Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-03-02
Aunt Priscilla Petter's EIequence.

Aunt Priscilla Petter's Elsquence.
It was q cool, invigorating evening in au-
tumn. Aunt Priscilla Potter and myself were
seated by the open window, discoursing on
various topics. Suddenly rockets began to
shoot up from the village common, and the
music of band, accompanied by loud huzsas
Immediately followed. This brought to mind
the fact that political mass meeting was to
be held in the village at that hour. Our con-
versation naturally turned upon politics, and
after long and amusing account of the "pol-
iticianers" with whom she had been acquaint-
ed, Aunt P. asked
"Did 1 ever tell ye about husbands being
elected to the General Assembly,"
replied in the negative.
"Well, then" continued the old lady, "I
declare must. You've noticed, I suppose,
that all his letters come writ with an Hon
right before his name. That is q title that
the Assembly folks has. 1t means honest
people they hire to vote for um Just as they
agree, and take good care of the public money
intrusted to their keepin'.
''Well, one evenin', after election, husband
and was settin' together by the fire. was
knittin', and he was groanin' and sayin', 'Oh,
Grandfather Grievous! Grandfather Griev-
Gus He used to make use of them words a
good deal when he didn't feel very smart, and
then he'd been unwell so he hadn't been able
TO go out much for some time. DIR. Pettis said
he had liver in his side, and that 1t billed
over, and made him have the jaundice.
"There seemed to be a good deal of passin'
and confusion in the street; but there always
is the night after election, you know, 80 I
didn't think much Of it. Husband began to
sing the evening psalm, Hark from the
tombs.' Did you ever notice how sort of i'm
pressive he sings that psslm-kinder snorts it
out so it takes right hold upon your narves
Well, all at once there was whole lot of mu-
sicioners struck up Hail Columby' right in
front Of our house. / dropped my knittin',
and husband all of a sudden became still as
mouse. We both on US took hold o. our ears,
and opened our mouths wide SOS to hear.
Well, We were sittin' in that siterwation, all
attention, when, oh, my senses, such bang
as there came right out by our house, you
never did hear! Ny heart jumped right into
my mouth, and husbands eyes was big as
saucers. 'Murderationr says l. What on
earth's to psy!' said he. Just then the front
door opened, and Richard Bennett came run
ming in all out Of breath. He's high sheriff of
Bushwhacker county, and / thought I was
gone then. Oh, my, how scared L was?
You've got the election says he, as soon as
he'd time to get breath. The independent
ticket Is elected Got the election for
what? says husband. Senator to the Gen.
eral Assembly says Bennett 'Hurrah for
Zephaniah Potter! You must come to the
door and make speech says he; there's
whole crowd waiting for ye' Husband laid
his head right back, rolled up his eyes, and
began to grOan, oh, dear, what shall do
what have come TO? what have come to -
Just then there came another bang, awfuler'n
ever. jumped and told husband, for massy
sake. to go to the door and speak. / told him
he needn't be frightened, I'd stand right be-
hind him, and tell him what to say Pretty
soon there came another bang, and he started
for the door, and after him. Mr.. Bennett
he took the table and set it out on the door
step for him to stand on, and he scrambled up
entry close behind him.
Make bow, said L. Make bow says
he. see he's so frustrated that he didn't
know what / ment, so begun the speech.
.Fellou citizens says L, in low voice Eel
low citizens shouted he, just as hard as he
could put in This was followed by tremen-
dOus applause. Il stand,' rOared he. This
was followed by tremendous pause On my
feet says /. ON my feet says he. This
was followed by three cheers for the indepen-
dent ticket And / move saysI I. "And 1
move says he. This was followed by a tre-
mendOus pause. of saysI I. 'Of,' says he.
This was followed by tremendous applause
At that he slept right off the table, and
mounted 1t IN hurry. L was great on speak
ing, so Deacon Bump said-I used to talk in
the conference meeting, down to Byfeld-and
i was determined to give um a specimen Of
my eloquence, and let um know that / was
worthy to be politieioner's wife.
- .Oh, follow citizens fellow citizens %
shouted /, and here my feelins riz up to such
eitissns, you just wait till 1 blow my nose,
and then I'll proceed. You may Just cheer
ne little while Z do it, They begun 10
cheer, and took out my handk ercnief, and
gin an awful blow. Fellow citizens SAYS /,
fellow citizens, somethin's got to be did.
Fellow citizens Here lost my idea again.
50 says 1, Fellow citizens, you must excuse
ma, don't feel wall. When was up to
sister Nancys about fortnight ago, she was
afraid one Of her children was comm down
wtfh q new-fangled disease they have got up
that way. 'Tis dreadful catchin', sure death,
and no fail, and I declare / don't know but
Pm comm down with it too Massy such q
esmperin' as there was for the gettin' out
place as soon as made that remark. Went
= though they'd been shot out of a gun.
Every body tookright hold Of their nose and
started. Some went right over the top of the
fe1ee clear, some one way, and some another
80 IN mint or two was left there, stand.
in all alone. But didn't stand there long,
cell you, when l come to see they'd left
their bangin' machine behind um When I
come to see that, come in pretty shortly and
shut the door: Nobody never come after that
machine in six weeks, and, in the meantime,
i kept my head pretty close within doers"
Then, You didn't come down with the dis
ease, did you, Aunt Priscilla ?''
"ka no. That story about Nancy's child,
- oslith truth want exactly So It troubled
~ conscience terribly afterwards, 80 that I
eouldn't sleep nights. But was 30 discom-
federated that I didn't know what to saw,
snd so said the first thing that come into my
bod"
zfrWell, how did Uncle Peter make out as an
Amembly mani"
..Oh. beautiful. Made out 50 well that they
dt1n't have to elect him again 30
~ An Unlucky Appeal
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