Page:History of Duncan Campbell, and his dog, Oscar (2).pdf/22



22 seldom comes singly. Scarcely had our feelings overcome the shock, which they received by the loss of our beloved Duncan, when a more terrible mis- fortune overtook. My father, by the monstrous ingratitude of a friend whom we trusted, lost at once the greater part of his hard earned fortune. The blow came unexpectedly, and distracted his personal affairs to such a degree, that: an arrange- ment seemed almost totally impracticable. He struggled on with securities for several months; but perceiving that he he was drawing his real friends into danger, by their signing of bonds which he might never be able to redeem, he lost heart en- tirely, and yielded to the torrent. Mary's mind seemed to gain fresh energy every day. The activity and diligence which she evinced in managing the affairs of the farm, and even in giving advice with regard to other matters, is quite incredible:-- often have I thought what a treasure that inesti- mable girl would have been to an industrious man Whom she loved. All our efforts availed nothing, my father received letters of horning on bills to a large amount, and we expected every day that he would be taken from us and dragged to a prison. We were all sitting in our little room one day, consulting what was besť to be done---we could de- cide upon nothing, for our case was desperate---we were fallen into a kind of stupor, but the window being up, a sight appeared that quickly thrilled every heart with the keenest sensation of anguish. Two men came riding sharply up by the back of the old school house. Yonder are the officers of justice now, said my mother, what shall we do? We hurried to the window, and all of us soon dis- cerned that they were no other than some attorney,