News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-04-20
ssTOWN MEETIN' DAY."
A Down East Election Day Fully
Described.
TFrom the Portland Transcript

, electing officers in the city.
, For few weeks before the great
event, the merits and dernerits of the
men who have held Office within the
memory of the Oldest inhabitant and
those of the would-be candidates are
, duly "cussed" and discussed in the
corner grocery, amidst dense cloud
of tobacco smoke and the ever present
odor of salt fish and kerosene. Pre-
vious to the day of election caucus is
held by each political party for the
, nomination of candidates, or, if party
feeling happens to be .ow, all unite in
one general caucus.
At last the important Monday dawns,
usually raw and damp, with quantities
of mud and "slosh I" in the roads. All
are out of bed betimes, for the ''chores"
must be done, and the wash water
brought in good season in order that
the male portion of the family may get
an early start to town meeting. By
nine o'clock the children begin running
to the windows proclaimipg the names
of the passers-by, if they happen to
know them, and wondering for whom
they will vote.
First go the boys, who, always eager
to earn a cent, have been provided by
mother with gingerbread, cookies, turn
overs, etc., which they hope to sell to
those who do not go home to dinner,
and to that class of individuals who
must ever be munching something.
After the young merchants pass, come
those who live the greatest distance from
the "town house." the place where the
meeting is generally held, and who are
obliged to walk. Ere long the teams
appear in profusion, with three on
seat, and the boys sitting in the back
part of the wagon with feet hanging
down, or, if sleighing has not yet dis
appeared, standing upon the runners Of
the sleigh, holding upon the sides with
both hands. They wouldn't miss the
fun for anything, and, in fact, one
would imagine by their airs of import
ance that they are absolutely necessary
to the successful result OF the meeting.
They come home iubilant or depressed,
as the case may be with their fathers,
with pockets stuffed full of votes, and
many story to tell of what they have
seen, heard and done.
Occasionally woman may be seen
to pass with husband or brother. Is she
going to town meeting? No Though
could name town in this State where
the women did attend one yesr, attract
ed by the promise of considerable ex-
citement), she is going to spend the
day with cousin Susan, sister Jane, or
son John who lives near the town
But the genuine, sa1art Yankee
woman doesn't leave her washing 10 go
a-visiting. Not she She has been
looking forward to this Gay as one when
the 'smenfolks" will be out Of the way |
and she can get her washing out, floors
washed, and numberless " odd jobs "
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 wa
ter, hang out the clothes, and empty
the tubs. They might put by their
washing until another time. but every
day brings its work, and they are be-
hind 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 on hand is to
choose moderator, which is sometimes
done at once with no controversy; at
other times, however, every one seems
to have got out of BEG wrong foot
foremost" and considerable portion
of the forenoon is spent before the deed
is accomplished. Then comes the elect
ing of selectmen, town agent, clerks,
treasurer, school committee, ct al. If
political feeling runs high, the vote may
be tie" and several ballotings pro-
duce no effect. Nov 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 be dons over
coat and muffi er with trembling hands,
saying 81 guess better go, wife, for
it may be the last time shall VOTE"
To offset his vote the other side
brings up young man who has his
vote all ready to castIGA some one,
remembering that he Sss1 s,orn 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 be-
longs to a 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 disput-
ing, reads the record of his birth where
by he is proved to be about month too
young. Upon that the defeated side
shamefacedly back down.
Finally about the last part of the af-
ternoon the officers having been chosen
and the business transacted. the tide
homeward turn. The people at home
never need to inquire how the election
has gone. The signs of victory or de-
feat are plainly evident albeit, word be
not spoken.
Yet, not always is the required busi-
ness performed in one day. If there is
''tie" which repeated ballotings fail
to unite, the meeting may be adjourned
to another day. In the intervening
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. An adjournment is again in
order. By this time some one loses his
interest, other affairs claim the atten-
ton of another, or duty calls him away
from home, and thus "the third time
seldom fails"
PUNCHED coin has been driven out of
circulation, except when you are In