t turned out as we had anticipated. My mother
was anything but gracious to my grandmother, notwithstanding the
obligations she was under to her, and very soon took an opportunity of
quarrelling with her. The cause of the quarrel was very absurd, and
proved that it was predetermined on the part of my mother. My
grandmother had some curious old carved furniture, which my mother
coveted, and requested my grandmother to let her have it. This my
grandmother would not consent to, and my mother took offence at her
refusal. I and my brother were immediately ordered home, my mother
asserting that we had been both very badly brought up; and this was all
the thanks that my grandmother received for her kindness to us, and
defraying all our expenses for five years. I had not been at home more
than a week, when my father's regiment was ordered to Nance; but, during
this short period, I had sufficient to convince me that I should be very
miserable. My mother's dislike to me, which I have referred to before,
now assumed the character of positive hatred, and I was very
ill-treated. I was employed as a servant, and as nurse to the younger
children; and hardly a day passed without my feeling the weight of her
hand. We set off for Nance, and I thought my heart would break as I
quitted the arms of my grandmother, who wept over me. My father was
very willing to leave me with my grandmother, who promised to leave her
property to me; but this offer in my favour enraged my mother still
more; she declared that I should not remain; and my father had long
succumbed to her termagant disposition, and yielded implicit obedience
to her authority. It was lamentable to see such a fine soldierlike man
afraid even to speak before this woman; but he was completely under her
thraldom, and never dared to contradict.

As soon as we were settled in the barracks at Nance, my mother commenced
her system of persecution in downright earnest. I had to make all the
beds, wash the children, carry out the baby, and do every menial office
for my brothers and sisters, who were encouraged to order me about. I
had very good clothes, which had been provided me by my grandmother;
they were all taken away, and altered for my younger sisters; but what
was still more mortifying, all my sisters had lessons in music, dancing,
and other accomplishments, from various masters, whose instructions I
was not permitted to take advantage of, although there would have been
n