The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-05-13

are absolutely necessary to the success
full result of the meeting. They come
home jubilant or depressed, as the case
may be, with their fathers, with pockets
stuffed full of votes, and many a story to
tell of what they have seen, heard and
done.
Occasionally a woman may be seen to
pass with husband or brother. Is she
going to town meeting? No, 0hough 1
could name town in this State where
the woman did attend one year, attract
ed by the promise of considerable excite
ment,) she is going to spend the day
with cousin Susan, sister Jane, or son
John, who lives near the town-house.
But the genuine, smart Yankee woman
doesn't leave her washing to go a-visit-
ing. Not she! She has been looking
forward to this day as one when the
"men-folks" will be out of the way and
she can get her washing out, floors
washed. and numberless "odd iobs'
done without the interruption of getting
dinner, (for no woman who does not
habitually live alone goes through the
ceremony of getting dinner for herself)
and of wiping up wet and muddy tracks
upon the floor
But another class of women have an
ticipated this day with dread, for, poor
things, they are not "smart" and so
they depend upon the strong arms of
husband and son to lift the pals of
water. hang out the clothes and empty
che tubs. They might put by their
washing until another time, but every
day brings its work, and they are behind
hand all through the week if the wash
ing is not done Monday. But it is time
to call the meeting to order. The first
business in hand is to choose modera-
tor, which is sometimes done at once,
with no controversy; at other times, how
ever, every one seems to have got out
of bed wrong foot foremost" and a
considerable portion of the forenoon is
spent before the deed is accomplished.
Then comes the electing of selectmen.
town agent, clerks, treasurer, school
committee, ct al. If political feeling
runs high, the vote may be ''tie' and
several ballotings produce no effect.
Now the men become excited. One of
the most jealous will take his team and
ride two or three miles to bring to the
polls some old man who has been sick
and feeble all winter. In vain his wife
protests "'Twill be the death of him."
excitement gives the weak limbs strength
and he dons overcoat and muller with
trembling hands, saying: II guess /
better go, wife, for it may be the last
time / shall vote"
To offset his vote the other side brings
up a young man who has his vote all
ready to cast when some one, remem-
bering that he was born about the time
his daughter Eliza made her appearance
upon this sublunary sphere, challenges
his vote, saying that he is not of age.
More than likely he belongs to family
so numerous that even his parents have
forgotten the date of his birth, anyway
his father has, and there seems no way
to decide it until the old doctor, who
has been home after his book while they
have been disputing, reads the record Of
his birth whereby he is proved to be
about month too young. Upon that
the defeated side shamefacedly back
down.
Finally about the last part in the after
noon, the officers having been chosen
and the business transacted. the tide
homeward turns. The people at home
never need to inquire how the election
has gone. The signs of victory or de-
feat are plainly evident, alblit word be
not spoken, Yet not always is the re-
quired business performed in one day.
If there is "tie" which repeated bal
lettings fail to unite. the meeting may be
adjourned to another day. In the in
tervening time each one becomes more
set in his determination not to allow his
party to be beaten, and the next meeting
has the same result. Adjournment is
again in order. By this time some one
loses his interest, other affairs claim the
attention of another, or duty calls him
away from home, and thus -" the third
time seldom fails. y Cor. Portland Me. J
Transcript.