annals of the parish(教区年鉴)-第44章
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of Mr Cayenne to them was most exemplary。 He remembered his own
haste with his family from Virginia； when the Americans rebelled； and
immediately on hearing of these Irish refugees； he waited on them with his
wife and daughter； supplied them with money； invited them to his house；
made ploys to keep up their spirits； while the other gentry stood back till
they knew something of the strangers。
Among these destitute ladies was a Mrs Desmond and her two
daughters； a woman of most august presence； being indeed more like one
ordained to reign over a kingdom； than for household purposes。 The Miss
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Desmonds were only entering their teens； but they also had no ordinary
stamp upon them。 What made this party the more particular； was on
account of Mr Desmond； who was supposed to be a united man with the
rebels； and it was known his son was deep in their plots； yet although this
was all told to Mr Cayenne； by some of the other Irish ladies who were of
the loyal connexion； it made no difference with him； but； on the contrary；
he acted as if he thought the Desmonds the most of all the refugees
entitled to his hospitable civilities。 This was a wonderment to our strait…
laced narrow lairds； as there was not a man of such strict government
principles in the whole country side as Mr Cayenne： but he said he
carried his political principles only to the camp and the council。 〃To the
hospital and the prison；〃 said he； 〃I take those of a man〃 which was
almost a Christian doctrine； and from that declaration Mr Cayenne and me
began again to draw a little more cordially together； although he had still a
very imperfect sense of religion； which I attributed to his being born in
America； where even as yet； I am told； they have but a scanty sprinkling of
grace。
But before concluding this year； I should tell the upshot of the
visitation of the Irish； although it did not take place until some time after
the peace with France。
In the putting down of the rebels Mr Desmond and his son made their
escape to Paris； where they stayed till the treaty was signed； by which； for
several years after the return to Ireland of the grand lady and her daughters；
as Mrs Desmond was called by our commonalty； we heard nothing of
them。 The other refugees repaid Mr Cayenne his money with
thankfulness； and； on their restoration to their homes； could not
sufficiently express their sense of his kindness。 But the silence and
seeming ingratitude of the Desmonds vexed him； and he could not abide to
hear the Irish rebellion mentioned without flying into a passion against the
rebels； which every body knew was owing to the ill return he had received
from that family。 However； one afternoon； just about half an hour before
his wonted dinner hour； a grand equipage； with four horses and outriders；
stopped at his door； and who was in it but Mrs Desmond and an elderly
man； and a young gentleman with an aspect like a lord。 It was her
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husband and son。 They had come from Ireland in all their state on purpose
to repay with interest the money Mr Cayenne had counted so long lost；
and to express in person the perpetual obligation which he had conferred
upon the Desmond family； in all time coming。 The lady then told him；
that she had been so straitened in helping the poor ladies； that it was not in
her power to make repayment till Desmond； as she called her husband；
came home； and not choosing to assign the true reason； lest it might cause
trouble； she rather submitted to be suspected of ingratitude than to an
improper thing。
Mr Cayenne was transported with this unexpected return； and a
friendship grew up between the families； which was afterwards cemented
into relationship by the marriage of the young Desmond with Miss
Caroline Cayenne。 Some in the parish objected to this match； Mrs
Desmond being a papist： but as Miss Caroline had received an
episcopalian education； I thought it of no consequence； and married them
after their family chaplain from Ireland； as a young couple both by beauty
and fortune well matched； and deserving of all conjugal felicity。
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CHAPTER XL YEAR 1799
There are but two things to make me remember this year； the first was
the marriage of my daughter Janet with the reverend Dr。 Kittlewood of
Swappington； a match in every way commendable； and on the advice of
the third Mrs Balwhidder； I settled a thousand pounds down； and promised
five hundred more at my death if I died before my spouse； and a thousand
at her death if she survived me； which was the greatest portion ever
minister's daughter had in our country side。 In this year likewise I
advanced fifteen hundred pounds for my son in a concern in Glasgow；all
was the gathering of that indefatigable engine of industry the second Mrs
Balwhidder； whose talents her successor said were a wonder； when she
considered the circumstances in which I had been left at her death； and
made out of a narrow stipend。
The other memorable was the death of Mrs Malcolm。 If ever there
was a saint on this earth； she was surely one。 She had been for some time
bedfast； having all her days from the date of her widowhood been a tender
woman； but no change made any alteration on the Christian contentment
of her mind。 She bore adversity with an honest pride； she toiled in the
day of penury and affliction with thankfulness for her earnings； although
ever so little。 She bent her head to the Lord in resignation when her first…
born fell in battle； nor was she puffed up with vanity when her daughters
were married； as it was said； so far above their degree； though they
showed it was but into their proper sphere by their demeanour after。 She
lived to see her second son； the captain； rise into affluence； married； and
with a thriving young family； and she had the very great satisfaction； on
the last day she was able to go to church； to see her youngest son the
clergyman standing in my pulpit； a doctor of divinity； and the placed
minister of a richer parish than mine。 Well indeed might she have said on
that day； 〃Lord； let thy servant depart in peace； for mine eyes have seen
thy salvation。〃
For some time it had been manifest to all who saw her； that her latter
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end was drawing nigh； and therefore； as I had kept up a correspondence
with her daughters； Mrs Macadam and Mrs Howard； I wrote them a
particular account of her case； which brought them to the clachan。 They
both came in their own c
