Page:History of Duncan Campbell, and his dog, Oscar (2).pdf/20



20 young lady to address an old father thus. He, said she, who minds him? He's a dotard, an old whining, complaining, superanuated being, worse than a child. But consider his years, said Duncan, and besides, he may have met with crosses and losses sufficient to sour the temper of a younger man. You should at all events, pity and reverence, but never despise your father. The old lady now join- ed them. You have yet heard nothing, young man, said the old laird, if you saw how my heart is sometimes wrung. Yes, I have had losses in- deed. You losses! said his spouse, No; you never had any losses that did not in the end turn out a vast profit. Do you then count the loss of a loving wife and a son nothing? said he. But have you not got a loving wife and a daughter in their room? returned she; the one will not waste your fortune as a prodigal son would have done, and the other will take care of both you and that, when you can no longer do either—-the loss of your son, indeed; it was the greatest blessing you could have received. Unfeeling woman, said he; but heaven may yet restore that son to protect the grey hairs of his old father, and lay his head in an honoured grave- The old man's spirits were quite gone--he cried like a child: his lady mimicked him—-and, at this, his daughter and the servants raised a laugh. human wretches, said Duncan, starting up, and pushing them aside, thus to mock the feelings of an old man, even although he were not the lord and master of you all: but take notice, the individual among you all that dares to offer such another insult to him, I'll roast on that fire. The old man clung to him, and looked himn ruefully in the face. You impudent beggarly vagabond! said the lady, do you