at took place. My
father and mother were in these relative positions, and he thus
addressed her:

"I have heard say that a man mustn't thrash his wife with anything
thicker than his own thumb. That's as may be--and I do recollect when
the first lieutenant wanted to cut off the men's hair that the purser
told him that it was felony, under the Act of cutting and maiming. I
don't know whether the first lieutenant would have made a felony or not;
but this I'm sartain of--he'd have made a mutiny. You desarve no mercy,
and you shall have none. This pigtail of mine shall be what I shall use
upon you, and if the colt is heavy, recollect you cut it for yourself;
and as you may not be able to hear what I say by the time I have done
with you, I'll just tell you now. I'll point the end, and work a mouse
on this pigtail of mine, and never part with it. I'll keep it for your
own particular use, and for nobody else's; and as sartain as I come
back, so sartain every time I come you shall have a taste of pigtail
without _chewing_', my lady's ladies' maid."

Having made this uncommon long speech, to which my mother offered no
reply, her eyes being fixed in terror upon the brandished tail, which
was nearly as thick as her own arm, my father proceeded to put his
threats into execution. Blow resounded after blow; my mother's cries
became feebler and feebler, until at last she appeared senseless. Then I
ran to my father, and, clinging to his leg, cried, "Oh, father, she's
dead!"

This observation induced him to leave off. He looked at my mother's
face; her eyes were closed, and her jaw had fallen. "Well, she had
enough of it this time," said my father, after a pause; "maybe too much
on it. But when I looks at this tail in my hand, I feel as if I could
still give her more. And if she be dead, I think the judge would not
hang me, if I showed him what I have lost. I'd rather have parted with
an arm or a leg any day of the week. There's been provocation enough, at
all events, if she be dead--a saint in heaven couldn't stand it."

During these remarks my mother gave no signs of returning animation, and
at last my father became seriously alarmed. "Jack," said he, "I must cut
my stick, or they may put me into limbo. As soon as I have cleared out,
do you run for a doctor to look at your mother; and mind you don't
forget to tell that old chap who was boozing with me last night
everything which has happened, and the people will say, come what will