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that I cannot call myself his servant。〃
Was ever a minister in his prayer so broken in upon by a perishing
sinner！ However； I had the weight of a duty upon me； and made no reply；
but continued； 〃Thou hearest； O Lord； how he confesses his unworthiness！
Let not thy compassion； therefore； be withheld； but verify to him the
words that I have spoken in faith； of the boundlessness of thy goodness；
and the infinite multitude of thy tender mercies。〃 I then calmly； but sadly；
sat down； and presently； as if my prayer had been heard； relief was granted；
for Mr Cayenne raised his head； and giving me a queer look； said； 〃That
last clause of your petition； doctor； was well put； and I think； too； it has
been granted； for I am easier〃adding； 〃I have no doubt； doctor； given
much offence in the world； and oftenest when I meant to do good； but I
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have wilfully injured no man； and as God is my judge； and his goodness；
you say； is so great； he may； perhaps； take my soul into his holy keeping。〃
In saying which words； Mr Cayenne dropped his head upon his breast； his
breathing ceased； and he was wafted away out of this world with as little
trouble as a blameless baby。
This event soon led to a change among us。 In the settling of Mr
Cayenne's affairs in the Cotton…mill Company； it was found that he had
left such a power of money； that it was needful to the concern； in order
that they might settle with the doers under his testament； to take in other
partners。 By this Mr Speckle came to be a resident in the parish； he
having taken up a portion of Mr Cayenne's share。 He likewise took a tack
of the house and policy of Wheatrig。 But although Mr Speckle was a far
more conversible man than his predecessor； and had a wonderful
plausibility in business； the affairs of the company did not thrive in his
hands。 Some said this was owing to his having owre many irons in the
fire； others； to the circumstances of the times： in my judgment； however；
both helped； but the issue belongs to the events of another year。 In the
meanwhile； I should here note； that in the course of this current Ann。 Dom。
it pleased Heaven to visit me with a severe trial； the nature of which I will
here record at lengththe upshot I will make known hereafter。
From the planting of inhabitants in the cotton…mill town of
Cayenneville； or as the country folk； not used to used to such lang… nebbit
words； now call it； Canaille； there had come in upon the parish various
sectarians among the weavers； some of whom were not satisfied with the
gospel as I preached it； and endeavoured to practise it in my walk and
conversation； and they began to speak of building a kirk for themselves；
and of getting a minster that would give them the gospel more to their own
ignorant fancies。 I was exceedingly wroth and disturbed when the thing
was first mentioned to me； and I very earnestly； from the pulpit； next
Lord's day； lectured on the growth of newfangled doctrines； which；
however； instead of having the wonted effect of my discourses； set up the
theological weavers in a bleeze； and the very Monday following they
named a committee； to raise money by subscription to build a meeting…
house。 This was the first overt act of insubordination； collectively
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manifested； in the parish； and it was conducted with all that crafty
dexterity with which the infidel and jacobin spirit of the French
Revolution had corrupted the honest simplicity of our good old hameward
fashions。 In the course of a very short time； the Canaille folk had raised
a large sum； and seduced not a few of my people into their schism； by
which they were enabled to set about building their kirk； the foundations
thereof were not； however； laid till the following year； but their
proceedings gave me a het heart； for they were like an open rebellion to
my authority； and a contemptuous disregard of that religious allegiance
which is due from the flock to the pastor。
On Christmas…day the wind broke off the main arm of our Adam and
Eve pear…tree； and I grieved for it more as a type and sign of the threatened
partition； than on account of the damage； though the fruit was the juiciest
in all the country side。
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CHAPTER XLVIII YEAR 1807
This was a year to me of satisfaction in many points； for a greater
number of my younger flock married in it； than had done for any one of
ten years prior。 They were chiefly the offspring of the marriages that
took place at the close of the American war； and I was pleased to see the
duplification of well…doing； as I think marrying is； having always
considered the command to increase and multiply； a holy ordinance； which
the circumstances of this world but too often interfere to prevent。
It was also made manifest to me； that in this year there was a very
general renewal in the hearts of men； of a sense of the utility； even in
earthly affairs； of a religious life： in some； I trust it was more than
prudence； and really a birth of grace。 Whether this was owing to the
upshot of the French Revolution； all men being pretty well satisfied in
their minds； that uproar and rebellion make but an ill way of righting
wrongs； or that the swarm of unruly youth the offspring； as I have said； of
the marriages after the American war； had grown sobered from their follies；
and saw things in a better light； I cannot take upon me to say。 But it was
very edifying to me； their minister； to see several lads who had been both
wild and free in their principles； marrying with sobriety； and taking their
wives to the kirk with the comely decorum of heads of families。
But I was now growing old； and could go seldomer out among my
people than in former days； so that I was less a partaker of their ploys and
banquets； either at birth； bridal； or burial。 I heard； however； all that went
on at them； and I made it a rule； after giving the blessing at the end of the
ceremony； to admonish the bride and bridegroom to ca' canny； and join
trembling with their mirth。 It behoved me on one occasion； however； to
break through a rule that age and frailty had imposed upon me； and to go
to the wedding of Tibby Banes； the daughter of the betheral； because she
had once been a servant in the manse； besides the obligation upon me；
from her father's part both in the kirk and kirkyard。 Mrs Balwhidder
went with me； for she liked to countenance the pleasantries of my people；
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and； over and above all； it was a pay…wedding； in order to set up the
bridegroom in a shop。
There was； to be sure； a great multitude； gentle and semple； of all
denominations； with two fiddles and a bass； and the volunteers' fife and
drum； and the jollity that went on was a perfect feast of itself； though the
wedding…supper was a prodigy of abundance。 The auld carles kecklet
with fainness as they saw the young dancers； and the carlins sat on forms；
as mim as May puddocks； with their shawls pinned apart； to show their
muslin napkins。 But； after supper； when they had got a glass of the
punch； their heels showed their mettle； and grannies danced with their
oyes； holding out their hands as if they had been spinning with two rocks。
I told Colin Mavis； the poet； than an INFARE was a fin