y in the death…thraws； but a sorner； an incomer from the east country； and that hung about the change…house as a divor hostler； that would rather gang a day's journey in the dark than turn a spade in day…light； came to him as he stood at the door； and went in with him to see the sport。 Robin； for some reason； could not bid him go away； and both Betty and Janet were sure he was in the plot against them； indeed； it was always thought he was an informer； and no doubt he was something not canny； for he had a down look。
It was some time before the doorway was cleared of the stoups and stools； and Jenny was in great concern； and flustered； as she said； for her poor sister； who was taken with a heart…colic。 〃I'm sorry for her；〃 said Robin； 〃but I'll be as quiet as possible；〃 and so he searched all the house； but found nothing； at the which his companion； the divor east country hostler； swore an oath that could not be misunderstood； so； without more ado； but as all thought against the grain； Robin went up to sympathize with Betty in the bed； whose groans were loud and vehement。 〃Let me feel your pulse；〃 said Robin； and he looted down as she put forth her arm from aneath the clothes； and laying his hand on the bed； cried； 〃Hey！ what's this？ this is a costly filling。〃 Upon which Betty jumpet up quite recovered； and Jenny fell to the wailing and railing； while the hostler from the east country took the bed of tea on his back； to carry it to the change…house； till a cart was gotten to take it into the custom…house at Irville。
Betty Pawkie being thus suddenly cured； and grudging the loss of property； took a knife in her hand； and as the divor was crossing the burn at the stepping…stones that lead to the back of the change… house； she ran after him and ripped up the tikeing； and sent all the tea floating away on the burn； which was thought a brave action of Betty； and the story not a little helped to lighten our melancholy meditations。
Robin Bicker was soon after this affair removed to another district； and we got in his place one Mungo Argyle； who was as proud as a provost； being come of Highland parentage。 Black was the hour he came among my people； for he was needy and greedy； and rode on the top of his commission。 Of all the manifold ills in the train of smuggling； surely the excisemen are the worst； and the setting of this rabiator over us was a severe judgment for our sins。 But he suffered for't； and peace be with him in the grave； where the wicked cease from troubling！
Willie Malcolm； the youngest son of his mother； had by this time learned all that Mr Lorimore； the schoolmaster； could teach； and as it was evidenced to every body； by his mild manners and saintliness of demeanour； that he was a chosen vessel； his mother longed to fulfil his own wish； which was doubtless the natural working of the act of grace that had been shed upon him； but she had not the wherewithal to send him to the college of Glasgow； where he was desirous to study； and her just pride would not allow her to cess his brother…in…law； the Captain Macadam； whom； I should now mention； was raised in the end of this year； as we read in the newspapers； to be a major。 I thought her in this somewhat unreasonable； for she would not be persuaded to let me write to the captain； but when I reflected on the good that Willie Malcolm might in time do as a preacher； I said nothing more to her； but indited a letter to the Lord Eaglesham； setting forth the lad's parts； telling who he was and all about his mother's scruples； and； by the retour of the post from London his lordship sent me an order on his steward； to pay me twenty pounds towards equipping my protegee； as he called Willie； with a promise to pay for his education； which was such a great thing for his lordship to do off…hand on my recommendation； that it won much affection throughout the country side； and folks began to wonder； rehearsing the great things； as was said； that I had gotten my lord at different times； and on divers occasions； to do； which had a vast of influence among my brethren of the presbytery； and they grew into a state of greater cordiality with me； looking on me as a man having authority； but I was none thereat lifted up； for not being gifted with the power of a kirk…filling eloquence； I was but little sought for at sacraments； and fasts； and solemn days； which was doubtless well ordained； for I had no motive to seek fame in foreign pulpits； but was left to walk in the paths of simplicity within my own parish。 To eschew evil myself； and to teach others to do the same； I thought the main duties of the pastoral office； and with a sincere heart endeavoured what in me lay to perform them with meekness； sobriety； and a spirit wakeful to the inroads of sin and Satan。 But oh； the sordiness of human nature！The kindness of the Lord Eaglesham's own disposition was ascribed to my influence； and many a dry answer I was obliged to give to applicants that would have me trouble his lordship； as if I had a claim upon him。 In the ensuing year； the notion of my cordiality with him came to a great head； and brought about an event； that could not have been forethought by me as a thing within the compass of possibility to bring to pass。
