Page:History of Duncan Campbell, and his dog, Oscar (2).pdf/16



16 wool annually to the north, to furnish materials for clothing the inhabitants. During two months of each summer, the hilly countries of the Lowlands were inundated by hundreds of women from the Highlands, who bartered small articles of dress, and of domestic import, for wool; these were known by the appellation of norlan netties; and few nights passed, during the wool season, that some of them were not lodged at my father's house. It was from two of these that Duncan learned one day that he was the laird of Glenellich’s only son and heir, and that a large sum had been offered to any person that could discover him. My parents certainly rejoiced in Duncan's good fortune, yet they were disconso- late at parting with him: for he had long ago become as a son of their own; and I seriously believe, that from the day they first met, to that on which the two norlan' netties came to our house, they never once entertained the idea of parting. For my part, I wished that the netties had never been born, or that they had staid at their own Home; for the thoughts of being seperated from my dear friend made me sick at heart. All our feelings were, however, nothing, when compared with those of my sister Mary. One day at dinner time, after a long and sullen pause, my father said, ‘I hope you do not intend to leave us soon, Duncan?’ I am thinking of going away to morrow, Sir,’ said Duncan. The knife fell from my mother's hand: she looked him steadily in the face for the space of a minute.-- ‘Duncan,' said she, her voice faultering, and the tears dropping from her eyes, ‘Duncan, I never durst ask you before, but I hope you will not leave us altogether? Duncan thrust the plate from