Page:History of Duncan Campbell, and his dog Oscar (4).pdf/3

 3 bless you, my dear Oscar:" Duncan mounted before a servant, and rode away._Oscar still followed at a distance, until he reached the top of the hill--he then sat down and howled. Duncan cried till bis little heart was like to burst-"What ails you?' said the servant, "I will never see my poor honest Oscar, again," said Duncan, "an' my heart canna bide it." Duncan staid a year in Edinburgh, but he did not make great progress in learning. He did not approve highly of attending the school, and his aunt was too indulgent to compel his attendance. She grew ex- treinely ill one day--the maids kept constantly by her, and never regarded Duncan. He was an additional charge to them, and they never loved him, but used bim harshly. It was now with great difficulty that he could obtain either meat or drink. . In a few days af- ter bis aunt was taken ill she died. All was in con- fusion, and poor Duncan was like to parish with hun- ger :-he could find no person in the house ; but hear- ing a noise in his aunt's chamber, he went in, and be- held them dressing the corpse of his kind relation ; it was enough.-Duncan was horrified beyond what mortal breast, was able to endure;- he hasted down the stair, and ran along the High Street, and South Bridge as fast as his feet could carry him, crying in- cessantly all the way. He would not have entered that house again, if the world bad been offered him as a reward. Some people stopped him, in order to ask what was the matter, but he could only answer them by exclaiming “On dear! Oh dear l" and struggling till he got free, held on his course careless whether went provided he got far enough from the horra scene he had so lately witnessed. Some have said posed, and I believe Duncan has been heard to cap- fess, that then imagined he was senning for m- Highlands, but mistook the directiu. However that was, he continued his course up :) une te a place