Page:Autobiography of William Love, P.C..pdf/54

54 from the judgment seat—and their successors in office were merely big with great ideas. Everything was to be reformed—and wonders performed. The tone of society was to rise like the hands of a thermometer from bad weather to fine. Cart was to be improved, and made a mighty river, on whose expansive waters ships of war were to float free of tonnage. The people looked astonished, and wondered why they had so long submitted to be misruled, but the knowing ones shook their heads and significantly said, "wait a wee." The reformed senators met, and one of their first resolution was, "that parading to the kirk be discontinued in all time coming, as being direct interference with the liberty of conscience, and the right of private judgment." One of them in supporting that resolution said, "verily friends, it is necessary in this enlightened age that these vain shews, these baubles and characteristics of barbarous tines be rooted out; besides, the appearance of the red coats and the halberds awaken, in some minds, awkward reminiscences" Down went the red coats and the halberds, and from that hour Paisley as a corporation, has stood still, notwithstanding the Proclamation painted at the cross, "It is not permitted to stand on the Pavement,"—or if it has progressed, it has been backwards.

The higher the tree, the more it has to encounter the rude winds; and the greater the man, the more is he assailed by the blasts of the splenetic, the waspish, and the malicious.