CHAPTEE XXTTL 

 DICK'S LAST YEAR HIS DEATH. 



LIFE was becoming sad, and dreary, and full of sorrow, 

 to Robert Dick. He was a victim to rheumatism. 

 Sometimes he could scarcely move. " I am plagued," he 

 says, " with rheumatism in my shoulder-blades ; I can 

 scarcely lift my arm." The rheumatism also affected 

 his loins and feet. He could not walk ; he could only 

 "hirple." To one who had been so full of life and 

 activity, this was a great trouble. 



He was also much affected by his business. Competi- 

 tion was mining half the bakers in Thurso. One man, 

 who afterwards became a bankrupt, was underselling 

 everybody, in bread, in tea, in groceries and everything. 

 " Campbell," he says, " even sent the bell round forbid- 

 ding people to drink milk, and recommending them to 

 patronise his ale and porter. He sells most things 

 under cost price, to the great injury of his fellow-trades- 

 men." 



Dick's business again fell off more rapidly than 

 before. " I am in a state of galloping ruin," he says to 

 his brother-in-law. " I have nothing to do, I have made 

 no loaf-bread for several weeks. My trade is suspended. 

 To tell the truth, I have worked hard for my living for 



