Half of his time was taken up in public matters.
A leader of his party in the section of country in which he lived, he
was always busy in the responsibilities imposed upon him by such a
station; and, what with canvassing at election-polls and muster-grounds,
and dancing attendance as a silent voter at the halls of the state
legislature, to the membership of which his constituents had returned
him, he saw but little of his family, and they almost as little of him.
His influence grew unimportant with his wards, in proportion as it
obtained vigor with his faction--was seldom referred to by them, and,
perhaps, if it had been, such was the rapid growth of their affections,
would have been but little regarded. He appeared to take it for granted,
that, having provided them with all the necessaries called for by life,
he had done quite enough for their benefit; and actually gave far less
of his consideration to his own and only child than he did to his
plantation, and the success of a party measure, involving possibly the
office of doorkeeper to the house, or of tax-collector to the district.
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