Page:History of Duncan Campbell, and his dog Oscar (1).pdf/22

22 that besides a good clear estate, his father had personal funds to a great amount. The halls and cottages of Glenellich were filled with feasting, joy, and gladness.

It was not so at my father’s house. Misfortunes seldom come singly. Scarcely had our feelings overcome the shock which they received by the loss of our beloved Duncan, when a more terrible misfortune overtook us. My father, by the monstrous ingrattude of a friend whom he trusted, lost at once the greater part of his hard-earned fortune. The bcame unexpectedly, and distracted his personal aff to such a degree, that an arrangement seemed most totally impracticable. He struggled on securities for several months; but perceiving that it was drawing his real friends into danger, by the signing of bonds which he might never be able to redeem, he lost heart entirely, and yielded to the  rent. Mary’s mind seemed to gain fresh energy every day. The activity and diligence which she evin managing the affairs of the farm, and even in ging advice with regard to other matters, is quite credible;—often have I thought what a treasure the inestimable girl would have been to an industrious man whom she loved. All our efforts availed; thing; my father received letters of horning on bill a large amount, and we expected every day that would be taken from us and dragged to a prison.

We were all sitting in our little room one day, consulting what was best to be done—we could de upon nothing, for our case was desperate—we were fallen into a kind of stupor, but the window being a sight appeared that quickly thrilled every he with the keenest sensations of anguish. Two men came riding sharply up by the back of the old schoolhouse. “Yonder are the officers of justice no ” said my mother, “what shall we do?” We hurried to the window, and all of us soon discerned that they were no other than some attorney, accompanied