I will tell my story in English, and neither part of the country will like it the worse for that.
I will clear the way for it by mentioning that my father was the clergyman of a country parish in the north of Scotland--a humble position, involving plain living and plain ways altogether.

There was a glebe or church-farm attached to the manse or clergyman's house, and my father rented a small farm besides, for he needed all he could make by farming to supplement the smallness of the living.

My mother was an invalid as far back as I can remember.

We were four boys, and had no sister.

But I must begin at the beginning, that is, as far back as it is possible for me to begin..