Page:History of Duncan Campbell, and his dog, Oscar (1).pdf/10

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most part of the country people in his behalf, for he was generally treated with kindness. He knew his father's name, and the name of his house; but as none of the people he visited bad ever before heard of either the one or the other, they gave themselves no trouble about the matter. He ſtaid nearly two years in a place he called Cow- haur, till a wretch, with whom he ſlept, ſtruck and abuſed him one day. Duncan, in a rage, flew to the loft, and cut all his Sunday hat, froes, and coat, in pieces; and, not daring to abide the conſequences, decamped that night. He wandered about for some time longer, among the farmers of Tweed and Yarrow; but this life was now become exceedingly disagreeable to him. He durst not sleep by himself, and the ſervants did not always choose that a vagrant boy and his great dog ſhould sleep with them. It was on a rainy night, at the cloſe of harvest that Duncan came to my father's houſe. I remember all the circumstances as well as the transactions of yes- terday. The whole of his clothing consisted only of one black coat, which, having been made for a full grown man, hung fairly to his heels ; the hair of his head was rough, curled, and weather beaten : but his face was ruddy and beautiful, bespeaking a healthy body, and a ſenſible feeling heart. Oscar was ſtill nearly as large as himself, had the colour of a fox, with a white ſtripe down his face, and a ring of the fame colour around his neck, and was the mſit beau- tiful colley I have ever ſeen. My heart was knit to Duncan at the firſt fight, and I wept for joy when I ſaw my parents ſo kind to him. My mother in par- ticular, could scarcely do anything else than converſe with Duncan for ſeveral days. I was always of the party, and listened with wonder and admiration; but often have theſe adventures been repeated to me. My parents, who ſoon ſeemed to feel the same concern for