Page:History of Duncan Campbell, and his dog Oscar (3).pdf/16

 a kitten; she would dance, sing, and laugh violently at the most trivial incidents. At other times she was silent and sad, while a languishing softness overspread her features, and added greatly to her charms. The passion was undoubtedly mutual between them; but Duncan either from a sense of honour, or somosome [sic] other cause, never declared himself farther on the subject, than by the most respectful attention and tender assiduities.

About forty years ago the flocks of southern sheep which have since that period inundated the Highlands, had not found their way over the Grampian mountains, and the native flocks of that sequestrated country where so scanty, that it was found necessary to transport small quantities of wool annually to the north, to furnish materials for clothing thothe [sic] inhabitants. During two months of each summer, the hilly countries of the Lowlands were inundated by hundreds of woman from the Highlands, who bartered small articles of dress, and of domestic import, for wool; these were known by the name 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 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 werowere [sic] disconsolate at parting with him; for he had long ago become as a son of their own: and I seriously believe, 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