Stewart MacDonald, MD.

I always enjoyed his little stories. Why he should bother with such a small boy tells me, in later life, that he must have had a kind streak.

His son, Hughie, who worked as a streetcar conduc- tor in Boston, returned home after his older brother had a disagreement with Murdock. I recall that Hughie and I discussed important men and I said, “Jack Dempsey.” He said he would bet that his father never heard of him. When Murdock came close to us Hughie asked him, and Murdock said, “Who was he?” Murdock wore glasses but when he got old he threw them away and could read the smallest print.

Hughie was very athletic and did some boxing in the United States, and was quite nifty with boxing gloves. We had a Boxing Club in Little Sands hall and he used to show us some tips. I remember having on the gloves with him and I was getting the worst of it as we had three minute rounds. I waited until the game was about over, saw my chance, and whacked him on the nose, bringing the blood. The round was over and I said I was sorry and all he said was, “If one is scared of blood, he better not put on gloves.” I say this to recall what a good sport he was. Hughie would come with us coasting on the hills in winter, and would join in games when older people would ignore us.

I was the only boy from the west of the school, and the old feud of East and West lasted over the century. As a young fellow I went with him to Singing School, and he asked me why I was not with the young fellows outside before the school started. I explained to him how they would act if I went out. It would mean a fight. He stated, “Let us go out,” and he said, “This is my young friend from the West. The first one to lay a hand on him will have me to contend with.” They were scared of him,

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