their ground。 Of course； mischief sometimes happened： boys are said to
have been killed at these _Bickers；_ as they were called； and serious accidents
certainly took place； as many contemporaries can bear witness。
The Author's father residing in George Square； in the southern side of
Edinburgh； the boys belonging to that family； with others in the square；
were arranged into a sort of company； to which a lady of distinction presented
a handsome set of colours。 Now this company or regiment； as a
matter of course； was engaged in weekly warfare with the boys inhabiting
the Crosscauseway； Bristo Street； the Potterrow…in short； the neighbouring
suburbs。 These last were chiefly of the lower rank； but hardy loons；
who threw stones to a hair's…breadth； and were very rugged antagonists at
close quarters。 The skirmish sometimes lasted for a whole evening； until
one party or the other was victorious； when； if ours were successful； we
drove the enemy to their quarters； and were usually chased back by the reinforcement
of bigger lads who came to their assistance。 If； on the contrary；
we were pursued； as was often the case； into the precincts of our
square； we were in our turn supported by our elder brothers； domestic
servants； and similar auxiliaries。
It followed； from our frequent opposition to each other； that； though
not knowing the names of our enemies； we were yet well acquainted with
their appearance； and had nick…names for the most remarkable of them。
One very active and spirited boy might be considered as the principal leader
in the cohort of the suburbs。 He was； I suppose； thirteen or fourteen
years old； finely…made； tall； blue…eyed； with long fair hair； the very picture
of a youthful Goth。 This lad was always first in the charge； and last in
the retreat…the Achilles； at once； and Ajax； of the Crosscauseway。 He
was too formidable to us not to have a cognomen； and； like that of a knight
of old； it was taken from the most remarkable part of his dress； being a
pair of old green livery breeches； which was the principal part of his clothing；
for； like Pentapolin； according to Don Quixote's account； Green…Breeks；
as we called him； always entered the battle with bare arms； legs；
and feet。
It fell； that once upon a time； when the combat was at the thickest； this
plebeian champion headed a sudden charge； so rapid and furious that all
fled before him。 He was several paces before his comrades； and had
actually laid his hands on the patrician standard； when one of our party；
whom some misjudging friend had entrusted with a _couteau de chasse；_ or
hanger； inspired with a zeal for the honour of the corps； worthy of Major
Sturgeon himself； struck poor Green…Breeks over the head； with strength
sufficient to cut him down。 When this was seen； the casualty was so far
beyond what had ever taken place before； that both parties fled different
ways； leaving poor Green…Breeks； with his bright hair plentifully dabbled
in blood； to the care of the watchman； who （honest man） took care not to
know who had done the mischief。 The bloody hanger was flung into one
of the Meadow ditches； and solemn secrecy was sworn on all hands； but
the remorse and terror of the actor were beyond all bounds； and his apprehensions
of the most dreadful character。 The wounded hero was for a
few days in the Infirmary； the case being only a trifling one。 But though
inquiry was strongly pressed on him； no argument could make him indicate
the person from whom he had received the wound； though he must
have been perfectly well known to him。 When he recovered； and was
dismissed； the Author and his brothers opened a communication with him；
through the medium of a popular ginger…bread baker； of whom both
parties were customers； in order to tender a subsidy in name of smart…money。
The sum would excite ridicule were I to name it； but sure I am；
that the pockets of the noted Green…Breeks never held as much money of
his own。 He declined the remittance； saying that he would not sell his
blood； but at the same time reprobated the idea of being an informer； which
he said was _clam；_ i。e。 base or mean。 With much urgency he accepted a
pound of snuff for the use of some old woman…aunt； grandmother； or the
like…with whom he lived。 We did not become friends； for the _bickers_
were more agreeable to both parties than any more pacific amusement；
but we conducted them ever after under mutual assurances of the highest
consideration of each other。
Such was the hero whom Mr。 Thomas Scott proposed to carry to Canada；
and involve in adventures with the natives and colonists of that country。
Perhaps the youthful generosity of the lad will not seem so great in the
eyes of others as to those whom it was the means of screening from severe
rebuke and punishment。 But it seemed； to those concerned； to argue a
nobleness of sentiment far beyond the pitch of most minds； and however
obscurely the lad who showed such a frame of noble spirit may have
lived or died； I cannot help being of opinion； that if fortune had placed
him in circumstances calling for gallantry or generosity； the man would
have fulfilled the promises of the boy。 Long afterwards； when the story
was told to my father； he censured us severely for not telling the truth at
the time； that he might have attempted to be of use to the young man in
entering on life。 But our alarms for the consequences of the drawn sword；
and the wound inflicted with such a weapon； were far too predominant at
the time for such a pitch of generosity。
Perhaps I ought not to have inserted this school…boy tale； but besides
the strong impression made by the incident at the time； the whole accompaniments
of the story are matters to me of solemn and sad recollection。
Of all the little band who were concerned in those juvenile sports or brawls；
I can scarce recollect a single survivor。 Some left the ranks of mimic war
to die in the active service of their country。 Many sought distant lands to
return no more。 Others； dispersed in different paths of life； ‘‘my dim
eyes now seek for in vain。'' Of five brothers； all healthy and promising；
in a degree far beyond one whose infancy was visited by personal infirmity；
and whose health after this period seemed long very precarious； I am；
nevertheless； the only survivor。 The best loved； and the best deserving to
be loved； who had destined this incident to be the foundation of literary
composition； died ‘‘before his day'' in a distant and foreign land； and
trifles assume an importance not their own when connected with those who
have been loved and lost。