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！
window； he asked the woman where she got this well…known professional
appendage。 She said： 〃O sir； ane of the bairns fand it lang syne at the
Stanes； and when drawing it out we took fright； and thinking it had
belanged to the fairies； we threw it into the bole； and it has layen there
ever since。〃 '
This is for the one； the last shall be a sketch by the master hand of
Scott himself：
‘At the village of Stromness； on the Orkney main island； called
Pomona； lived； in 1814； an aged dame called Bessie Millie； who helped
out her subsistence by selling favourable winds to mariners。 He was a
venturous master of a vessel who left the roadstead of Stromness without
paying his offering to propitiate Bessie Millie！ Her fee was extremely
moderate； being exactly sixpence； for which she boiled her kettle and gave
the bark the advantage of her prayers； for she disclaimed all unlawful acts。
The wind thus petitioned for was sure； she said； to arrive； though
occasionally the mariners had to wait some time for it。 The woman's
dwelling and appearance were not unbecoming her pretensions。 Her
house； which was on the brow of the steep hill on which Stromness is
founded； was only accessible by a series of dirty and precipitous lanes； and
for exposure might have been the abode of Eolus himself； in whose
commodities the inhabitant dealt。 She herself was； as she told us； nearly
one hundred years old； withered and dried up like a mummy。 A clay…
coloured kerchief； folded round her neck； corresponded in colour to her
corpse…like complexion。 Two light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre
like that of insanity； an utterance of astonishing rapidity； a nose and chin
that almost met together； and a ghastly expression of cunning； gave her the
43
… Page 44…
RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
effect of Hecate。 Such was Bessie Millie； to whom the mariners paid a
sort of tribute with a feeling between jest and earnest。'
II
From about the beginning of the century up to 1807 Robert
Stevenson was in partnership with Thomas Smith。 In the last… named
year the partnership was dissolved； Thomas Smith returning to his
business； and my grandfather becoming sole engineer to the Board of
Northern Lights。
I must try； by excerpts from his diary and correspondence； to convey
to the reader some idea of the ardency and thoroughness with which he
threw himself into the largest and least of his multifarious engagements in
this service。 But first I must say a word or two upon the life of
lightkeepers； and the temptations to which they are more particularly
exposed。 The lightkeeper occupies a position apart among men。 In sea…
towers the complement has always been three since the deplorable
business in the Eddystone； when one keeper died； and the survivor；
signalling in vain for relief； was compelled to live for days with the dead
body。 These usually pass their time by the pleasant human expedient of
quarrelling； and sometimes； I am assured； not one of the three is on
speaking terms with any other。 On shore stations； which on the Scottish
coast are sometimes hardly less isolated； the usual number is two； a
principal and an assistant。 The principal is dissatisfied with the assistant；
or perhaps the assistant keeps pigeons； and the principal wants the water
from the roof。 Their wives and families are with them； living cheek by
jowl。 The children quarrel； Jockie hits Jimsie in the eye； and the mothers
make haste to mingle in the dissension。 Perhaps there is trouble about a
broken dish； perhaps Mrs。 Assistant is more highly born than Mrs。
Principal and gives herself airs； and the men are drawn in and the servants
presently follow。 ‘Church privileges have been denied the keeper's and
the assistant's servants；' I read in one case； and the eminently Scots
periphrasis means neither more nor less than excommunication； ‘on
account of the discordant and quarrelsome state of the families。 The
cause； when inquired into； proves to be TITTLE…TATTLE on both sides。'
44
… Page 45…
RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
The tender comes round； the foremen and artificers go from station to
station； the gossip flies through the whole system of the service； and the
stories； disfigured and exaggerated； return to their own birthplace with the
returning tender。 The English Board was apparently shocked by the
picture of these dissensions。 ‘When the Trinity House can；' I find my
grandfather writing at Beachy Head； in 1834； ‘they do not appoint two
keepers； they disagree so ill。 A man who has a family is assisted by his
family； and in this way； to my experience and present observation； the
business is very much neglected。 One keeper is； in my view； a bad
system。 This day's visit to an English lighthouse convinces me of this； as
the lightkeeper was walking on a staff with the gout； and the business
performed by one of his daughters； a girl of thirteen or fourteen years of
age。' This man received a hundred a year！ It shows a different reading
of human nature； perhaps typical of Scotland and England； that I find in
my grandfather's diary the following pregnant entry： ‘THE
LIGHTKEEPERS； AGREEING ILL； KEEP ONE ANOTHER TO THEIR
DUTY。' But the Scottish system was not alone founded on this cynical
opinion。 The dignity and the comfort of the northern lightkeeper were
both attended to。 He had a uniform to ‘raise him in his own estimation；
and in that of his neighbour； which is of consequence to a person of trust。
The keepers；' my grandfather goes on； in another place； ‘are attended to in
all the detail of accommodation in the best style as shipmasters； and this is
believed to have a sensible effect upon their conduct； and to regulate their
general habits as members of society。' He notes； with the same dip of ink；
that ‘the brasses were not clean； and the persons of the keepers not TRIG'；
and thus we find him writing to a culprit： ‘I have to complain that you are
not cleanly in your person； and that your manner of speech is ungentle；
and rather inclines to rudeness。 You must therefore take a different view
of your duties as a lightkeeper。' A high ideal for the service appears in
these expressions； and will be more amply illustrated further on。 But
even the Scottish lightkeeper was frail。 During the unbroken solitude of
the winter months； when inspection is scarce possible； it must seem a vain
toil to polish the brass hand…rail of the stair； or to keep an unrewarded vigil
in the light…room； and the keepers are habitually tempted to the beginnings
45
… Page 46…
RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
of sloth； and must unremittingly resist。 He who temporises with his
conscience is already lost。 I must tell here an anecdote that illustrates the
difficulties of inspection。 In the days of my uncle David and my father
there was a station which they regarded with jealousy。 The two engineers
compared notes and were agreed。 The tower was always clean； but
seemed always to bear traces of a hasty cleansing； as though the keepers
had been suddenly forewarned。 On inquiry； it proved that such was the
case； and that a wandering fiddler was the unfailing harbinger of the
engineer。 At last my father was storm…stayed one Sunday in a port at the
other side of the island。 The visit was quite overdue； and as he walked
across upon the