Page:The Castle of Wolfenbach - Parsons - 1854.djvu/191

 girls and four boys; few people lived more respectable than they did, but they were not rich: a large family, liberal minds, and hearts always disposed to relieve the wants of others, precluded affluence, though they had a decent competence. The failure of a very capital house in England, with whom my father was materially connected, obliged him to go over, without loss of time; he embarked from Dunkirk. Alas! my dear child, we saw him no more! a storm overtook them, as 'tis supposed, and all on board perished, for the packet was never but once seen or heard of after. When this dreadful news arrived, my mother was weeping over a letter just received from a friend in London, with the intelligence, that the house which had failed could not pay a shilling in the pound, and from some particular connexions between them and my father, all his effects would be seized, and he was likewise declared, or included in the bankruptcy. One of those unhappy gossiping persons, fond of telling every thing, without considering the consequences, called upon my mother, as she was in an agony over the contents of this letter: "Ah! my dear madam, (cried she) I see you have received the fatal news!" "Yes, (answered my mother, wringing her hands) we are all undone for ever!" "But who, (said she again) could write you about it, for only the boat that is just come in saw the packet go down." "What packet?" (cried my mother, starting.) "Why the packet your good husband was in."

She heard no more, but fell senseless on the floor. I had been out upon business, and entered the room just as this officious newsmonger and the servants were trying to raise and recover my wretched parent. A stranger to all the circumstances, I was frightened to death almost, and teased every one to know what had happened; no one answered. It was some time before she was brought to life. With a look of horror I shall never forget, she cried, "Hermine, you