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the parish from the time； as his wife said； of Anna Regina； and before the
Rexes came to the crown）； was disabled by a paralytic； and the heritors；
grudging the cost of another schoolmaster as long as he lived； would not
allow the session to get his place supplied； which was a wrong thing； I
must say； of them； for the children of the parishioners were obliged；
therefore； to go to the neighbouring towns for their schooling； and the
custom was to take a piece of bread and cheese in their pockets for dinner；
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and to return in the evening always voracious for more； the long walk
helping the natural crave of their young appetites。 In this way Mrs
Malcolm's two eldest laddies； Charlie and Robert； were wont to go to
Irville； and it was soon seen that they kept themselves aloof from the other
callans in the clachan； and had a genteeler turn than the grulshy bairns of
the cottars。 Her bit lassies； Kate and Effie； were better off； for some
years before； Nanse Banks had taken up a teaching in a garret…room of a
house； at the corner where John Bayne has biggit the sclate…house for his
grocery…shop。 Nanse learnt them reading and working stockings； and
how to sew the semplar； for twal…pennies a…week。 She was a patient
creature； well cut out for her calling； with blear een； a pale face； and a long
neck； but meek and contented withal； tholing the dule of this world with a
Christian submission of the spirit； and her garret…room was a cordial of
cleanliness； for she made the scholars set the house in order； time and time
about； every morning； and it was a common remark for many a day； that
the lassies； who had been at Nanse Banks's school； were always well
spoken of； both for their civility； and the trigness of their houses when
they were afterwards married。 In short； I do not know； that in all the long
epoch of my ministry； any individual body did more to improve the ways
of the parishioners； in their domestic concerns； than did that worthy and
innocent creature； Nanse Banks； the schoolmistress； and she was a great
loss when she was removed； as it is to be hoped； to a better world； but
anent this I shall have to speak more at large hereafter。
It was in this year that my patron； the Laird of Breadland； departed this
life； and I preached his funeral sermon； but he was non…beloved in the
parish； for my people never forgave him for putting me upon them；
although they began to be more on a familiar footing with myself。 This
was partly owing to my first wife； Betty Lanshaw； who was an active
throughgoing woman； and wonderfu' useful to many of the cottars' wives
at their lying…in； and when a death happened among them； her helping
hand； and any thing we had at the manse； was never wanting； and I went
about myself to the bedsides of the frail； leaving no stone unturned to win
the affections of my people； which； by the blessing of the Lord； in process
of time； was brought to a bearing。
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But a thing happened in this year； which deserves to be recorded； as
manifesting what effect the smuggling was beginning to take in the morals
of the country side。 One Mr Macskipnish； of Highland parentage； who
had been a valet…de…chambre with a major in the campaigns； and taken a
prisoner with him by the French； he having come home in a cartel； took up
a dancing…school at Irville； the which art he had learnt in the genteelest
fashion； in the mode of Paris； at the French court。 Such a thing as a
dancing…school had never； in the memory of man； been known in our
country side； and there was such a sound about the steps and cottillions of
Mr Macskipnish； that every lad and lass； that could spare time and siller；
went to him； to the great neglect of their work。 The very bairns on the
loan； instead of their wonted play； gaed linking and louping in the steps of
Mr Macskipnish； who was； to be sure； a great curiosity； with long spindle
legs； his breast shot out like a duck's； and his head powdered and frizzled
up like a tappit…hen。 He was； indeed； the proudest peacock that could be
seen； and he had a ring on his finger； and when he came to drink his tea at
the Breadland； he brought no hat on his head； but a droll cockit thing
under his arm； which； he said； was after the manner of the courtiers at the
petty suppers of one Madam Pompadour； who was at that time the
concubine of the French king。
I do not recollect any other remarkable thing that happened in this year。
The harvest was very abundant； and the meal so cheap； that it caused a
great defect in my stipend； so that I was obligated to postpone the
purchase of a mahogany scrutoire for my study； as I had intended。 But I
had not the heart to complain of this： on the contrary； I rejoiced thereat；
for what made me want my scrutoire till another year； had carried
blitheness into the hearth of the cottar； and made the widow's heart sing
with joy； and I would have been an unnatural creature； had I not joined in
the universal gladness； because plenty did abound。
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CHAPTER III YEAR 1762
The third year of my ministry was long held in remembrance for
several very memorable things。 William Byres of the Loanhead had a
cow that calved two calves at one calving； Mrs Byres； the same year； had
twins； male and female； and there was such a crop on his fields； testifying
that the Lord never sends a mouth into the world without providing meat
for it。 But what was thought a very daunting sign of something；
happened on the Sacrament Sabbath at the conclusion of the action sermon；
when I had made a very suitable discourse。 The day was tempestuous；
and the wind blew with such a pith and birr； that I thought it would have
twirled the trees in the kirkyard out by the roots； and； blowing in this
manner； it tirled the thack from the rigging of the manse stable； and the
same blast that did that； took down the lead that was on the kirk…roof；
which hurled off； as I was saying； at the conclusion of the action sermon；
with such a dreadful sound； as the like was never heard； and all the
congregation thought that it betokened a mutation to me。 However；
nothing particular happened to me； but the smallpox came in among the
weans of the parish； and the smashing that it made of the poor bits o'
bairns was indeed woeful。
One Sabbath； when the pestilence was raging； I preached a sermon
about Rachel weeping for her children； which Thomas Thorl； who was
surely a great judge of good preaching； said； 〃was a monument of divinity
whilk searched the heart of many a parent that day；〃 a thing I was well
pleased to hear； for Thomas； as I have related at length； was the most
zealous champion against my getting the parish； but； from this time； I set
him down in my mind for the next vacancy among the elders。 Worthy
man！ it was not permitted him to arrive at that honour。 In the fall of that
year he took an income in his legs； and couldna go about； and was laid up
for the remainder of his days； a perfect Lazarus； by the fire…side。 But he
was well supported in his affliction。 In due season； when it pleased Him
that alone can give and take； to pluck him from this life； as the fruit
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ripened and ready for the gathering； his death； to all that knew him； was a
gentle dispensation； for truly