Запретный лес
IV. The Faithful Servant
HesenttoEdinburghforhorn-books,andwiththemandhisbigBibletaughthisclasstheirrudiments.Thesewerethepleasantesthoursofthedayformasterandchildren,andweeklythegatheringgrewtilltherewasnotachildinthekirktonorinthefarm-townsofMirehopeandChasehopethatwouldhavemissedthem.Whentheyarrived,bluewithcoldandoftenbreakfastless,Isobelwouldgiveeachabowlofbroth,andwhilethelessonproceededshewouldmendtheirraggedgarments.Indeedmorethanonechildemergednewclad,fortheminister’ssecond-bestcloakandanoldpairofbreecheswerecutupbyIsobel--expostulatingbutnotill-pleased--fortatteredlittlemortals.
Davidwasmorethanaprivatealmoner.HeandhisSessionhadthePoorBoxtoadminister,thesolepublicmeansofrelievingtheparish’sneeds.Woodileewasbetteroffthanmanyplaces,inthatitpossessedamortificationofathousandpoundsScots,bequeathedfiftyyearsearlierbyacertainGrizelHawkshawforthecomfortofthepoor.Alsotherewastheweeklycollectionatthekirkservices,whereplacksanddoitsandbodles,andavarietyofdebasedcoins,clinkedintheplateatthekirkdoor,andtherewerethefinesleviedbytheSessiononevil-doers.Inthewinterthetaskofalmonerwaseasier,fortherewerefewbeggarsontheroads,andthosethatcrossedthehillscameasaruleonlytodie,whenthesingleexpensewastheuseoftheparishcoffin.Yettheadministrationofthescantyfundswasadifficultbusiness,anditledtoDavid’sfirstcontroversieswithhisSession.
