"For what?" I asked. "For the eech,--I knowed I'd ketch it when I seed Dewey Lovel pawing round so them nights I spent with him." "Do you mean the itch?" I inquired, sharply. "No, I mean the eech,--the seven-year-eech I reckon this is, by the way it feels." "I have no idea what to do for such a disease as the itch!" I replied, helplessly. Philip danced on one foot, clawing his arms now. "'Itch',--listen at that now, boys,--she calls the eech the itch,--don't know no better,--ha! ha!" "What do people do for it?" I asked. "Some rubs on lard-and-sulphur; and some axle-grease." "I'll ask the nurse for medicine,--go along now, please,--_don't_ stand so near me!" "Get enough for three," was his parting remark, "Taulbee and Hose is beginning to scratch too!" Yes, get enough for a dozen, he had better say! _Saturday, P. M._ This afternoon bows and spikes (arrows) became violently the fashion. All the boys went up the mountain side to get hickory limbs for bows, and arrowwood for "spikes". But from Geordie alone can be bought the horse-shoe nails (Hosea's before popgun time) which, when hammered flat at the head, shaped around a nail, and then fitted on the end of a spike, make a truly dangerous and desirable weapon. These nails are held at five cents apiece; but when the buyer has no money, as usually happens, the set of marbles received in his Christmas stocking is acceptable. As Keats says, what good are "marvles" anyway, with the ground either snow or slush all the time? _Sunday Morning._ My fears are verified. Every boy on the place is scratching; and I too have an irresistible impulse in that direction. _Sunday Night._ All my family in quarantine with the itch, and I myself experiencing all the agonies. I think it is King James who says, "The Itch is a disease well worth the having, for the satisfaction afforded by scratching"; but I am forced to dissent from the royal opinion. And the cure,--the being swathed for days in lard-and-sulphur--is almost as bad as the disease. Worst of all is the thought that for a week I shall not see Nucky. _Sunday, a week later._ The boys and I were released from quarantine to-day, and I ran to the hospital the first thing. Nucky looks much better, and is gaining strength at a normal rate. He is much troubled, however, because Blant has not been to see him again. "I know things is wrong on Trigger,--I am afeared Todd is at his devilment again," he said.