eady learned to deceive, and no one
could trust her word a moment. Then she was selfish, and while she would
not oblige her cousins by lending them her books or toys, she was very
angry if they did not at once yield theirs to her, when she asked for
them.

She was so pert and uncivil in her talk, that Sally, and even Jane,
disliked to have her about; and at last her aunt was obliged to shut her
in her own room, she spoke so impudently to the servants. Instead of
asking the nurse to do her a favor, as the other children did, she used
to say, "Go right up stairs quick, Sally, and get my bonnet;" and once,
when Sally did not start, she said, "You're an ugly girl," and struck
her in the face.

Nurse started forward to hold her hands, when at this moment Mrs. Gray
entered the room.

Nelly was ashamed that her aunt had heard her, for she loved her aunt
better than any one in the house; but when the lady took her hand firmly
to lead her up stairs, she screamed and struggled to get away. "I don't
like to stay here," she cried; "this is an ugly house. I wish my mamma
would come home and take me away."

Mrs. Gray led her to a chair in her own room, and going out locked the
door after her. But Nelly kicked and pounded the door so hard, and threw
over the chairs, that her aunt was obliged to call Sally to help her tie
the naughty girl to a chair.

She was very sorry to do this, and the tears were in her eyes; but Sally
was right glad to have the child punished as she deserved. Indeed, she
had told Jane the day before that she did not see how mistress had so
much patience with the naughty child.

Mrs. Gray did not intend to hurt Nelly. She only meant to fasten her
hands and feet to the chair so as to prevent her doing any more
mischief. She took large towels from the washstand to do this; but Nelly
kicked and screamed, and at last made a great scratch on her aunt's
face. After that Sally took the child in her arms, and held her so tight
she could not move.

When they had fastened her firmly to her seat, they went out, and left
her to think of her bad conduct.

Mrs. Gray went into her closet, and asked God to direct her what to do
in order to make Nelly a good, obedient child.

After an hour she went back, and said, "Are you sorry, my dear, that you
have been so naughty?"

"I don't love you. I want to go to Maria," was the only reply.

Her aunt sighed, when she found the little girl was not at all subdued,
and she went