J. J. Bell

“ The barber stared. "Hurt her? Certainly not!" he said at last. "It will only charm and refresh. A few drops on the handkerchief will be found wonderfully invigorating. Ah! now I think I see what you meant when you asked about its hurting! Do you wish the bottle for a sick friend? Just so! In that case a few drops on the pillow will prove a real charm."
Christina nearly dropped. It was too wonderful! A sick friend! How could this terrible man know that her aunt had been feeling sick on the steamer?
He must be a Sosserer!
Speechless, she laid her shilling on the counter. ”

“ Miss Purvis groaned and turned away.
"Are ye feelin' seeck, auntie?" Christina inquired in a sympathetic voice. "Try workin' yer mooth as if ye was eatin' meat. I read that that was guid for the sea-seeckness. Never heed what the folk think. Turn yer face to the watter, an' they'll no' see ye. Noo, try to imagine ye're eatin' something tough-like, an' chow it for a' ye're worth "
"Christina, if you say another word——"
"Oh, mercy!" Christina exclaimed, jumping up. "Thonder a boy in the water!"
"Oh, dear!" Miss Purvis jumped up also, while several passengers stared in alarm. "Where, where?" ”

“ Where did you read about it, Christina? "
"In the Sunday Companion," the girl replied, after some hesitation. "It was a magic potion," she continued slowly, without looking at her aunt. "A lass got it frae a—a sosserer to gi'e to a young man that wasna heedin' aboot her. She gi'ed it to him, an' it charmed him, an' afore she could say 'Jack Robinson' he was coortin' her like fun, an' their nuptails was celebrated in—— What's a nuptail, auntie?"
"I am surprised that the Sunday Companion should print such rubbish," said Miss Purvis. ”