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however； I began to discern that there was something as good in her
example； as the giving of alms to the poor folk； for all the wives of the
parish were stirred up by it into a wonderful thrift； and nothing was heard
of in every house； but of quiltings and wabs to weave； insomuch that；
before many years came round； there was not a better stocked parish； with
blankets and napery； than mine was； within the bounds of Scotland。
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It was about the Michaelmas of this year that Mrs Malcolm opened her
shop； which she did chiefly on the advice of Mrs Balwhidder； who said it
was far better to allow a little profit on the different haberdasheries that
might be wanted； than to send to the neighbouring towns an end's errand
on purpose for them； none of the lasses that were so sent ever thinking of
making less than a day's play on every such occasion。 In a word； it is not
to be told how the second Mrs Balwhidder； my wife； showed the value of
flying time； even to the concerns of this world； and was the mean of giving
a life and energy to the housewifery of the parish； that has made many a
one beek his shins in comfort； that would otherwise have had but a cold
coal to blow at。 Indeed； Mr； Kibbock； her father； was a man beyond the
common； and had an insight of things； by which he was enabled to draw
profit and advantage； where others could only see risk and detriment。 He
planted mounts of fir…trees on the bleak and barren tops of the hills of his
farm； the which everybody； and I among the rest； considered as a thrashing
of the water and raising of bells。 But as his rack ran his trees grew； and
the plantations supplied him with stabs to make STAKE AND RICE
between his fields； which soon gave them a trig and orderly appearance；
such as had never before been seen in the west country； and his example
has； in this matter； been so followed； that I have heard travellers say； who
have been in foreign countries； that the shire of Ayr； for its bonny round
green plantings on the tops of the hills； is above comparison either with
Italy or Switzerland； where the hills are； as it were； in a state of nature。
Upon the whole； this was a busy year in the parish； and the seeds of
many great improvements were laid。 The king's road； the which then ran
through the Vennel； was mended； but it was not till some years after； as I
shall record by…and…by； that the trust…road； as it was called； was made； the
which had the effect of turning the town inside out。
Before I conclude； it is proper to mention that the kirk…bell； which had
to this time； from time immemorial； hung on an ash…tree； was one stormy
night cast down by the breaking of the branch； which was the cause of the
heritors agreeing to build the steeple。 The clock was a mortification to
the parish from the Lady Breadland； when she died some years after。
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CHAPTER VII YEAR 1766
It was in this Ann。 Dom。 that the great calamity happened； the which
took place on a Sabbath evening in the month of February。 Mrs
Balwhidder had just infused or masket the tea； and we were set round the
fireside； to spend the night in an orderly and religious manner； along with
Mr and Mrs Petticrew； who were on a friendly visitation to the manse； the
mistress being full cousin to Mrs Balwhidder。 Sitting； as I was saying； at
our tea； one of the servant lasses came into the room with a sort of a panic
laugh； and said； 〃What are ye all doing there when the Breadland's in a
low？〃〃The Breadland in a low！〃 cried I。〃Oh； ay！〃 cried she； 〃bleezing
at the windows and the rigging； and out at the lum； like a killogie。〃 Upon
the which； we all went to the door； and there； to be sure； we did see that
the Breadland was burning； the flames crackling high out o'er the trees；
and the sparks flying like a comet's tail in the firmament。
Seeing this sight； I said to Mr Petticrew； that； in the strength of the
Lord； I would go and see what could be done； for it was as plain as the sun
in the heavens that the ancient place of the Breadlands would be destroyed；
whereupon he accorded to go with me； and we walked at a lively course to
the spot； and the people from all quarters were pouring in； and it was an
awsome scene。 But the burning of the house； and the droves of the
multitude； were nothing to what we saw when we got forenent the place。
There was the rafters crackling； the flames raging； the servants running；
some with bedding； some with looking…glasses； and others with chamber
utensils as little likely to be fuel to the fire； but all testifications to the
confusion and alarm。 Then there was a shout； 〃Whar's Miss Girzie？
whar's the Major？〃 The Major； poor man； soon cast up； lying upon a
feather…bed； ill with his complaints； in the garden； but Lady Skimmilk was
nowhere to be found。 At last； a figure was seen in the upper flat； pursued
by the flames； and that was Miss Girzie。 Oh！ it was a terrible sight to
look at her in that jeopardy at the window； with her gold watch in the one
hand and the silver teapot in the other； skreighing like desperation for a
ladder and help。 But； before a ladder or help could be found； the floor
sunk down； and the roof fell in； and poor Miss Girzie； with her idols；
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perished in the burning。 It was a dreadful business！ I think； to this hour；
how I saw her at the window； how the fire came in behind her； and claught
her like a fiery Belzebub； and bore her into perdition before our eyes。
The next morning the atomy of the body was found among the rubbish；
with a piece of metal in what had been each of its hands； no doubt the gold
watch and the silver teapot。 Such was the end of Miss Girzie； and the
Breadland； which the young laird； my pupil that was； by growing a
resident at Edinburgh； never rebuilt。 It was burnt to the very ground；
nothing was spared but what the servants in the first flaught gathered up in
a hurry and ran with； but no one could tell how the Major； who was then；
as it was thought by the faculty； past the power of nature to recover； got
out of the house； and was laid on the feather…bed in the garden。 However；
he never got the better of that night； and before Whitsunday he was dead
too； and buried beside his sister's bones at the south side of the kirkyard
dyke； where his cousin's son； that was his heir； erected the handsome
monument； with the three urns and weeping cherubims； bearing witness to
the great valour of the Major among the Hindoos； as well as other
commendable virtues； for which； as the epitaph says； he was universally
esteemed and beloved； by all who knew him； in his public and private
capacity。
But although the burning of the Breadland…House was justly called the
great calamity； on account of what happened to Miss Girzie with her gold
watch and silver teapot； yet； as Providence never fails to bring good out of
evil； it turned out a catastrophe that proved advantageous to the parish； for
the laird； instead of thinking to build it up； was advised to let the policy
out as a farm； and the tack was taken by Mr Coulter； than whom there had
been no such man in the agriculturing line among us before； not even
excepting Mr Kibbock of the Gorbyholm； my father…in…law that was。 Of
the stabling； Mr Coulter made a comfortable dwelling…house； and having
rugget out the evergreens and other unprofitable plants； saving the twa
ancient yew…trees which the near…begaun Major and his sister had left to
go to ruin about the mansion…house； he turned all to production； and it was
wonderful what an increase he made the land bring forth。 He was from
far beyond Edinburgh； and had got his insight among the Lothian farmers；
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