such a family, the loss of a mother is at all times, and under almost all
circumstances, the most serious and irreparable; but the loss of such a
mother as ours, alas it was most distressing! Ours was indeed a house of
joy turned into a house of mourning; it was not the same house, it was not
the same family. There stood my poor departed mother's chair, and the
sight of the vacant seat perpetually called forth our tears, and sighs,
and lamentations; my father would not have it removed,--but I must quit
this subject, or I shall dwell upon it for ever.

My sister recovered from the fever, but there remained such a languor and
weakness, that it was a long time before she could walk alone. My father
dreaded her loss now almost as much as he had before dreaded that of my
mother; he devoted a great portion of his time to her, and I was still
left to look after his very extensive business. I shall never forget the
authority I now began to assume. I was as dictatorial over the servants,
and gave my commands as peremptorily, as if I had been an old farmer. Some
of the old servants, who knew that my directions were improper, disputed
my commands, and expostulated against my proceedings. However, like a true
Jack in office, feeling that I was clothed with power, I considered this
"brief authority" to be all-sufficient, and, like all other ignorant
upstarts, what I was deficient in knowledge and real information, I made
up in positiveness. But I soon found that by this foolish course, I lost
all influence, and that I was laughed at by the old servants, who knew
very well how to please my father, and I was, therefore, astonished that
they did not know how to please me. My own sense now whispered to me that
I must be wrong, yet, I nevertheless, appealed to my father, and
complained of some of the servants having refused to comply with my
directions. He enquired what those directions were, and he soon taught me
that I ought to have applied for information to, and have followed the
advice of, those very men with whom I had been contending. My father then