Page:History of Duncan Campbell, and his dog Oscar (4).pdf/22

 22 that besides a good clear estate, his father had personal funds to a great amount. The balls and cottages of Glenellich were filled with feasting, joy, and gladness. It was sot so at my father's house. Misfortune seldom come singly. . Scarcely had our feelings over- come the shock, which they received by the loss of our beloved Duncan, when a more terrible misfortune overtook us. My father, by the monstrous ingrati- tude of a friend whom be 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 arrangement seemed al- most totally impracticable. He struggled on with a securities for several months; but perceiving that he was drawing his real friends into danger, by their signing of bonds which he might never be able to re- deem, he lost heart entirely, and yielded to the tor- rent. 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 gir- ing advice, with regard to other matters, is quite in credible ;-often have I thought what a treasure that inestimable 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, con- sulting what was best to be done we could decided 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 discerned that they were no other than some attorney, accompanied