酷兔英语
    当前位置:
  1. 首页
  2. 文章
  3. 娱乐英语
  4. 原版小说
  5. 正文

The Ayrshire Legatees-Part13_John Galt(1779-1839)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

0 收藏 0 分享 0 赞

章节正文
文章总共2页
different thing.

In my last letter, I gave you a pleasing notification of the growth,



as I thought, of spirituality in this Babylon of deceitfulness,

thinking that you and my people would be gladdened with the tidings



of the repute and estimation in which your minister was held, and I

have dealt largely in the way of public charity. But I doubt that I



have been governed by a spirit of ostentation, and not with that

lowly-mindedness, without which all almsgiving is but a serving of



the altars of Belzebub; for the chastening hand has been laid upon

me, but with the kindness and pity which a tender father hath for



his dear children.

I was requested by those who come so cordially to me with their



subscription papers, for schools and suffering worth, to preach a

sermon to get a collection. I have no occasion to tell you, that



when I exert myself, what effect I can produce; and I never made so

great an exertion before, which in itself was a proof that it was



with the two bladders, pomp and vanity, that I had committed myself

to swim on the uncertain waters of London; for surely my best



exertions were due to my people. But when the Sabbath came upon

which I was to hold forth, how were my hopes withered, and my



expectations frustrated. Oh, Mr. Micklewham, what an inattentive

congregation was yonder! many slumbered and slept, and I sowed the



words of truth and holiness in vain upon their barren and stoney

hearts. There is no true grace among some that I shall not name,



for I saw them whispering and smiling like the scorners, and

altogetherheedless unto the precious things of my discourse, which



could not have been the case had they been sincere in their

professions, for I never preached more to my own satisfaction on any



occasion whatsoever--and, when I return to my own parish, you shall

hear what I said, as I will preach the same sermon over again, for I



am not going now to print it, as I did once think of doing, and to

have dedicated it to Mr. W-.



We are going about in an easy way, seeing what is to be seen in the

shape of curiosities; but the whole town is in a state of ferment



with the election of members to Parliament. I have been to see't,

both in the Guildhall and at Covent Garden, and it's a frightful



thing to see how the Radicals roar like bulls of Bashan, and put

down the speakers in behalf of the government. I hope no harm will



come of yon, but I must say, that I prefer our own quiet canny

Scotch way at Irvine. Well do I remember, for it happened in the



year I was licensed, that the town council, the Lord Eglinton that

was shot being then provost, took in the late Thomas Bowet to be a



counsellor; and Thomas, not being versed in election matters, yet

minding to please his lordship (for, like the rest of the council,



he had always a proper veneration for those in power), he, as I was

saying, consulted Joseph Boyd the weaver, who was then Dean of



Guild, as to the way of voting; whereupon Joseph, who was a discreet

man, said to him, "Ye'll just say as I say, and I'll say what Bailie



Shaw says, for he will do what my lord bids him"; which was as

peaceful a way of sending up a member to Parliament as could well be



devised.

But you know that politics are far from my hand--they belong to the



temporalities of the community; and the ministers of peace and

goodwill to man should neither make nor meddle with them. I wish,



however, that these tumultuous elections were well over, for they

have had an effect on the per cents, where our bit legacy is funded;



and it would terrify you to hear what we have thereby already lost.

We have not, however, lost so much but that I can spare a little to



the poor among my people; so you will, in the dry weather, after the

seed-time, hire two-three thackers to mend the thack on the roofs of



such of the cottars' houses as stand in need of mending, and banker

M-y will pay the expense; and I beg you to go to him on receipt



hereof, for he has a line for yourself, which you will be sure to

accept as a testimony from me for the great trouble that my absence



from the parish has given to you among my people, and I am, dear

sir, your friend and pastor, Z. PRINGLE.



As Mrs. Glibbans would not permit Mr. Snodgrass to return with her

to the manse, he pursued his journey alone to the Kirkgate of



Irvine, where he found Miss Mally Glencairn on the eve of sitting

down to her solitary tea. On seeing her visitor enter, after the



first compliments on the state of health and weather were over, she

expressed her hopes that he had not drank tea; and, on receiving a






文章总共2页
文章标签:名著  

章节正文
Copyright © 2023 Qeto All rights reserved.
商务合作 | 联系我们 | 关于我们 | 版权声明 | 隐私条款 | 如果智培

京ICP备05059198号-1 京公网安备 11011202003401号