I could plainly discern that the prudent conduct which I had adopted
towards the public was gradually growing into effect. Disputative
neighbours made me their referee, and I became, as it were, an oracle
that was better than the law, in so much that I settled their
controversies without the expense that attends the same. But what
convinced me more than any other thing that the line I pursued was
verging towards a satisfactory result, was, that the elderly folk that
came into the shop to talk over the news of the day, and to rehearse the
diverse uncos, both of a national and a domestic nature, used to call me
bailie and my lord; the which jocular derision was as a symptom and
foretaste within their spirits of what I was ordained to be. Thus was I
encouraged, by little and little, together with a sharp remarking of the
inclination and bent of men's minds, to entertain the hope and assurance
of rising to the top of all the town, as this book maketh manifest, and
the incidents thereof will certificate.
Nothing particular, however, came to pass, till my wife lay in of her
second bairn, our daughter Sarah; at the christening of whom, among
divers friends and relations, forbye the minister, we had my father's
cousin, Mr Alexander Clues, that was then deacon convener, and a man of
great potency in his way, and possessed of an influence in the
town-council of which he was well worthy, being a person of good
discernment, and well versed in matters appertaining to the guildry. Mr
Clues, as we were mellowing over the toddy bowl, said, that by and by the
council would be looking to me to fill up the first gap that might happen
therein; and Dr Swapkirk, the then minister, who had officiated on the
occasion, observed, that it was a thing that, in the course of nature,
could not miss to be, for I had all the douce demeanour and sagacity
which it behoved a magistrate to possess. But I cannily replied, though
I was right contented to hear this, that I had no time for governing, and
it would be more for the advantage of the commonwealth to look for the
counselling of an older head than mine, happen when a vacancy might in
the town-council.
In this conjuncture of our discoursing, Mrs Pawkie, my wife, who was
sitting by the fireside in her easy chair, with a cod at her head, for
she had what was called a sore time o't, said:--
"Na, na, gudeman, ye need na be sae mim; every body kens, and I ken too,
that ye're ettling at the magistracy. It's as plain as a pikestaff,
gudeman, and I'll no let ye rest if ye dinna mak me a bailie's wife or a'
be done"--
I was not ill pleased to hear Mrs Pawkie so spiritful; but I replied,
"Dinna try to stretch your arm, gude-wife, further than your sleeve will
let you; we maun ca'canny mony a day yet before we think of dignities."
The which speech, in a way of implication, made Deacon Clues to
understand that I would not absolutely refuse an honour thrust upon me,
while it maintained an outward show of humility and moderation.
There was, however, a gleg old carlin among the gossips then present, one
Mrs Sprowl, the widow of a deceased magistrate, and she cried out aloud:--
"Deacon Clues, Deacon Clues, I redd you no to believe a word that Mr
Pawkie's saying, for that was the very way my friend that's no more laid
himself out to be fleeched to tak what he was greenan for; so get him
intill the council when ye can: we a' ken he'll be a credit to the
place," and "so here's to the health of Bailie Pawkie that is to be,"
cried Mrs Sprowl. All present pledged her in the toast, by which we had
a wonderful share of diversion. Nothing, however, immediately rose out
of this, but it set men's minds a-barming and working; so that, before
there was any vacancy in the council, I was considered in a manner as the
natural successor to the first of the counsellors that might happen to
depart this life.