A Fight with Death is a local color story, for it gives the dialect, the way of life, the character, of certain people in a remote part of Scotland. It is a story of noble type, presenting a character ideal—a country doctor fighting for the life of a humble patient.
The world will always appreciate any story that finds the ideal in the actual; it will appreciate it all the sooner if it is written, as in this case, with plenty of action, vivid character drawing, natural, everyday language, and touches of pathos and of humor, all so combined that the story rises to climax, and wakens sympathy.
A Fight with Death is the third of a series of five simple, exquisitely pathetic stories of Scotch life, entitled A Doctor of the Old School, printed in the collection of stories called Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush, by Ian Maclaren,—the pseudonym of Rev. John Watson. The author was born in Manningtree, Essex, in 1850. He gained a large part of his education in Edinburgh University, and has spent many years in intimate touch with Scotch life. In addition to Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush Dr. Watson has written a number of books, the most notable being Days of Auld Lang Syne, The Upper Room, and The Mind of the Master.
Drumsheugh’s grieve. Drumsheugh is tenant of a large farm. The “grieve” is his farm manager.
Greet. Cry.
A certain mighty power. Death.
Sough. Breathe.
Thraun. Perverse.
Shilpit. Weak.
Feckless. Spiritless.