The story of my life ; or, The sunshine and shadow of seventy years / by Mary A. Livermore ... with hitherto unrecorded incidents and recollections of three years' experience as an army nurse in the great Civil War, and reminiscences of twenty-five years' experiences on the lecture platform ... to which is added six of her most popular lectures ... with portraits and one hundred and twenty engravings from designs by eminent artists ...

170

THE STORY OF MY LIFE.

fried chicken and corn bread were cooked as I have never
seen them north of " Mason and Dixon's line," and the coffee
was delicious. Under. its stimulating influence all brightened, and there were attempts at conversation, which were
continually interrupted by the laughter and sparring of the
children. They never came together without debate, which
was likely to become sharp, but was usually good-natured.
"Pa," said Mary, whose thoughts were on the drive
planned for the day, "don't let Dick tote his gun to High
Rock to-day! Make him leave it at home this time! He's
always shootin' somethin'!"
"Always shootin' somethin'!" repeated Dick, "why,
that's what a gun's for. Such a fuss as you girls make 'bout
a gun! I don't believe there's another such a scary set anywhere in Virginny!"
"An', Pa," eagerly interrupted Jenny, "you'd better tell
Peter to shut up Jim's dog 'fore we start, or he'll go too, an'
he's such a nuisance!"
"My gracious! shet up Jim's dog!" exclaimed Dick,
aghast at the suggestion. " Pa'd better not do it, for Jim'll
make it mighty oncomfortable for Pete, now I tell you, if
he catches him shettin' up that dog."
"You don't want Jim's dog along, do you," inquired
Jenny, turning suddenly to me, a negative reply being invited by her tone. I wanted to make friends with Dick,
and shaped my reply accordingly.
"If the dog is not fierce, I don't object; I like dogs.
Why do you object? What is the matter with Jim's dog V"
"He's mighty disagreeable," was her answer. "He
spoils all our fun, for he barks all the time, upsets everything, jumps all over everybody, and keeps up a rumpus
from mornin' till night. His name's Spitfire, an' that's just
what he is."