A Boyhood in Scotland 



black cloak to hide us in, and some of us 

 thought we saw a sticken-plaister ready in his 

 hand." We were in such a state of fear and 

 trembling that the teacher saw he wasn't 

 going to get rid of us without going himself as 

 leader. He went only a short distance, however, 

 and turned us over to the care of the two biggest 

 scholars, who led us to the top of the Brae and 

 then left us to scurry home and dash into the 

 door like pursued squirrels diving into their 

 holes. 



Just before school skaled (closed), we all 

 arose and sang the fine hymn "Lord, dismiss us 

 with Thy blessing." In the spring when the 

 swallows were coming back from their winter 

 homes we sang 



" Welcome, welcome, little stranger, 

 Welcome from a foreign shore; 

 Safe escaped from many a danger . . ." 



and while singing we all swayed in rhythm with 

 the music. "The Cuckoo/' that always told 

 his name in the spring of the year, was another 

 favorite song, and when there was nothing in 

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