The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-08-01
THIRTEEN vorEs THE WAGER
4 TRUE STORY.

In a town in the interior of the Granite
State not many years since gentleman OF
some property, and not little political con,
sideration, resided, whose name we shall cal
Martyr. He was great stickler for party
principles, insomuch that he was sometimes
induced by party zeal to violate his mosal
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 feelings as to de-
postit thirteen rotes for one individual at
tn, same tine in the ballot box, in defiance
of the law which provides that no man, to
whatever party he may happen to belong, Or
however worthy may be his favorite candi.
date, shall opposite more than one ballot for
any one oticc
Waite Maltyn was unfortunately detect
ed in this equivocal act-and although no
legal action was had in relation to this sub
jet, yet there We're those in the town in
which he resided, who were unwilling to ad
INT The excess of party zeal was sufficient
apology for his dereliction Of moral duty
and the simple act of depositing thirteen
votes for one candidate, at one time in the
ballot box, although palliated and excused
by some of his warm political friends, was
severely censured by others. This occur
renee furnished subject of conversation
among the worthy citizens of the town for
several weeks-at the end Of which time it
gradually died away and was forgotten
Poor Mr.. Martyn was doomed to hear the
words thirteen votes occasionally repeated
by his political foes in the most indignant
or;Jo,t1v ,r,tb bo Jao,r,, 81 ii,
turbing the equanimity of his feelings
In this they succeeded but too well. These
words, SO harmless in themselves, or when
applied to others, if addressed to Mr.. Mar
tyn, or even uttered in his hearing, seemed
to possess the power of a magic cabala. SO
wonderful and instantaneous was the effect
which they produced On the appearace and
conduct Of that gentleman. The moment
thirteen votes reached his ear, his features
were clouded with frown Of indignation
his eyes were lighted with most unholy
6re-his hands involuntarily grasped the
nearest weapon of defence within his reach,
and his voice, naturally clear and sonsrous,
resembled the sound Cf distant thunder, Or
the rumbling of the pentup volcano. In
deed the effect produced on Sir Piercie
Shafton, by the sight of the bodkin, as re-
lated in the Monastery Of Sir Walter Scott,
was not more sudden and terrible than the
effect produced on Waite Martyr by re-
peating the words ''thirteen votes." His
weakness on this point was proverbiaL and
a wicked youth Of the village, now a very
worthy and respectable legal practitioner Of
Boston, once made Martyrs inirmity the
means of playing off a mischievous and
cruel joke, to the great amusement Of the
bystanders.
Mr.: Smith, the young gentleman to whom
we allude, being one day by the village
tavern, entered into conversation with a
genteel looking stranger, while the landla-
dy was preparing some refreshments, with
which to refresh the exhausted frame and
spirits of her guest The conversation
turned upon the difficulty of pronouncing
the names Of places of Indian origin, which
are so often met with in the New England
States. In the midst Of the colloquy, Mr..
Smith saw his political opponent, Waite
Martyr, coming down the ROAD. He was
certain that Waite would pop into the
tavern, and in the spur of the moment, laid
his plans accordingly.
"What you say, sir," said Mr.. Smith,
prospecting those jaw breaking names, is
perfectly correct-1 agree with you certain
ly, and am much gratifed to make the nc-
9uaintance of a gentlemen of such taste
But, my dear friend, there are familiar
English words, which, although, they may
not be very difficult to pronounce, are ex-
eeedingly difficult to repeat. For instance
1t is almost impossible for any one not fa-
mlliiar with the practice, to pronounce the
words, thirteen rotes, thirteen totes, thir-
leen rotes, for any length of time, withou,
making the most ludicrous mistakes.''
Thirteen votes thirteen votes thirteen
votes !" repeated the stranger. 81 do moi
see any difficulty in that! could 90 or
repeating the words thirteen votes thirteen
ing!"
sit is far more difficult, my dear sir, thar
you imagine," replied Mr. Smith in hit
blandest manner. 81 am not much in The
habit OF betting, but for the curiosity Of thu
thing, ! am willing to bet you the price of q
dinner for yourself and horse, that YOU can.
not repeat the words, 'sthirteen votes, thir.
teen votes, thirteen votes,'' fifteen minute.
without making some egregious blunder.'
'sDone," said the travellsr-who reioicet
AZ fho ;d.o 81 40 r,po $ba a.,l11,l..