The Settlers in Canada | Page 7

mad with myself, and really do not know what to do.
I do nothing but reproach myself all day, and I can not sleep at night. I
have been very foolish, but I am sure you will kindly enter into my
present feelings. I waited till you came home, because I thought you
had better tell my father the fact, for I feel as if I should die with shame
and vexation."
"Look you, Harry," replied Alfred, "as for outrunning the constable, as
we term it at sea, it's a very common thing, and, all things considered,
no great harm done, when you suppose that you have the means, and
intend to pay; so don't lay that to heart. That you would give your right
hand not to have done so, as things have turned out, I really believe; but,
however, there is no occasion to fret any more about it. I have received

three years' pay, and the prize-money for the last eighteen months, and
there is still some more due, for a French privateer. Altogether it
amounts to £250, which I had intended to have made over to my father,
now that he is on a lee-shore; but it will come to the same thing,
whether I give it to you to pay your debts, or give it to him, as he will
pay them, if you do not; so here it is, take what you want, and hand me
over what's left. My father don't know that I have any money, and now
he won't know it; at the same time he won't know that you owe any; so
that squares the account, and he will be as well off as ever."
"Thank you, my dear Alfred; you don't know what a relief this will be
to my mind. Now I can look my father in his face."
"I hope you will; we are not troubled with such delicate feelings on
board ship, Harry. I should have told him the truth long before this. I
couldn't bear to keep any thing on my conscience. If this misfortune
had happened last cruise, I should have been just in your position; for I
had a tailor's bill to pay as long as a frigate's pennant, and not enough
in my pocket to buy a mouse's breakfast. Now, let's go in again, and be
as merry as possible, and cheer them up a little."
Alfred's high spirits did certainly do much to cheer them all up; and
after tea, Mr. Campbell, who had previously consulted his wife, as soon
as the servant had quitted the room, entered on a full explanation of the
means which were left to them; and stated, that he wished in his
difficulty to put the question before the whole family, and ascertain
whether any project might come into their heads upon which they
might decide and act. Henry, who had recovered his spirits since the
assistance he had received from Alfred, was desired to speak first. He
replied:
"My dear father and mother, if you can not between you hit upon any
plan, I am afraid it is not likely that I can assist you. All I have to say is,
that whatever may be decided upon, I shall most cheerfully do my duty
toward you and my brothers and sisters. My education has not been one
likely to be very useful to a poor man, but I am ready to work with my
hands as well as with my head, to the best of my abilities."

"That I am sure of, my dear boy," replied his father. "Now, Alfred, we
must look to you as our last hope, for your two cousins are not likely to
give us much advice."
"Well, father, I have been thinking a good deal about it, and I have a
proposal to make which may at first startle you, but it appears to me
that it is our only, and our best, resource. The few hundred pounds
which you have left are of no use in this country, except to keep you
from starving for a year or two; but in another country they may be
made to be worth as many thousands. In this country, a large family
becomes a heavy charge and expense; in another country, the more
children you have, the richer man you are. If, therefore, you would
consent to transport your family and your present means into another
country, instead of being a poor, you might be a rich man."
"What country is that, Alfred?"
"Why, father, the purser of our ship had a brother, who, soon after the
French were beaten out of the Canadas, went out there to try his fortune.
He had only three hundred pounds in the world: he has been there