CHAPTER XX YEAR 1779
I was named in this year for the General Assembly； and Mrs Balwhidder； by her continual thrift； having made our purse able to stand a shake against the wind； we resolved to go into Edinburgh in a creditable manner。 Accordingly； in conjunct with Mrs Dalrymple； the lady of a major of that name； we hired the Irville chaise； and we put up in Glasgow； at the Black Boy； where we stayed all night。 Next morning； by seven o'clock； we got into a fly…coach for the capital of Scotland； which we reached after a heavy journey about the same hour in the evening； and put up at the public where it stopped till the next day； for really both me and Mrs Balwhidder were worn out with the undertaking； and found a cup of tea a vast refreshment。
Betimes； in the morning； having taken our breakfast； we got a caddy to guide us and our wallise to Widow M'Vicar's； at the head of the Covenanters' Close。 She was a relation to my first wife； Betty Lanshaw； my own full cousin that was； and we had advised her； by course of post； of our coming； and intendment to lodge with her as uncos and strangers。 But Mrs M'Vicar kept a cloth shop； and sold plaidings and flannels； besides Yorkshire superfines； and was used to the sudden incoming of strangers； especially visitants； both from the West and the North Highlands； and was withal a gawsy furthy woman； taking great pleasure in hospitality； and every sort of kindliness and discretion。 She would not allow of such a thing as our being lodgers in her house； but was so cagey to see us； and to have it in her power to be civil to a minister； as she was pleased to say； of such repute； that nothing less would content her but that we must live upon her； and partake of all the best that could be gotten for us within the walls of 〃the gude town。〃
When we found ourselves so comfortable； Mrs Balwhidder and me waited on my patron's family that was； the young ladies； and the laird； who had been my pupil； but was now an advocate high in the law。 They likewise were kind also。 In short； every body in Edinburgh were in a manner wearisome kind； and we could scarcely find time to see the Castle and the palace of Holyrood…house； and that more sanctified place； where the Maccabeus of the Kirk of Scotland； John Knox； was wont to live。
Upon my introduction to his grace the Commissioner； I was delighted and surprised to find the Lord Eaglesham at the levee； and his lordship was so glad on seeing me； that he made me more kenspeckle than I could have wished to have been in his grace's presence； for； owing to the same； I was required to preach before his grace； upon a jocose recommendation of his lordship； the which gave me great concern； and daunted me so that in the interim I was almost bereft of all peace and studious composure of mind。 Fain would I have eschewed the honour that was thus thrust upon me； but both my wife and Mrs M'Vicar were just lifted out of themselves with the thought。
When the day came； I thought all things in this world were loosened from their hold； and that the sure and steadfast earth itself was grown coggly beneath my feet； as I mounted the pulpit。 With what sincerity I prayed for help that day！ and never stood man more in need of it； for through all my prayer the congregation was so watchful and still； doubtless to note if my doctrine was orthodox； that the beating of my heart might have been heard to the uttermost corners of the kirk。
I had chosen as my text； from Second Samuel； xixth chapter and 35th verse； these words〃Can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women？ Wherefore； then； should thy servant be yet a burden to the king？〃 And hardly had I with a trembling voice read the words； when I perceived an awful stir in the congregation； for all applied the words to the state of the church； and the appointment of his grace the Commissioner。 Having paused after giving out the text； the same fearful and critical silence again ensued； and every eye was so fixed upon me； that I was for a time deprived of courage to look about； but heaven was pleased to compassionate my infirmity； and as I proceeded； I began to warm as in my own pulpit。 I described the gorgeous Babylonian harlot riding forth in her chariots of gold and silver； with trampling steeds and a hurricane of followers； drunk with the cup of abominations； all shouting with revelry； and glorying in her triumph； treading down in their career those precious pearls； the saints and martyrs； into the mire beneath their swinish feet。 〃Before her you may behold Wantonness playing the tinkling cymbal； Insolence beating the drum； and Pride blowing the trumpet。 Every vice is there with his emblems； and the seller of pardons； with his crucifix and triple crown； is distributing his largess of perdition。 The voices of men shout to set wide the gates； to give entrance to the queen of nations； and the gates are set wide； and they all enter。 The avenging gates close on themthey are all shut up in hell。〃
There was a sough in the kirk as I said these wor