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！
46
… Page 47…
RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
therefore； I must insist on cleanliness throughout。' ‘I find you very
deficient in the duty of the high tower。 You thus place your appointment
as Principal Keeper in jeopardy； and I think it necessary； as an old servant
of the Board； to put you upon your guard once for all at this time。 I call
upon you to recollect what was formerly and is now said to you。 The
state of the backs of the reflectors at the high tower was disgraceful； as I
pointed out to you on the spot。 They were as if spitten upon； and greasy
finger…marks upon the back straps。 I demand an explanation of this state
of things。' ‘The cause of the Commissioners dismissing you is expressed
in the minute； and it must be a matter of regret to you that you have been
so much engaged in smuggling； and also that the Reports relative to the
cleanliness of the Lighthouse； upon being referred to； rather added to their
unfavourable opinion。' ‘I do not go into the dwelling…house； but severely
chide the lightkeepers for the disagreement that seems to subsist among
them。' ‘The families of the two lightkeepers here agree very ill。 I have
effected a reconciliation for the present。' ‘Things are in a very
HUMDRUM state here。 There is no painting； and in and out of doors no
taste or tidiness displayed。 Robert's wife GREETS and M'Gregor's
scolds； and Robert is so down…hearted that he says he is unfit for duty。 I
told him that if he was to mind wives' quarrels； and to take them up； the
only way was for him and M'Gregor to go down to the point like Sir G。
Grant and Lord Somerset。' ‘I cannot say that I have experienced a more
unpleasant meeting than that of the lighthouse folks this morning； or ever
saw a stronger example of unfeeling barbarity than the conduct which the …
s exhibited。 These two cold… hearted persons； not contented with having
driven the daughter of the poor nervous woman from her father's house；
BOTH kept POUNCING at her； lest she should forget her great misfortune。
Write me of their conduct。 Do not make any communication of the state
of these families at Kinnaird Head； as this would be like TALE…
BEARING。'
There is the great word out。 Tales and Tale…bearing； always with the
emphatic capitals； run continually in his correspondence。 I will give but
two instances：…
‘Write to David ＇one of the lightkeepers＇ and caution him to be more
47
… Page 48…
RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
prudent how he expresses himself。 Let him attend his duty to the
Lighthouse and his family concerns； and give less heed to Tale…bearers。'
‘I have not your last letter at hand to quote its date； but； if I recollect； it
contains some kind of tales； which nonsense I wish you would lay aside；
and notice only the concerns of your family and the important charge
committed to you。'
Apparently； however； my grandfather was not himself inaccessible to
the Tale…bearer； as the following indicates：
‘In walking along with Mr。 … ； I explain to him that I should be under
the necessity of looking more closely into the business here from his
conduct at Buddonness； which had given an instance of weakness in the
Moral principle which had staggered my opinion of him。 His answer was；
〃That will be with regard to the lass？〃 I told him I was to enter no farther
with him upon the subject。' ‘Mr。 Miller appears to be master and man。
I am sorry about this foolish fellow。 Had I known his train； I should not；
as I did； have rather forced him into the service。 Upon finding the
windows in the state they were； I turned upon Mr。 Watt； and especially
upon Mr。 Stewart。 The latter did not appear for a length of time to have
visited the light…room。 On asking the cause … did Mr。 Watt and him （SIC）
disagree； he said no； but he had got very bad usage from the assistant；
〃who was a very obstreperous man。〃 I could not bring Mr。 Watt to put in
language his objections to Miller； all I could get was that； he being your
friend； and saying he was unwell； he did not like to complain or to push
the man； that the man seemed to have no liking to anything like work； that
he was unruly； that； being an educated man； he despised them。 I was；
however； determined to have out of these UNWILLING witnesses the
language alluded to。 I fixed upon Mr。 Stewart as chief； he hedged。 My
curiosity increased； and I urged。 Then he said； 〃What would I think； just
exactly； of Mr。 Watt being called an Old B…？〃 You may judge of my
surprise。 There was not another word uttered。 This was quite enough； as
coming from a person I should have calculated upon quite different
behaviour from。 It spoke a volume of the man's mind and want of
principle。' ‘Object to the keeper keeping a Bull…Terrier dog of ferocious
appearance。 It is dangerous； as we land at all times of the night。' ‘Have
48
… Page 49…
RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
only to complain of the storehouse floor being spotted with oil。 Give
orders for this being instantly rectified； so that on my return to…morrow I
may see things in good order。' ‘The furniture of both houses wants much
rubbing。 Mrs。 …'s carpets are absurd beyond anything I have seen。 I
want her to turn the fenders up with the bottom to the fireplace： the carpets；
when not likely to be in use； folded up and laid as a hearthrug partly under
the fender。'
My grandfather was king in the service to his finger… tips。 All should
go in his way； from the principal lightkeeper's coat to the assistant's fender；
from the gravel in the garden…walks to the bad smell in the kitchen； or the
oil…spots on the store…room floor。 It might be thought there was nothing
more calculated to awake men's resentment； and yet his rule was not more
thorough than it was beneficent。 His thought for the keepers was
continual； and it did not end with their lives。 He tried to manage their
successions； he thought no pains too great to arrange between a widow
and a son who had succeeded his father； he was often harassed and
perplexed by tales of hardship； and I find him writing； almost in despair；
of their improvident habits and the destitution that awaited their families
upon a death。 ‘The house being completely furnished； they come into
possession without necessaries； and they go out NAKED。 The insurance
seems to have failed； and what next is to be tried？' While they lived he
wrote behind their backs to arrange for the education of their children； or
to get them other situations if they seemed unsuitable for the Northern
Lights。 When he was at a lighthouse on a Sunday he held prayers and
heard the children read。 When a keeper was sick； he lent him his horse
and sent him mutton and brandy from the ship