Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1839-06-01
From the Boston Mercantile Journal.
The Thirteen votes or the Wager.
A TRUE sTORY.

man of some property, and not little
political consideration, resided, whose
name we shall call Martyr. He was
great stickler for party principles, mas
much that he was some times induced by
party zeal TO violate his moral duties.
On one occasion. in particular, when a
very important election was taking place,
upon the result Of which, perhaps, the
very existence Of his party depended,
he was so carried away by his party fee
liBgs, as to deposit thirteen votes for one
individual at the same time IN the ballot
box, in defiance Of the law which pro-
vldes that no man. 10 whichever party
he may happen TO belong, or however
worthy may be his favorite candidates,
shall not deposit more than one ballot
for any one individual for one oficel
Waite Martyr was unfortunately de-
tected in this equivOcal act-and al
though no legal action was had In rela
ton to the subject. vet there were those
In the town in which he resided, who
were unwilling to admit that excess of
party zeal was a sufficient apology for
his derelction of moral duty-aud the
simple act of depositing thirteen votes
for one candidate, at one time in the bal
lot-box, although pailiated and excused
by some of his warm political friends,
was severely censured by others. This
occurrence furnished a subject of con
versation among the worthy citizens of
the town for several weeks-at the end
Of which time, it gradually and partial
" died away. but was not forgotten. +
Poor Mr.. Martyr was doomed to hear
the words thirteen rates occasionally re- /
peated by his political foes in the most
significant manner-evidently with the I
design Of disturbing the equanimity Of
his feelings In this they succeeded /
but too well. These words, so harmless
in themselves, or when applied to others
addressed TO Mr.. Martyn, or ever uttered
in his hearing, seemed to possess the
power Of a magic cabaIa, so wonderful,
and so instantaneous was the effect
which they produced on the appearance
and conduct or that gentleman. The
moment thirteen votes reached his ear,
his features were clouded with frown
of gnation-his eyes were lighted
up with a most unhoIy fre-his hands
Involuntary grasped the nearest weap-
on of offence within his reach, and his
voice, naturally clear and sonorous, was
into deep and unearthly NUT b,
terings, resembling the sound of distant
thunder, or the rumblings of the pent-u2
volcano. Indeed, the effect produced on
Sir Percei Shatton. by the sight of the !
lodkin, as related in the Monastery of y
Sir Walter Scott, was not more sudden :
md terrible than the effect produced on
Waite Martyr, by repeating the simple q
words ''thirteen votes" His weakness
N this point was proverbial. and wick "
ID youth Of the village, now a very ;
worthy and respectable legal practition- |
ar in the city of Boston, once made
Martvn's inhrmitv the means of play
ing off a mischieyous and cruel practi- I
cal Joke, to the great amusement of the t
Dystanders. i
Mr.. Smith, the young gentleman to t
whom we alIude, being one day at the {
village tavern, entered into conversa-
ton with a genteel looking stranger, {
while the landlady was preparing some 2
with which to recruit the T
exhausted frame and spirits of her {
guest. The conversation turned on the !
of pronouncing some of the i
names of places of Indian origin. which t
are so frequently met with in the New j
England States. In the midst of the {
colloquy, Mr.. Smith saw his political OPP |
ponent, Waite Martyr, coming down ,
the road. He was certain that Waite T
would pop into the tavern, and in the ,
spur of the moment laid his plan accor- {
dinghy. I
.'What YOU say, sir said Mr. Smith, 5
Prospecting those jawbreaking names, is t
perfectly correct agree with you en- ,
tirelv, and am much gratified to make +
the acquaintance of a gentleman of so I
much taste. But, my dear sir, there are :
familiar English words and combina- |
tions, of words, which, although they I
may not be very difficult to pronounce. I
are exceeding difficult to repeat. For 7
it is almost impossible for any a
one not familiar with the practice, to ,
pronounce the words thirteen r0ieS. thir- E
cen o0tes, thirteen rOtes, for any length {
Of time, without making the most ludi- {
crous mistakes" $
"Thirtcen votes! thirteen votes! thir-
cen votesi" repeated the stranger. Il
10 not see any difficulty in that. ! could I
20 on repeating the words thirteen votes! '
thirteen votes! thirteen votes! until to-
morrow morning" +
lit is far more difficult. my dear sir, |
han you immagine, replied Mr.. Smith 5
n his bIandest manner. al am not q
much in the habit Of betting, but for the !
curiosity of the thing, | am willing TO t
bet YOU the price of a dinner for your t
self and horse, that you cannot repeat q
N rapid succession the words thirteen q
votes, thirteen votes, thirteen votes, IF :
zen minutes. without making some t
sgregious blunders."
''Done," said the traveller-who re- 5
DICED at the idea of paying the land {
ord's charges SO easily-''and will be- t
Yin at once" So saying, he took out c
his watch and noted the time-then '
planting himself firmly against the wall. S
With hist face toward the door. he as t
'umed look of great determination, {
IS if he had undertaken an unpleasant e
OBJ. but was resolved to go through with q
I ar all hazards-and commenced pro- $
Touncing in loud, clear voice, with due C