I have my doubts whether it was in the beginning of this year, or in
the end of the last, that a very extraordinary thing came to light
in the parish; but, howsoever that may be, there is nothing more
certain than the fact, which it is my duty to record. I have
mentioned already how it was that the toll, or trust-road, was set
a-going, on account of the Lord Eaglesham's tumbling on the midden
in the Vennel. Well, it happened to one of the labouring men, in
breaking the stones to make metal for the new road, that he broke a
stone that was both large and remarkable, and in the heart of it,
which was boss, there was found a living creature, that jumped out
the moment it saw the light of heaven, to the great terrification of
the man, who could think it was nothing but an evil spirit that had
been imprisoned therein for a time. The man came to me like a
demented creature, and the whole clachan gathered out, young and
old, and I went at their head to see what the miracle could be, for
the man said it was a fiery dragon, spewing smoke and flames. But
when we came to the spot, it was just a yird toad, and the laddie
weans nevelled it to death with stones, before I could persuade them
to give over. Since then, I have read of such things coming to
light in the Scots Magazine, a very valuable book.

Soon after the affair of "the wee deil in the stane," as it was
called, a sough reached us that the Americas were seized with the
rebellious spirit of the ten tribes, and were snapping their fingers
in the face of the king's government. The news came on a Saturday
night, for we had no newspapers in those days, and was brought by
Robin Modiwort, that fetched the letters from the Irville post.
Thomas Fullarton (he has been dead many a day) kept the grocery shop