I was a bit worried by the assumption that Mrs Cruikshank had gritted her teeth and come forward to do her Christian duty by her brother's illegitimate grandchild.
In England, under the old poor law rules, the parish authorities would always seek out near relatives, and then distant relatives, and more or less force them to take on a burden to the parish. I'm sure it would have been the same in Scotland particularly where the father was of ample means or had a standing in the community.
So I think Jessie may have been forced on Mrs Cruikshank and that might explain the horrible wording in the day books. Once Jessie was of an age to work in a factory, she was sent away from Mrs Cruikshank's house.
OC
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