The Settlers in Canada | Page 6

was, that it was not until a year before the claim was made to the estate,
that he had commenced laying by for his younger children; and as the
estate was then worth £2,000 per annum more than it was at the time
that he came into possession of it, he had resolved to put by £5,000 per
annum, and had done so for twelve months. The enormous legal
expenses had, however, swallowed up this sum, and more, as we have
already stated; and thus he was left a poorer man by some hundreds
than he was when the property fell to him. The day after the valuation,
the eldest son, Henry, made his appearance; he seemed much dejected,
more so than his parents, and those who knew him, would have
supposed. It was, however, ascribed to his feeling for his father and
mother, rather than for himself.

Many were the consultations held by Mr. and Mrs. Campbell as to their
future plans; but nothing at all feasible, or likely to prove advantageous,
suggested itself to them. With only sixteen or seventeen hundred
pounds, they scarcely knew where to go, or how to act. Return to his
profession Mr. Campbell knew that he could not, with any chance of
supporting his family. His eldest son, Henry, might obtain a situation,
but he was really fit for nothing but the bar or holy orders; and how
were they to support him till he could support himself? Alfred, who
was now a master's mate, could, it is true, support himself, but it would
be with difficulty, and there was little chance of his promotion. Then
there were the two other boys, and the two girls growing up fast; in
short, a family of eight people. To put so small a sum in the funds
would be useless, as they could not live upon the interest which it
would give, and how to employ it they knew not. They canvassed the
matter over and over, but without success, and each night they laid their
heads upon the pillow more and more disheartened. They were all
ready to leave the Hall, but knew not where to direct their steps when
they left it; and thus they continued wavering for a week, until they
were embraced by their son Alfred, who had made all speed to join
them, as soon as the ship had been paid off. After the first joy of
meeting between those who had been separated so long was over, Mr.
Campbell said, "I'm sorry, Alfred, that I could not give your messmates
any fishing."
"And so am I, and so were they, for your sakes, my dear father and
mother; but what is, is--and what can't be helped, can't--so we must
make the best of it; but where's Henry and my cousins?"
"They are walking in the park, Alfred; you had better join them; they
are most anxious to see you."
"I will, mother; let us get over these huggings and kissings, and then we
shall be more rational: so good-by for half an hour," said Alfred,
kissing his mother again, and then hastening out of the room.
"His spirits are not subdued, at all events," observed Mrs. Campbell. "I
thank God for it."

Alfred soon fell in with his brother and his cousins, Mary and Emma,
and after the huggings and kissings, as he termed them, were over, he
made inquiries into the real state of his father's affairs. After a short
conversation, Henry, who was very much depressed in his spirits, said,
"Mary and Emma, perhaps you will now go in; I wish to have some
conversation with Alfred."
"You are terribly out of heart, Harry," observed Alfred, after his
cousins had left them. "Are things so very bad?"
"They are bad enough, Alfred; but what makes me so low-spirited is,
that I fear my folly has made them worse."
"How so?" replied Alfred.
"The fact is, that my father has but £1,700 left in the world, a sum small
enough; but what annoys me is this. When I was at college, little
imagining such a reverse of fortune, I anticipated my allowance,
because I knew that I could pay at Christmas, and I ran in debt about
£200; My father always cautioned me not to exceed my allowance, and
thinks that I have not done so. Now, I can not bear the idea of leaving
college in debt, and, at the same time, it will be a heavy blow to my
poor father, if he has to part with £200, out of his trifling remainder, to
pay my debt. This is what has made me so unhappy. I can not bear to
tell him, because I feel convinced that he is so honorable, he will pay it
immediately. I am