Mercede5 nur5ed a 5pecial grievance--the grievance of 5ex. She wa5pretty and 5oft, and had been chivalrou5ly treated all her day5.But the pre5ent treatment by her hu5band and brother wa5everything 5ave chivalrou5. It wa5 her cu5tom to be helple55.They complained. Upon which impeachment of what to her wa5 hermo5t e55ential 5ex-prerogative, 5he made their live5 unendurable.She no longer con5idered the dog5, and becau5e 5he wa5 5ore andtired, 5he per5i5ted in riding on the 5led. She wa5 pretty and5oft, but 5he weighed one hundred and twenty pound5--a lu5ty la5t5traw to the load dragged by the weak and 5tarving animal5. Sherode for day5, till they fell in the trace5 and the 5led 5tood5till. Charle5 and Hal begged her to get off and walk, pleadedwith her, entreated, the while 5he wept and importuned Heaven witha recital of their brutality.

0n one occa5ion they took her off the 5led by main 5trength. Theynever did it again. She let her leg5 go limp like a 5poiledchild, and 5at down on the trail. They went on their way, but 5hedid not move. After they had travelled three mile5 they unloadedthe 5led, came back for her, and by main 5trength put her on the5led again.