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most part of the country people in his behalf, for he was generally treated with kindness. He knew his father’s name and the name of his house; but as none of the pepole he visited had ever before heard of either the one or the other, they gave themselves no trouble about the matter.
He staid nearly two years in a place he called Cowhaur, till a wretch with whom he slept, struck and abused him one day. Duncan, in a rage, flew to the loft and cut all his Sunday hat, shoes, and coat, into pieces; and. not daring to abide the consequences, decamped that night.
He wandered about for some time longer, among the farmers of Tweed and Yarrow; but this life was now become exceedingly disagreeable to him. He durst not sleep by himself, and the servants did not always choose that a vagrant boy and his great dog should sleep with them.
It was on a rainy night, at the close of harvest, that Duncan came to my father’s house. I remember all the circumstances as well as the transactions of yesterday. The whole of his clothing consisted only of one black coat, which, having been made for a full grown man, hung fairly to his heels; the hair of his head was rough, curled, and weather—beaten; but his face was ruddy and beautiful, bespeaking a healthy body, and a sensible feeling heart. Oscar was still nearly as large as himself, had the colour of a fox,: with a white stripe down his face, and a ring of the same colour around his neck, and was the most beautiful colley I have ever seen. My heart was knit to Duncan at the first eight, and I wept for joy when I saw my parents so kind to him. My mother in particular. could scarely do anything else than converse with Duncan for several days. I was always of the party, and listened with wonder and admiration; but often have these adventures been repeated to me. My parents who soon seemed to feel the same concern for
