I must not dwell too long upon this portion of my narrative. I shall
therefore observe that Mr. Campbell took possession of Wexton Hall, and
lived in a style corresponding to his increased fortune; but, at the
same time, he never let pass an opportunity of doing good, and in this
task he was ably assisted by his wife. They had not resided there three
or four years before they were considered as a blessing to all around
them--encouraging industry, assisting the unfortunate, relieving the
indigent, building almshouses and schools, and doing all in their power
to promote the welfare and add to the happiness of those within many
miles of the Hall. At the time that Mr. Campbell took possession, the
estate had been neglected, and required large sums to be laid out upon
it, which would much increase its value.
Thus all the large income of Mr. Campbell was usefully and
advantageously employed. The change in Mr. Campbell's fortune had also
much changed the prospects of his children. Henry, the eldest, who had
been intended for his father's profession, was first sent to a private
tutor, and afterward to college. Alfred, the second boy, had chosen the
navy for his profession, and had embarked on board a fine frigate. The
other two boys, one named Percival, who was more than two years old at
the time that they took possession of the property, and the other, John,
who had been born only a few months, remained at home, receiving tuition
from a young curate, who lived near the Hall; while a governess had been
procured for Mary and Emma Percival, who were growing up very handsome
and intelligent girls.
Such was the state of affairs at the time when Mr. Campbell had been
about ten years in possession of the Wexton estate, when one day he was
called upon by Mr. Harvey, the head of the firm which had announced to
him his succession to the property.
Mr. Harvey came to inform him that a claimant had appeared, and given
notice of his intent to file a bill in Chancery to recover the estate,
being, as he asserted, the son of the person who had been considered as
the presumptive heir, and who had perished so many years back. Mr.
Harvey observed, that although he thought it his duty to make the
circumstance known to Mr. Campbell, he considered it as a matter of no
consequence, and in all probability would turn out to be a fraud got up
by some petty attorney, with a view to a compromise. He requested Mr.
Campbell not to allow the circumstance to give him any annoyance,
stating that if more was heard of it, Mr. Campbell should be immediately
informed. Satisfied with the opinion of Mr. Harvey, Mr. Campbell
dismissed the circumstance from his mind, and did not even mention it to
his wife.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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