CHAP. I.] Is laid up by Fever. 37 
The boy had no inclination to rise that day. He was 
hot and cold alternately. When he got up in the after- 
noon, he was in a “gruize.”* Then he went to bed again. 
By the evening he was in a hot fever. Next day he was 
worse." He raved, and became delirious. He rambled 
about his beasts and his birds. Then he ceased to speak. 
His mouth became clammy and his tongue black. He 
hung between life and death for several weeks, At length 
the fever spent itself, leaving him utterly helpless. 
One afternoon, as he was gradually getting better, he 
observed his mother sitting by his bedside. “Mother,” 
said he, ‘‘ where are my crabs and bandies that I brocht 
hame last nicht?’ “Crabs and bandies!” said she; “ye’re 
surely gaun gyte;+ it’s three months sin ye were oot!” 
This passed the boy’s comprehension. His next question 
was, “ Has my father gotten the chains yet?’ ‘Na, laddie, 
nor winna; but ye maunna gang back to yer auld places 
for beasts again.” ‘“ But where’s a’ my things, mother?” 
“They’re awa! The twa bottoms o’ broken bottles we 
found in the entry, the day you fell ill, were both thrown 
out.” “And the shrew-mouse ye had in the boxie?”’ 
“Calton [the cat] took it.” This set the boy a-crying, and 
in that state he fell asleep, and did not waken till late next 
morning, when he felt considerably better. He still, how- 
ever, continued to make inquiries after his beasts. 
His father, being indoors, and seeing the boy rising and 
leaning upon his elbow, said to him, “Come awa, laddie. 
It’s long since ye were oot. The whins, and birds, and wa- 
ter-dogst at Daiddie Brown’s burnie will be a’ langin to 
see ye again.” The boy looked at his mother and smiled, 
but said nothing. In a few days he was able to rise, but 
the spring was well advanced before he was able to go out- 
of-doors. 
* @ruize, a rigor, generally preceding a cold or fever. 
+ Gaun gyte, becoming insane, or acting foolishly. 
$+ Water-rats. 
