the provost-第17部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
inconvenience to sober folk that happened； on an occasion now and then； to be an hour later than usual among their friends； either at his house or any other； to be shown by the lamps to the profane populace as they were making the best of their way home； and Mr Dippings； the candlemaker； with less public spirit than might have been expected from one who made such a penny by the illuminations on news of victory； was of opinion that lamps would only encourage the commonality to keep late hours； and that the gentry were in no need of any thing of the sort； having their own handsome glass lanterns； with two candles in them； garnished and adorned with clippit paper； an equipage which he prophesied would soon wear out of fashion when lamps were once introduced； and the which prediction I have lived to see verified； for certainly； now…a…days； except when some elderly widow lady； or maiden gentlewoman； wanting the help and protection of man； happens to be out at her tea and supper； a tight and snod serving lassie； with a three…cornered glass lantern； is never seen on the causey。 But； to return from this digression； saving and excepting the remarks of Mr Dribbles and Mr Dippings； and neither of them could be considered as made in a sincere frame of mind； I had no foretaste of any opposition。 I was； therefore； but ill prepared for the worrying argument with which Mr Hickery seized upon the scheme； asserting and maintaining； among other apparatus…like reasoning； that in such a northern climate as that of Scotland； and where the twilight was of such long duration； it would be a profligate waste of the public money to employ it on any thing so little required as lamps were in our streets。
He had come home from America in the summer time； and I reminded him； that it certainly could never be the intention of the magistrates to light the lamps all the year round； but that in the winter there was a great need of them； for in our northern climate the days were then very short； as he would soon experience； and might probably recollect。 But never； surely； was such an endless man created。 For； upon this； he immediately rejoined； that the streets would be much more effectually lighted； than by all the lamps I proposed to put up； were the inhabitants ordered to sit with their window…shutters open。 I really did not know what answer to make to such a proposal； but I saw it would never do to argue with him； so I held my tongue quietly； and as soon as possible； on a pretence of private business； left the meeting； not a little mortified to find such a contrary spirit had got in among us。
After that meeting of the council； I went cannily round to all the other members； and represented to them； one by one； how proper it was that the lamps should be set up； both for a credit to the town； and as a conformity to the fashion of the age in every other place。 And I took occasion to descant； at some length； on the untractable nature of Mr Hickery； and how it would be proper before the next meeting to agree to say nothing when the matter was again brought on the carpet； but just to come to the vote at once。 Accordingly this was done； but it made no difference to Mr Hickery； on the contrary； he said； in a vehement manner； that he was sure there must be some corrupt understanding among us； otherwise a matter of such importance could not have been decided by a silent vote； and at every session of the council； till some new matter of difference cast up； he continued cuckooing about the lamp…job； as he called it； till he had sickened every body out of all patience。
CHAPTER XXVIITHE PLAINSTONES
The first question that changed the bark of Mr Hickery； was my proposal for the side plainstones of the high street。 In the new paving of the crown of the causey； some years before； the rise in the middle had been levelled to an equality with the side loans； and in disposing of the lamp…posts； it was thought advantageous to place them halfway from the houses and the syvers； between the loans and the crown of the causey； which had the effect at night； of making the people who were wont； in their travels and visitations； to keep the middle of the street； to diverge into the space and path between the lamp…posts and the houses。 This； especially in wet weather； was attended with some disadvantages； for the pavement； close to the houses； was not well laid； and there being then no ronns to the houses； at every other place； particularly where the nepus…gables were towards the streets； the rain came gushing in a spout； like as if the windows of heaven were opened。 And； in consequence； it began to be freely conversed； that there would be a great comfort in having the sides of the streets paved with flags； like the plainstones of Glasgow； and that an obligation should be laid on the landlords； to put up ronns to kepp the rain； and to conduct the water down in pipes by the sides of the houses；all which furnished Mr Hickery with fresh topics for his fasherie about the lamps； and was； as he said； proof and demonstration of that most impolitic； corrupt； and short…sighted job； the consequences of which would reach； in the shape of some new tax； every ramification of society；… …with divers other American argumentatives to the same effect。 However； in process of time； by a judicious handling and the help of an advantageous free grassum； which we got for some of the town lands from Mr Shuttlethrift the manufacturer； who was desirous to build a villa…house； we got the flagstone part of the project accomplished； and the landlords gradually； of their own free…will； put up the ronns； by which the town has been greatly improved and convenienced。
