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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Chapter three of Sir Gibby. This is a LibriVox recording.
All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording
by Mary Anne Weathers. Sir Gibby by George mac Donald,
Chapter three, Mistress Kroll. The house at which they met

(00:24):
had yet not a little character remaining. Mistress Kroll had
come in for a derived worthiness in the memory, yet
lingering about the place of a worthy aunt deceased, and
always encouraged in herself a vague idea of obligation to
live up to it. Hence, she had made it a
rule to supply drink only so long as her customers
kept decent, that is, so long as they did not

(00:46):
quarrel aloud and put her in danger of a visit
from the police. Tell such tales as offended her modesty,
utter oaths, of any peculiarly atrocious quality, or to fame
the Sabbath Day, the Kirk, or the Bible. On these terms,
and so long as they paid for what they had,
they might get as drunk as they pleased, without the
smallest offense to Mistress Krole. But if the least unquestionable

(01:08):
infringement of her rules occurred, she would pounce upon the
shameless one with sudden and sharp reproof. I doubt not
that so doing she cherished a hope of recommending herself
above and making deposits in view of a coming balance sheet.
The result for this life so far was that by
these claims to respectability, she had gathered a client tell
of deuce well disposed drunkards, who rarely gave her any

(01:31):
trouble so long as they were in the house, though
sometimes she had reason to be anxious about the fate
of individuals of them after they left it. Another peculiarity
in her government was that she would rarely give drink
to a woman, Na Na, She would say, what has
a woman to dee you with strong drink? Let the
man d as they like, We canna help. Then she

(01:52):
made exception in behalf of her personal friends, and for
herself was in the way of sipping, only sipping privately
on account of her trouble, she said, by which she
meant some complaint, speaking of it as if it were
generally known, although of the nature of it nobody had
any idea. The truth was that, like her customers, she
also was going down the hill, justifying to herself every

(02:13):
step of her descent. Until lately she had been in
the way of going regularly to church, and she did
go occasionally yet, and always took the yearly sacrament. But
the only result seemed to be that she abounded the
more in finding justifications, or where they were not to be,
had excuses for all she did. Probably the stirring of
her conscience made this the more necessary to her peace.

(02:36):
If the Lord were to appear in person amongst us,
how much would the sight of him do for the
sinners of our day? I am not sure that many
like Mistress Krole would not go to him. She was
not a bad woman, but slowly and surely growing worse.
That morning, as soon as the customer whose entrance had
withdrawn her from her descent on Gibbey had gulped down

(02:57):
his dram, wiped his mouth on a blue cotton handkerchief,
settled his face into the expression of a drink of water,
gone demurely out, and crossed to the other side of
the street. She would have returned to the charge, but
was prevented by the immediately following entrance of the Reverend
Clement Sclater, the minister of her parish, recently appointed. He
was a man between young and middle aged, an honest fellow,

(03:20):
zealous to perform the duties of his office, but with
notions of religion very beggarly. How could it be otherwise
when he knew far more of what he called divine
decrees than he did of his own heart or the
needs and miseries of human nature. At the moment, Mistress
Kroll was standing with her back to the door, reaching
up to replace the black bottle on the shelf, and

(03:40):
did not see the man she heard enter. What's sherwell,
she said, indifferently. Mister Sclater made no answer, waiting for
her to turn and face him, which she did the
sooner for his silence. Then she saw a man, unknown
to her, evidently from his white neckcloth and funereal garments,
a minister, standing solemn, with wide spread legs and round

(04:02):
eyes of displeasure, expecting her attention. What's your wall, sir,
she repeated, with more respect but less cordiality than at first.
If you ask my will, he replied with some pompacity.
For who that has just gained an object of ambition
can be humble? It is such a shut up your
whiskey shop and betake yourself to a more decent way

(04:23):
of life in my perish, my certie, but y're no
blate decree say loud in my house, and that's a
nearer fit no reparis, she cried, flaring up in wrath
both at the nature and rudeness of the address. Allure
me to tell you, sir, Ye're the first as ever
does treat my house as no a dacent And I

(04:44):
said nothing about your house. It was your shop I
spoke of, said the minister, not guiltless of subterfuge. And
what's my chop but my house? Hethe my house would
be a foul small consideration, wanting the chop take a
heed of bar and false witness, Sir, I said nothing
and know nothing against yours more than any other shop

