come down the glen and see the place where my daddy fell; and, do you know
the sensible beast ran directly up to the place, and lifted up in his
mouth my daddy's whip, which had been left there, I suppose, ever since
that terrible night. Look at it. It is a good whip, and my daddy will be
glad to have it back again; for he gave a shilling for it the last time he
went to Langhold with his master's cart; and surely he grudged the price,
but he was obliged to have it, for he could not drive the cart home
without it." "Well," said John, "if you really think, Tom, that your
mammy won't be frightened at your being so long, I shall be much obliged
to you to help me with my load; and I shall perhaps be able, some day, to
do you a favour, when you stand in as much need of assistance as I do
now."

Having divided the load, they found they could now very easily get along;
and they went on chatting, till all at once John recollected the measles.
"My dear Tom," asked he, "pray, tell me, have you ever had the measles?"

"No," replied Tom, "I have never had them, and mammy is very particular in
telling me, never go into any of the houses in the glen when they are
there. All the children, round us, had them last summer, but mammy never
let us go down the steps till they were quite gone, and so we escaped; but
why do you ask?"

John was silent for a minute, thinking how nearly he had led the poor
little fellow into a danger his mother had taken so much pains to guard
him against: he then said, "Tom, we must stop, and you must go home
directly. I dare say I shall manage to get the basket home some way or
other; but you must, on no account, go near the Manse. Miss Helen has got
the measles and is very ill. Besides," continued John, "poor Marion Scott
has got them very bad indeed, and I think you had best go home directly