yphoid, but then simply the
"Fivvor," made ravages in Breckonside. No one knew what brought it,
and none knew why it went away. But during its stay, both myself and
my son Joseph were attacked by it among the first. My wife, Mrs.
Yarrow, had her hands full with the two of us. Neither was very ill,
but the time of convalescence was long; and had it been any other
doctor than Dr. Hector who attended me, I would have been out a dozen
times a day.

But--and I like him for it, for I have the faculty myself--Dr. Hector
has a way with him that makes people think twice before disobeying him.
Joe was in his room, I in mine, and there was between us a thick
partition, such as are to be found in old houses, of double oak, with
an air space between.

Now my brain being by nature busy, and to amuse the boy most of all, I
concocted a simple code of sound signals which Joe and I called our
"Morse." We would often amuse ourselves the day by the length, by
rapping our messages the one to the other. It went like this. I made
a little tablet for Joe, and kept one by me till we had both learned
the inscription by ear, as it were.

+-----------------------+
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
+-------|---|---|---|---+
| 1 | A | B | C | D | E |
+---|---|---|---|---|---+
| 2 | F | G | H | I | K |
+---|---|---|---|---|---+
| 3 | L | M | N | O | P |
+---|---|---|---|---|---+
| 4 | Q | R | S | T | U |
+---|---|---|---|---|---+
| 5 | V | W | X | Y | Z |
+-----------------------+

It consisted of the alphabet arranged in five lines, and numbered
above, and at the side. Then the intersection of the number of knocks,
two series with a pause between, beginning with the horizontal top
figures gave the letter. It was simplicity itself when once learned.

Joe picked it up quickly, and we rapped out messages to each other as
soon as we were awake. For instance, three knocks, then after a pause
two more, gave the letter H.

This was the first of our morning's greetings, "Heeps better." Joe did
not spell well at that time, but for the correction of his orthography
it needed the schoolmaster's cane, and not a newly invented Morse sound
code. So I let him spell as he liked. It lightened our days very
much. And I will admit, ever after that, Joseph and I understood each
other better.

Now it will hardly be believed, but I am willing to let my commercial
honour stand for the truth of what I am about