revered and loved him as a matter of course, but it began to dawn on
me that every one else with whom I was thrown held him high in their
regard. At forty-five years of age he was active, strong, and as
handsome as he had ever been. I never remember his being ill. I
presume he was indisposed at times; but no impressions of that kind
remain. He was always bright and gay with us little folk, romping,
playing, and joking with us. With the older children, he was just
as companionable, and the have seen him join my elder brothers and their
friends when they would try their powers at a high jump put up in
our yard. The two younger children he petted a great deal, and our
greatest treat was to get into his bed in the morning and lie close
to him, listening while he talked to us in his bright, entertaining
way. This custom we kept up until I was ten years old and over.
Although he was so joyous and familiar with us, he was very firm on
all proper occasions, never indulged us in anything that was not good
for us, and exacted the most implicit obedience. I always knew that
it was impossible to disobey my father. I felt it in me, I never
thought why, but was perfectly sure when he gave an order that it had
to be obeyed. My mother I could sometimes circumvent, and at times
took liberties with her orders, construing them to suit myself; but
exact obedience to every mandate of my father was part of my life and
being at that time. He was very fond of having his hands tickled,
and, what was still more curious, it pleased and delighted him to
take off his slippers and place his feet in our laps in order to
have them tickled. Often, as little things, after romping all day,
the enforced sitting would be too much for us, and our drowsiness
would soon show itself in continued nods. Then, to arouse, us, he
had a way of stirring us up with his foot--laughing heartily at and
with us. He would often tell us the most delightful stories, and
then there was no nodding. Sometimes, however, our interest in his