He got even with me by taking my beloved pony, Prince, when he left.

Mother pleaded with him to leave it, for it was the only animal we had, but she might as well have pleaded with a wildcat.
We had now been reduced to utter destitution.

Our only food was what rabbits and birds I could trap and catch with the help of our faithful old dog Turk, and the sod corn which we grated into flour.

Father could be of no service to us.

His presence, in fact, was merely a menace.