Page:History of Duncan Campbell, and his dog Oscar (4).pdf/15

 15 his matter was exhausted ; a long pause ensured, which I at length broke, by bursting into a loud fit of laugh- Duncan rose hastily, and without once lifting up his head went crying to his bed : and as I continu- ed to indulge in laughter, my mother, for my irreve- rent behaviour, struck me across the shoulders with the tong; our evening devotions terminated exceedingly ill, I went crying to my bed after Duncan, even loud. er than tie, and abusing him for his useless prayer, for which I had been nearly felled. By the time that we were recalled from school to herd the cows next summer, we could both read the Bible with considerable facility, but Duncan far excel led me ia perspicacit; ; and so fond was he of reading Bible history, that the reading of it was now our con- stant abusemen. Often have Mary, and he, and I, Inin under the same plaid, by the side of the corn or meadaw, and read chapter about on the Bible for hours together, weeping over the failings and fall of good men, and wondering at the inconceivable might of the frezoesol' antiquity. Never way man so delighted as Duncan was when he came to the history of Sampson, and afterwards of David and Goliah; be could not be satisfied until lie had read it to every individual with whom he was acquainted, judging it to be as new and as interesting to every one as it was to himself. I have seen him standing by the girls as they were milking the cows, reading to themthe feats of Sampson; and, in short, harassing every man and woman, about the hamlet, for audience. On Sundays, my parent's accompanied us to the fields, and joined in our delight- fol exercise. Time passed away, and so also did our youthful de- lights ; but other cares and other pleasures awaited us. As we advanced in years and strength, we quitted the herding, and bore a bid in the labours of the farm. "Mary, too, was often our assistant. She and Duncan were nearly of an age-he was tall; comely, and affable;