annals of the parish(教区年鉴)-第14章
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a brisk and light…hearted stripling； and Kate Malcolm was budding into a
very rose of beauty； so between them a hankering began； which； for a
season； was productive of great heaviness of heart to the poor old cripple
lady； indeed； she assured me herself； that all her rheumatics were nothing
to the heart…ache which she suffered in the progress of this business。 But
that will be more treated of hereafter； suffice it to say for the present； that
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
we have thus recorded how the plan for making Kate Malcolm our
schoolmistress came to nought。 It pleased； however； Him； from whom
cometh every good and perfect gift； to send at this time among us a Miss
Sabrina Hooky； the daughter of old Mr Hooky； who had been
schoolmaster in a neighbouring parish。 She had gone； after his death； to
live with an auntie in Glasgow； that kept a shop in the Gallowgate。 It
was thought that the old woman would have left her heir to all her
gatherings； and so she said she would； but alas！ our life is but within our
lip。 Before her testament was made； she was carried suddenly off by an
apoplectick； an awful monument of the uncertainty of time and the
nearness of eternity； in her own shop； as she was in the very act of
weighing out an ounce of snuff to a professor of the College； as Miss
Sabrina herself told me。 Being thus destitute； it happened that Miss
Sabrina heard of the vacancy in our parish； as it were； just by the cry of a
passing bird； for she could not tell how； although I judge myself that
William Keckle the elder had a hand in it； as he was at the time in
Glasgow； and she wrote me a wonderful well…penned letter bespeaking the
situation； which letter came to hand on the morn following Lady
Macadam's stramash to me about Kate Malcolm； and I laid it before the
session the same day； so that； by the time her auntie's concern was taken
off her hands； she had a home and a howf among us to come in； to the
which she lived upwards of thirty years in credit and respect； although
some thought she had not the art of her predecessor； and was more uppish
in her carriage than befitted the decorum of her vocation。 Hers； however；
was but a harmless vanity； and； poor woman； she needed all manner of
graces to set her out； for she was made up of odds and ends； and had but
one good eye； the other being blind； and just like a blue bead。 At first she
plainly set her cap for Mr Lorimore； but after oggling and goggling at him
every Sunday in the kirk for a whole half…year and more； Miss Sabrina
desisted in despair。
But the most remarkable thing about her coming into the parish； was
the change that took place in Christian names among us。 Old Mr Hooky；
her father； had； from the time he read his Virgil； maintained a sort of
intromission with the nine muses； by which he was led to baptize her
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
Sabrina； after a name mentioned by John Milton in one of his works。
Miss Sabrina began by calling our Jennies Jessies； and our Nannies
Nancies； alas！ I have lived to see even these likewise grow old…fashioned。
She had also a taste in the mantua…making line； which she had learnt in
Glasgow； and I could date from the very Sabbath of her first appearance in
the kirk； a change growing in the garb of the younger lassies； who from
that day began to lay aside the silken plaidie over the head； the which had
been the pride and bravery of their grandmothers； and instead of the snood；
that was so snod and simple； they hided their heads in round…eared bees…
cap mutches； made of gauze and catgut； and other curious contrivances of
French millendery； all which brought a deal of custom to Miss Sabrina；
over and above the incomings and Candlemas offerings of school；
insomuch that she saved money； and in the course of three years had ten
pounds to put in the bank。
At the time； these alterations and revolutions in the parish were
thought a great advantage； but now when I look back upon them； as a
traveller on the hill over the road he has passed； I have my doubts。 For
with wealth come wants； like a troop of clamorous beggars at the heels of
a generous man； and it's hard to tell wherein the benefit of improvement in
a country parish consists； especially to those who live by the sweat of their
brow。 But it is not for me to make reflections； my task and duty is to
note the changes of time and habitudes。
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
CHAPTER X YEAR 1769
I have my doubts whether it was in the beginning of this year； or in the
end of the last； that a very extraordinary thing came to light in the parish；
but； howsoever that may be； there is nothing more certain than the fact；
which it is my duty to record。 I have mentioned already how it was that
the toll； or trust…road； was set a…going； on account of the Lord Eaglesham's
tumbling on the midden in the Vennel。 Well； it happened to one of the
labouring men； in breaking the stones to make metal for the new road； that
he broke a stone that was both large and remarkable； and in the heart of it；
which was boss； there was found a living creature； that jumped out the
moment it saw the light of heaven； to the great terrification of the man；
who could think it was nothing but an evil spirit that had been imprisoned
therein for a time。 The man came to me like a demented creature； and the
whole clachan gathered out； young and old； and I went at their head to see
what the miracle could be； for the man said it was a fiery dragon； spewing
smoke and flames。 But when we came to the spot； it was just a yird toad；
and the laddie weans nevelled it to death with stones； before I could
persuade them to give over。 Since then； I have read of such things
coming to light in the Scots Magazine； a very valuable book。
Soon after the affair of 〃the wee deil in the stane；〃 as it was called； a
sough reached us that the Americas were seized with the rebellious spirit
of the ten tribes； and were snapping their fingers in the face of the king's
government。 The news came on a Saturday night； for we had no
newspapers in those days； and was brought by Robin Modiwort； that
fetched the letters from the Irville post。 Thomas Fullarton （he has been
dead many a day） kept the grocery shop at Irville； and he had been in at
Glasgow； as was his yearly custom； to settle his accounts； and to buy a
hogshead of tobacco； with sugar and other spiceries； and being in Glasgow；
Thomas was told by the merchant of a great rise in tobacco； that had
happened b