But new occasions call for new laws； the side pavement； concentrating the people； required to be kept cleaner； and in better order； than when the whole width of the street was in use； so that the magistrates were constrained to make regulations concerning the same； and to enact fines and penalties against those who neglected to scrape and wash the plainstones forenent their houses； and to denounce； in the strictest terms； the emptying of improper utensils on the same； and this； until the people had grown into the habitude of attending to the rules； gave rise to many pleas； and contentious appeals and bickerings； before the magistrates。 Among others summoned before me for default； was one Mrs Fenton； commonly called the Tappit…hen； who kept a small change…house； not of the best repute； being frequented by young men； of a station of life that gave her heart and countenance to be bardy； even to the bailies。 It happened that； by some inattention； she had； one frosty morning； neglected to soop her flags； and old Miss Peggy Dainty being early afoot； in passing her door committed a false step； by treading on a bit of a lemon's skin； and her heels flying up； down she fell on her back； at full length； with a great cloyt。 Mrs Fenton； hearing the accident； came running to the door； and seeing the exposure that perjink Miss Peggy had made of herself； put her hands to her sides； and laughed for some time as if she was by herself。 Miss Peggy； being sorely hurt in the hinder parts； summoned Mrs Fenton before me； where the whole affair； both as to what was seen and heard； was so described； with name and surname； that I could not keep my composure。 It was； however； made manifest； that Mrs Fenton had offended the law； in so much； as her flags had not been swept that morning； and therefore； to appease the offended delicacy of Miss Peggy； who was a most respectable lady in single life； I fined the delinquent five shillings。
〃Mr Pawkie；〃 said the latheron； 〃I'll no pay't。 Whar do ye expeck a widow woman like me can get five shillings for ony sic nonsense？〃
〃Ye must not speak in that manner； honest woman；〃 was my reply； 〃but just pay the fine。〃
〃In deed and truth； Mr Pawkie；〃 quo she； 〃it's ill getting a breek off a highlandman。 I'll pay no sic thingfive shillingsthat's a story！〃
I thought I would have been constrained to send her to prison； the woman grew so bold and contumacious； when Mr Hickery came in； and hearing what was going forward； was evidently working himself up to take the randy's part； but fortunately she had a suspicion that all the town…council and magistrates were in league against her； on account of the repute of her house； so that when he enquired of her where she lived； with a view； as I suspect； of interceding； she turned to him； and with a leer and a laugh； said； 〃Dear me； Mr Hickery； I'm sure ye hae nae need to speer that！〃
The insinuation set up his birses； but she bamboozled him with her banter； and raised such a laugh against him； that he was fairly driven from the council room； and I was myself obliged to let her go； without exacting the fine。
Who would have thought that this affair was to prove to me the means of an easy riddance of Mr Hickery？ But so it turned out； for whether or not there was any foundation for the traffickings with him which she pretended； he never could abide to hear the story alluded to； which； when I discerned； I took care； whenever he showed any sort of inclination to molest the council with his propugnacity； to joke him about his bonny sweetheart； 〃the Tappit…hen；〃 and he instantly sang dumb； and quietly slipped away； by which it may be seen how curiously events come to pass； since； out of the very first cause of his thwarting me in the lamps； I found； in process of time； a way of silencing him far better than any sort of truth or reason。
CHAPTER XXVIIITHE SECOND CROP OF VOLUNTEERS
I have already related； at full length； many of the particulars anent the electing of the first set of volunteers； the which； by being germinated partly under the old system of public intromission； was done with more management and slight of art than the second。 This； however； I will ever maintain； was not owing to any greater spirit of corruption； but only and solely to following the ancient dexterous ways； that had been； in a manner； engrained with the very nature of every thing pertaining to the representation of government as it existed； not merely in burgh towns； but wheresoever the crown and ministers found it expedient to have their lion's paw。
Matters were brought to a bearing differentl
