J. J. Bell

“ Macgregor's inquiry was interrupted by his colliding violently with a bag carried by a gentleman hurrying for his train.
"Ye see whit ye get fur no' lukin' whaur ye're gaun," said his mother. "Pit his bunnet stracht, John.... Puir mannie, it wis a gey sair dunt," she added, gently.
"I'm no greetin', maw," said Macgregor, in a quavering voice, rubbing his eyes with his cuff.
"That's a braw lad!" said Lizzie.
"Never heed, Macgreegor! Ye'll be a man afore yer mither!" said John. ”

“ When he rejoined his family, he handed the "wholesome sweetmeat" to his wife, who first of all extracted a short stick for wee Jeannie, wrapping one end of it in a scrap of paper torn from the "poke." ”

“ An' I'll tak' the paircel, fur it 'll be in yer road." So saying, Lizzie handed her charge to John. Then she pulled the parcel from his pocket; and lo and behold! it came out accompanied by sundry fragments of taiblet, which fell on the pavement.
John would have dropped anything else but his present burden. Macgregor gazed at the dainties at his feet, but did not dare attempt to secure them. Lizzie looked pitilessly from one to the other. It was a tableau worthy of wax.
But who can follow the workings of the childish mind? ”