Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume 05
General
Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume 05
Scottish Borders (Scotland) -- Fiction
Monday, however, came at last; and it was towards this Monday that I was
looking during all the previous days; for this Monday was, in fact, the
great market day of the parish. After M'Gill had preached in the open
air to a vast multitude, (for he was the most popular preacher of the
presbytery,) man, wife, and wean, master, servant, merchant--all classes
and denominations of Christians--were immediately up to the ears in
drink and traffic, buying, selling, hiring, _niffering_, as if religion
and its observances had been unknown amongst them. The mind of man is a
_queer_ concern--at least, the heart, on the best authority, is
"deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked;" and, really, the
"Kirkton" of Durrisdeer, in the days of M'Gill, and on the Monday of the
sacrament in particular, but too manifestly exhibited the truth of this
observation. I had placed my pack on a stand, by the kirk-stile; and, as
the congregation dispersed, they had one and all an opportunity of
seeing my goods in a state of full display. I had no rival, unless a
very decent old woman might be considered as such. She sold a few
articles of dress, such as stockings and plaids, all of her own and her
daughter's manufacture; but mine were Manchester and Glasgow goods of
the very newest fashion, and worn by every lady and gentleman of quality
betwixt the two great marts. As the evening advanced, Jean's house
became more and more difficult of access. My station was what is termed
the spence, or the mid-room or closet, betwixt the kitchen and the
_ben_. There I stood, with my ellwand in my hand, measuring off
waistcoat-pieces, displaying shawls, and exhibiting watch-chains and
knives, till late in the evening. Some moorland farmers purchased
largely on credit--a mode of dealing which I greatly relished, for two
reasons: first, because it gave me an opportunity of visiting them in
their mountain homes; and, secondly, because I could then with a safe
conscience, or, at least, without challenge, charge double the original
price. I need not, and I shall not, proceed with the sequel of the
evening's events. From Jean, I learned that old Fingland, who was now a
widower, had actually asked her in marriage; and that, in a few days,
she should, in all probability, be Mrs. Gibson. The poor, doited,
drunken body had a good farm from the Duke of Buccleuch; and, having got
rid of his family by his first spouse, thought himself entitled to enter
anew into the hallowed and often-tried state. He lived to repent his
precipitancy and indiscretion; for Jean ruined him in a few months, and
making a moonlight flitting, was afterwards found in the Grassmarket of
Edinburgh, mistress of the public-house called the Harrow. But here my
narrative must conclude for the present.
DUNCAN SCHULEBRED'S VISION OF JUDGMENT.[2]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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