Down the River; Or, Buck Bradford and His Tyrants

rst time. I was a solid-built, stout fellow of sixteen; and when I seized the shrew by the shoulders, I was in real earnest

could not bear that. At the present time, I have this pleasant consciousness, that I did not strike the woman; I only grasped her by the shoulders, and hurled her away from he

; and at the same instant she rushed towards Fl

e, Mrs. Fishl

ted she, looking first a

r on my sister again, I'll tear you in piec

mean, you s

ain, and you will

ed poor Flora, alarmed by the h

to know!" cri

know, I did not tell her. I stood upon the defe

TOWARDS FLO

gant, her tones a whole octave above the treble staff,

dar

ascal,

uch as you like; I don't mind it;

said she, the words hissing from

you touch Flora

is argument; and I soon came to the conclusion that she thought so herself,

l common folks, I don't have more trials than any living being

up abusing Fl

of care of her? Haven't I made her clothes for her? Haven't I nursed her wh

t the best friend Flora had in the world, so blind a

for all she has had," I added. "But you are continually scolding at her,

ley, so high was the key. "I never scold

I exclaime

I never scold," whined the shrew. "Whatever people

sible she

hley," I replied, when she paused, rather f

med of yourself to treat me as you did? You push

yourself for shaking tha

't shak

didn't p

her chair, and restoring the griddle to the stove, which Flora had taken off. "I should like to know! Can't I speak

Mrs. Fishley," pleaded Flora. "Y

them burn? You are a careless, indifferent girl, and it don't

to the cakes, if yo

ow," I interposed. "If you can't help scoldi

it! I'll know who rules here, I vum! I'll call Mr. Fishley! We'll see if you don't care

aimed Flora, rising with difficulty from he

eyes. "She shall not abuse you, whatever happens to me. While she did it only with her tong

called me "Buck," as everybody else did about t

I can stand almost anything," I answered, pressing her to my heart a

n well and strong, and able to fight her own battle with the hard and cruel world. She was helpless and dependent, and that

er did her husband appear upon the battle-fiel

anxiety for the coming of our tyrants, let me give the reader a few

led the "Creek," though it has since received a more dignified and specific name, about seven miles from Riverport, on the Wisconsin River. At the time of which I write it contained two thous

ought a farm just out of the village, employed a housekeeper, and for four years got along very well. But he was too ambitious, and worked too hard for his constitution. After a four yea

. He was considered a very smart young man, and no one doubted his ability to take care of us. But he was dissatisfied with Torrentville; there was not room enough for a young man of his ability to expand himself. He had no taste for farming, a

ouse, and the garden, and Captain Fishley wanted me to come and live with him. Clarence agreed to pay Flora's board, so that she was a boarder at the house of the Fishleys. It was stipulated that I should go to school,

Before I had been a year in my new home, I was dissatisfied, for the cloven heels of the three members of the family had appeared. I was crowded with wor

do so till existence had become almost a burden. I think Clarence wrote back to the captain, and for a time there was some improvement in our condition; but it soon became

and that he would certainly come to Torrentville in October, as soon as the sickly season was over, and take us to New Orleans. He added

e kitchen, followed by her husband, both of them apparentl