Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-10-29
STIChL EBIGk.

SOME OF THE OBSERVATIONS On POLITICAL
SUBJECTS WHICH MRS sTIcKLEBACK MADE
AT AN EARLY HOUR ONE MORNING.
Thomas Stckeback, where have you been
till this time of night The clock is just
ready to strike one. and the COW has not been
MIXED, nor the pig fed
BIN to the Dimecratic club room, readin
the bad news from Ohio and Inieanny."
II thought so. Guess they don't use cold
water there by the odor you have brought
home with you. Reading the news Tom
Stckeback, you know you can't read word
when there is any reading to be done in the
housr Sally Aun or have it to do, or it not
done at ALL"
"Wa'al, wa'al, ye don't know but I've larnt
something lately in the club-room, do yo !?
Joe Spikenard s always there he's q good
reader, and one of the larndest men in the
club. He modifes us with the latest news
aud eXasperatcs upon it. He says it looks
bad for the Dimecrats in November, but lie
hopes something will yet turn up to save the
country, and"
Thomas Stckleback who is this Joe
Spkenard that reads so well ? lie came to
me only last Saturday with letter from his
Republican brother in Worcester, well written
and plain as print, and said he could not make
out what his brother meant by saying that
rebel clans are now abundant south of Mr.
DiIon's line, and wanted to know il they
would thrive well on grass. lie did not see
why they are called rebel clans, unless it is
to spite the Democrats.
'Mr Stickleback, it is useless for you to
tell me that you spend your time in the club
room to my certain knowledge that room
has not been lighted for over four weeks and
don't believe that you and your cronies
would sit there in the dark, though most of
you would read as well in the dark as by gas
light. When the Republicans hired a room,
and furnished it with books and papers, and
put in an organ, and bought music and made
it the centre of attraction, the Democrats be-
came frightened at the large numbers that
went thither to spend their leisure time. Then
the Democrats formed club, hired room
upon the corner, put in the Reformer, few
medical almanacs (the almanacs showed ex-
celent sense, for the party is sorely diseased),
and Atkins rooster and lighted up for few
evenings, drawing in a few of the average
party men like yourself and Joe Spikenard.
In few evenings the numbers, that had sell
! dom exceeded six, were reduced TO three
then to two; then to one; and, after the room
had been kept open for week without an
occupant it was closed entirely, and the
| lights extinguishod No doubt the reading
was too solid for you, especially the almanacf
! those who had the matter in charge, quite
likely, Disseminated more in reference tc
your sanitary needs than to your mental ca
pacities or the rooster might have lost his
pugnacity and refused to crow when the in
telligence of the country was found to turI
steadily towards the Republican candidates.
Thomas Stckleback, 1 advise you to buy
a spelling-book and learn to read this is The
first step towards your conversion to the Re
publican gospel and the making of a man o.
of you. And"
Mrs Stickleback, 1 wonder if you 'spos'
that man of the political expieations o
Thomas Stickeback-that's bin talked of fo
office, and expects to riprisint the town in
year or two-is a-goin' to ascend to a spellin'
book? stan on my dignitude, Mrs. Sickle
back"
"Then, after you have learned to read, yo'
can inform yourself of the record of th
Democratic party, written during the war o
the rebellion in characters of blood of it
effort to destroy the government by force o
arms and by its steady purpose to thwar
every effort to save it, as the raising of mel
and money and of the achievements of tn
Republican party during and since the con
test-nobler and grander than are recorded il
ancient or modern history. Then you wOul'
understand why the people are awake to tn