no proselytes。
The travellers were all three in a whisky； drawn by one of the best…ordered
horses； as the hostler at the Cross…Keys told me； ever seen。 They came to
the Inn to their dinner； and meaning to stay all night； sent round； to let it be
known that they would hold a meeting in Friend Thacklan's barn； but
Thomas denied they were either kith or kin to him： this； however； was
their way of speaking。
In the evening； owing to the notice； a great congregation was
assembled in the barn； and I myself； along with Mr Archibald Dozendale；
went there likewise； to keep the people in awe； for we feared the strangers
might be jeered and insulted。 The three were seated aloft on a high stage；
prepared on purpose； with two mares and scaffold…deals； borrowed from
Mr Trowel the mason。 They sat long； and silent； but at last the spirit
moved the woman； and she rose； and delivered a very sensible exposition
of Christianity。 I was really surprised to hear such sound doctrine； and
Mr Dozendale said； justly； that it was more to the purpose than some that
my younger brethren from Edinburgh endeavoured to teach。 So； that
those who went to laugh at the sincere simplicity of the pious quakers；
were rebuked by a very edifying discourse on the moral duties of a
Christian's life。
Upon the whole； however； this； to the best of my recollection； was
another unsatisfactory year。 In this we were； doubtless； brought more
into the world； but we had a greater variety of temptation set before us；
and there was still jealousy and estrangement in the dispositions of the
gentry； and the lower orders； particularly the manufacturers。 I cannot say；
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indeed； that there was any increase of corruption among the rural portion
of my people； for their vocation calling them to work apart； in the purity
of the free air of heaven； they were kept uncontaminated by that seditious
infection which fevered the minds of the sedentary weavers； and working
like flatulence in the stomachs of the cotton…spinners； sent up into their
heads a vain and diseased fume of infidel philosophy。
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CHAPTER XXXVII YEAR 1796
The prosperity of fortune is like the blossoms of spring； or the golden
hue of the evening cloud。 It delighteth the spirit； and passeth away；
In the month of February my second wife was gathered to the Lord。
She had been very ill for some time with an income in her side； which no
medicine could remove。 I had the best doctors in the country side to her；
but their skill was of no avail； their opinions being that her ail was caused
by an internal abscess； for which physic has provided no cure。 Her death
was to me a great sorrow； for she was a most excellent wife； industrious to
a degree； and managed every thing with so brisk a hand； that nothing went
wrong that she put it to。 With her I had grown richer than any other
minister in the presbytery； but； above all； she was the mother of my bairns；
which gave her a double claim upon me。
I laid her by the side of my first love； Betty Lanshaw； my own cousin
that was； and I inscribed her name upon the same headstone； but time had
drained my poetical vein； and I have not yet been able to indite an epitaph
on her merits and virtues； for she had an eminent share of both。 Her
greatest faultthe b