My Boyhood and Touth 



strange articles were still used by the old dead 

 doctor in compounding physic. In the long 

 summer days David and I were put to bed 

 several hours before sunset. Mother tucked 

 us in carefully, drew the curtains of the big 

 old-fashioned bed, and told us to lie still and 

 sleep like gude bairns ; but we were usually out 

 of bed, playing games of daring called " scootch- 

 ers," about as soon as our loving mother reached 

 the foot of the stairs, for we could n't lie still, 

 however hard we might try. Going into the 

 ghost room was regarded as a very great 

 scootcher. After venturing in a few steps and 

 rushing back in terror, I used to dare David to 

 go as far without getting caught. 



The roof of our house, as well as the crags 

 and walls of the old castle, offered fine moun- 

 taineering exercise. Our bedroom was lighted 

 by a dormer window. One night I opened it in 

 search of good scootchers and hung myself out 

 over the slates, holding on to the sill, while the 

 wind was making a balloon of my nightgown. 

 I then dared David to try the adventure, and 

 [ 20 ] 



