A New World 



was n't room enough in the cabin to swing it, 

 and the moment I saw it I burst out laughing 

 in the midst of my fears. But father failed to 

 see the fun and was very angry at David, 

 heaved the bur-oak outside and passionately 

 demanded his reason for fetching "sic a muckle 

 rail like that instead o' a switch? Do ye ca' 

 that a switch? I have a gude mind to thrash 

 you insteed o' John." David, with demure, 

 downcast eyes, looked preternaturally right- 

 eous, but as usual prudently answered never a 

 word. 



It was a hard job in those days to bring up 

 Scotch boys in the way they should go; and 

 poor overworked father was determined to do 

 it if enough of the right kind of switches could 

 be found. But this time, as the sun was getting 

 high, he hitched up old Tom and Jerry and 

 made haste to the Kingston lumber-yard, 

 leaving me unscathed and as innocently wicked 

 as ever; for hardly had father got fairly out of 

 sight among the oaks and hickories, ere all our 

 troubles, hell-threatenings, and exhortations 

 [ 87 ] 



