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 pleasant relaxation from the toil and care of everyday life. The quick interest which she evinced in whatever interested him, her wit, and even her sauciness, afforded him not a little amusement. Thus, if the mother complained of her idleness, or corrected her pertness, the father too often sided with the daughter. This course could not fail to injure the child, rendering her careless and disobedient to her mother. Mr. Nesmith did not intend to bring about this state of things. He thought Nattie bright, and did not like to see her angry. He knew that she had considerable temper and will, but said that, when she was older, she would know how to manage herself, and would, he believed, make the smartest one of the family.

Thus started, Nattie ran rapidly in her own ways. Mr. Nesmith was absent from home a great deal, and thus the invalid mother was left quite to the caprices of her wayward, willful girl.