Kibbock, the well brought-up daughter of Mr Joseph Kibbock of the
Gorbyholm, who was the first that made a speculation in the farming
way in Ayrshire, and whose cheese were of such an excellent quality,
that they have, under the name of Delap-cheese, spread far and wide
over the civilized world. Miss Lizy and me were married on the 29th
day of April, with some inconvenience to both sides, on account of
the dread that we had of being married in May; for it is said -


"Of the marriages in May,
The bairns die of a decay."


However, married we were, and we hired the Irville chaise, and with
Miss Jenny her sister, and Becky Cairns her niece, who sat on a
portmanty at our feet, we went on a pleasure jaunt to Glasgow, where
we bought a miracle of useful things for the manse, that neither the
first Mrs Balwhidder nor me ever thought of; but the second Mrs
Balwhidder that was, had a geni for management, and it was
extraordinary what she could go through. Well may I speak of her
with commendations; for she was the bee that made my honey, although
at first things did not go so clear with us. For she found the
manse rookit and herrit, and there was such a supply of plenishing
of all sort wanted, that I thought myself ruined and undone by her
care and industry. There was such a buying of wool to make
blankets, with a booming of the meikle wheel to spin the same, and
such birring of the little wheel for sheets and napery, that the
manse was for many a day like an organ kist. Then we had milk cows,
and the calves to bring up, and a kirning of butter, and a making of
cheese; in short, I was almost by myself with the jangle and din,