A Boyhood in Scotland 



made that there was a close connection be- 

 tween the skin and the memory, and that irri- 

 tating the skin excited the memory to any 

 required degree. 



Fighting was carried on still more vigorously 

 in the high school than in the common school. 

 Whenever any one was challenged, either the 

 challenge was allowed or it was decided by a 

 battle on the seashore, where with stubborn 

 enthusiasm we battered each other as if we had 

 not been sufficiently battered by the teacher. 

 When we were so fortunate as to finish a fight 

 without getting a black eye, we usually escaped 

 a thrashing at home and another next morning 

 at school, for other traces of the fray could be 

 easily washed off at a well on the church brae, 

 or concealed, or passed as results of playground 

 accidents; but a black eye could never be ex- 

 plained away from downright fighting. A good 

 double thrashing was the inevitable penalty, 

 but all without avail; fighting went on without 

 the slightest abatement, like natural storms; 

 for no punishment less than death could quench 

 [ 33 ] 