(05:05):
for the sale of drink. In my perish, the lord's
my shepherd. Wad yea even my host to jack. Themsums
are Jimmy doakes Beth in this paris, my good woman
neither better nor wern am Ma Nippers, interrupted Mistress Crawle,
forgetting what she had just implied. A body munlev there
are limits even to that most generally accepted of all principles,

(05:27):
returned mister Sclayt. And I give ye fair warnin' that
I mean to do what I can to shut up
all such shops as yours in my parish. I tell
you of it, not from the least hope that you
will anticipate me by closing, but merely that no one
may say I did anything in an underhanded fashion. The
calmness with which he uttered this threat alarmed Mistress Krawle.

(05:47):
He might rouse unmerited suspicion and cause her much trouble
by vexatious complaint, even to the peril of her license.
She must take heed and not irritate her enemy Instantly. Therefore,
she changed her tone to one of expostulation. It's a
same pity, doubtless, she said that there should be same
money drothy tropples in the kingdom. Sir, but droth mon

(06:10):
drink an ya can sir gein' it were hoddinn free them,
They would but see deals and cut their throats. They
like to see deals on a gaiter long, retorted the minister,
relapsing into the vernacular for a moment. Oh deed, maybe, sir,
but ee' the deals themselves were justified in their objection
to be uncommitted to their ain company afore their time.
Mister Sclayter could not help smiling at the woman's readiness.

(06:32):
And that was a point gained by her. An acquaintance
with scripture goes far with a Scotch ecclesiastic. Besides, the
man had a redeeming sense of humor, though he did
not know how to prize it, not believing it a
gift from God. It's true, my woman, he answered, Ay,
it said something for them deals that they were, that
they preferred the swine, but even the swine couldn't abide them.

(06:55):
Encouraged by the condescension of the remark, but disinclined to
follow the path of reflection indicated, Mistress Crowell ventured a
little farther upon her own. Ye see, sir, she said,
as Langsar's whiskey, it will take the throat road. It's
the natural way it ye see to rin doon An
it's name in our use gangin again nature. Say I'll
uin the thing mun bee, you'll hate toolot. Likewise, an,

(07:17):
it's a truth, I'm telling you, sir, And it's a
nay small consequence to the toon that the drunken creature
should fill themselves with dacency. And that's what I say,
till gang na to the magistrates, sir. But as soon
as you hay gotten testimony, gad testimony, though, sir at
there's been disorder or immorality in my hoose, come ye
to me an, I'll gie em my hand to paper
on it this minute, and i'll gie up my chop

(07:37):
and lee a peris. And may you soon get a
bitter in my place, sir. I'm like a mither to
the poor bodies, and gin'ea drive them to Jock Thamson's
or Jimmie Doakes. It'll be just like savin the word
and din attend for swearin gad kins, I say, it'll
just be damning'm aford of their time, like poor deals, hech.
But it'll come soon enough, an they're muckle to be pitied.

(07:58):
And when those victims of your voe administrations, said the clergyman, again,
mounting his wooden horse and setting it rocking, find themselves
where there'll be no whisky to refresh them. Where do
you think you will be, Mistress skrole? Whar are the
lord Walls? Answered the woman. Why that may be, I
confess I'm wild's late to think only Kien I was you,
mister Slayter, I would think twice afore I made el war.

(08:21):
But hear me, mister Scroll, it's not your besotted customers.
Only I've come for Your soul is as precious in
my sight as any of which I shall have to
render an account, as Mistress Bonniman's, for instance, suggested Missus
Croll interrogatively and with just the least trace of pawkiness
in tone. The city, large as it was, was not

(08:42):
yet large enough to prevent a portion of the private
affairs of individuals from coming to be treated as public property.
And Missus Boneman was a handsome and rich young widow,
the rumor of whose acceptableness to mister Sclater had reached
Mistress Kroll's ear before ever she had seen the minister himself,
and unmistakable shadow of confusion crossed his countenance, whereupon, with

(09:04):
consideration both for herself and him, the woman made haste
to go on, as if she had but chosen her
instance at merest Random, Na, Na sir, what my soul
will be in the eyes of my maker? A hail
tellin she said, but dinner threepe upon me, as it's
o the same value in your eyes as the soul
as such a fine bunny winsome lyddy as yon in troth,

