A H 11 N T K R ' 8 LIFE. 27 



I was in higli spirits, for all the hunters had often told 

 me that I would miss the first deer I would shoot at. 

 Then to skinning it I went. That done, and the meat se- 

 cured, it was time to start for home. On my way I had 

 to pass Mr. McMullen's house, but I did not see Mary, 

 because I only passed by the barn, where the little boys 

 and a young man were dressing flax, and, their day's work 

 being done, the young man went home with me. When 

 I arrived, my uncle was away from home, and my aunt, as 

 usual, being in a very ill humor, would not speak to me. 

 It was after dark, and I was tired and hungry. At last 

 she said : 



" Do you think of getting your supper here to-night ? " 



" I hope so," I replied. 



"Well you will miss it if you do," she answered. 



At this time her little daughter had a low stool, ont 

 of the legs of which was loose, and often dropped out. 

 1 went to sit down on it, when, the leg coming out, I fell 

 back and struck my head against the jam, and hurt myself. 

 Thinking to myself that I would burn that worthless leg 

 and put in a better one, I threw it into the fire ; but when 

 the child saw the leg in the flames, she screamed with all 

 her strength. I then pulled it out again without being 

 burned, and gave it to her ; but as the little creature had 

 been petted and spoiled, she came slyly to me and struck 

 rae in the face with it, when the blood flew out of my nose 

 in an instant. I immediately slapped her on the head, and 

 the next minute was sorry that I had done it. As aunt 

 had seen me strike the child, she took a heavy wooden 

 shovel and made a blow at my head ; but luckily it struck 

 me flatway and broke to splinters. I recovered from the 

 blow, and shut my fist to knock her down ; but Providence 

 sent the young man to save me from the disgrace of strik- 

 ing a woman — <in act which I have ever since kept clear 

 of. I then told old aunty that it would be the last blow 



