THE SOUTH.
105
Noah, sanctioned by Abraham, approved by
Paul, and just ideally perfect in every way.
And when, to preserve the autonomy of the
family arrangements, in '61, '62 and '63, it
became necessary for the big brother to ad¬
minister a little wholesome correction and set
the obstreperous Miss vigorously down in her
seat again, she assumed such an air of in¬
jured innocence, and melted away so lugubri¬
ously, the big brother has done nothing since
but try to sweeten and pacify and laugh her
back into a companionable frame of mind.
Father Lincoln did all he could to get her
to repent of her petulance and behave herself.
He even promised she might keep her pet, so
disagreeable to all the neighbors and hurtful
even to herself, and might manage it at home
to suit herself, if she would only listen to
reason and be just tolerably nice. But, no—
she was going to leave and set up for herself;
she didn't propose to be meddled with; and so,
of course, she had to be spanked. Just a little
at first—didn't mean to hurt, merely to teach
her who was who. But she grew so ugly, and
kicked and fought and scratched so outrag¬
eously, and seemed so determined to smash up
the whole business, the head of the family got
red in the face, and said: "Well, now, he
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