320 fkirxQB of tbe Ibunttng^jfiel^ 



mother, who was just in front of him, was in danger of 

 getting hurt, my father reached over her shoulder and 

 quietly moved the man's arm in order to let her pass. 

 The obstructionist took no notice at the moment, but 

 just as my father had begun to descend the long flight 

 of steps to the platform, a violent kick from behind 

 nearly precipitated him and the youngest child, who 

 was in his arms, from the top to the bottom. However, 

 he managed to keep his balance and reach level ground 

 in safety, and then I have a very vivid remembrance of his 

 giving a pretty exhibition of Association football from one 

 end of the platform to the other, his cowardly assailant 

 enacting the part of the ball with great success. The 

 scene is as fresh in my memory as if it happened 

 yesterday, instead of nearly forty years ago. I seem 

 still to hear the delighted crow of the baby who was 

 in my father's arms, and who evidently considered that 

 some new and beautiful game was being played for his 

 special benefit. " The Druid " was himself again 

 almost immediately, and our train started as he was 

 leaning out of the carriage window, and blandly assuring 

 the wife of his victim that " a little brown paper and 

 vinegar, my dear madam, will make your husband as 

 good as new again." ' 



Though his constitution was tough and wiry, and his 

 tall spare frame capable of prolonged exertion, ' The 

 Druid ' suffered much from ill-health. For the greater 

 part of his life he was more or less troubled with 

 ophthalmia, a terrible affliction to a literary man, and for 

 the four years preceding his death he was a martyr 

 to asthma in its most painful form. This ailment he 

 contracted during a remarkable journey from the 

 Orkneys to London, which he performed on horseback 



