Page:History of Duncan Campbell, and his dog Oscar (4).pdf/20

 20 with Duncan, to whom she seemed attached at first sight. " Lexy, my dear," said he, "did you see my spectacles?" "Yes,' said she, "I think I saw them on your nose to day, at breakfast." "Well, but I have lost them since," said he." You may take up the next you find then, Sir," said she.-The servants laughed. “I might well have known what informa- tion I would get of you," said he, regretfully. How can you speak in such a style to your father, my dear lady?" said Duncan." If I were he, I would place you where you would learn better manners.It ill becomes so pretty a young lady to address an old fa- ther thus.' "He," said she, “who minds him? He's a dotard, and old whining, complaining, super- anuated being, worse than a child." " But consider his years," said Duncan;" and besides, be may have met with crosses and losses sufficient to sour the temper of a younger man.--You should at all events pity and revence, but never despise your father. The old lady now joined them. ** You have yet heard no- thing, young man," said the old laird, " if you saw how my heart is sometimes wrung.--Yes, I have had losses indeed." " 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 less of a loving wife and a son nothing ?" said he he. “ Bat 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 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 Haven may yet restore that son to protect the gray hairs of his old father, and lay his head in an honoured grave." The old man's spirits were quite gone--he cried likes a child :- his lady mimicked him--and, at this, his daugh-