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to overpower him by increasing the object of fear, ‘here, tak’ him; he’s an ill bairn.’ This mode of education was so contrary to all my ideas of propriety, that I could stand it no longer, and I hastily opened the door. The child, a fine little fellow about four years old, uttered a loud scream of despair as soon as he saw me, and, starting up, ran into a corner, where he hid himself behind a table; whilst his elder brother and sister, who were sitting by the fire, sprang with equal marks of horror into a bed, and covered themselves with the bed-clothes. The mother, too, was at first evidently con- fused and alarmed; and I am sure, if the bogle man himself had made his appearance, he could scarcely have created greater con- sternation. After having, amidst all this noise and bustle, with some difficulty in- troduced myself to my sister in-law, whom I had never before seen, I was received with a very hearty welcome, and my name- son George, the eldest boy, who, ashamed of his fears, came slinking out of bed, was dispatched to carry the tidings of my ar- rival to his father.
“My dear brother came quickly in from
the field, and received me with a smile of such tender affection, that I totally forgot the disagreeable scene I had witnessed, till the little culprit behind the table, cured of