(09:25):
she added, and shook her head mournfully. Ahenna had so
many privileges, and mebbe'll be seen till am pass'er a
ween easier nor some folk. I wouldn't have you build
too much upon that, mistress, Crowle, said mister Sclayter, glad
to follow the talk down another turning, but considerably more
afraid of rousing the woman than he had been before.
The remark drove her behind the categorical stockade of her

(09:48):
religious merits. I pay'm away, she said, with modest firmness.
I put my penny inls, my sixpence into the plate
at the door. When I got to the kirk an,
I was just thinkin I would win there. The morn's
nicked as first when I turned and sell. You standin there, sir,
a little a thalket, But that's neither here nor there.
I'm thinkin. I tell as few lace as I can,
and never swear nor tuck. Then i'm o' the lord

(10:09):
in vain anger me it likes I sell Nathan, but
the best whiskey I never he but brought to my
dinner up all the lord's say and broth canna brak
the Sabbath similar a wap on the bar of the grate,
and hund no last free the kirk, I confess, geen,
you will be spirin'. I'd dinner read my book so
often as maybe I should, But deed, sir, though I
say st itit's at home my tongue. Ye hear war folk,
and ye peris nor bingey crawl's widow, And gein' you

(10:31):
wanna hear drop to whach rain whistle for the holy work,
Ye hey for you the morning's mornin'. I'm on gang
an mak my bed for the last is laid up.
We a bealt through m and I'll monolat a thing
to gang to dirt or green bree. Though I'm sure
it's real kindie to come and look after me. An,
that's mere, nor master Rainy honest gentleman ever did me
the fab ro at the time he ministered the peris
a hena an ill name with them a kins me, sir,

(10:53):
that I can say with a clean conscience, an ye
may kin me wheel gayin your wool. And there's a
thing mercer a gee am my babble at nergeyin I
saw sign o repentance or turnin upon any of them.
It pits their legs beneath my table. Would you link
into the parlor, sir, No, as I was sayin, never
did I sena keip a hose, And never would I
set myself to quench the smokin' flax. I would hat

(11:15):
no man's teath, soul or body lie at my door. Well, well,
Mistress Kroll, said the minister, somewhat dazed by the cataract
he had brought upon his brain, and rather perplexed what
to say in reply with any hope of reaching her.
I don't doubt a word of what you tell me,
But you know works cannot save us. Our best righteousness
is but as filthy rags. It's weal akin that, mister sclaytor.

(11:38):
And I'm sure i'd be glad to see you, sir,
any time you would do me the favor to look
in as you're passin by. It'll be none of your shame, sir,
for mine's an honest house. I'll do that, Mistress Kroll answered,
the minister glad to escape, but mind, he added, I
don't give up my point for all that, and I
hope you will think over what I've been saying to you,
and that seriously. With these words, he left the shop

(12:00):
rather hurriedly and evident dread of a reply. Mistress Kroll
turned to the shelves behind her, took again the bottle
she had replaced, poured out the large half glass of whisky,
and tossed it off. She had been compelled to think
and talk of things unpleasant, and it had put her,
as she said, ay and a trimmel. She was but
one of many who get the fuel of their life

(12:21):
at the wrong door, their comfort from the world side
of the universe. I cannot tell whether mister Sklayter or
she was the farther from the central heat. The woman
had the advantage in this that she had to expend
all her force on mere self justification, and had no
energy left for vain glory. It was with a sad
sigh she set about the work of the house. Nor

(12:42):
would it have comforted her much to assure her that
hers was a better defense than any distiller in the
country could make. Even the whisky itself gave her little relief.
It seemed to scald both stomach and conscience, and she
vowed never to take it again. But alas this time
is never the time for self denial, it is always
the next time. Abstinence is so much more pleasant to

(13:02):
contemplate upon the other side of indulgence. Yet the struggles
after betterment that many a drunkard has made in vain, would,
had his aim been high enough, have saved his soul
from death and turned the charnel of his life into
a temple. Abject as he is foiled and despised, such
a one may not yet be half so contemptible as
many a so counted respectable member of society, who looks

(13:25):
down on him from a height too lofty even for scorn.
It is not the first and last only of whom
many will have to change places, but those as well
that come everywhere in between. End of Chapter three