St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-11-14
BOWSER FOR ALDERMAN.
WARD HEELERs GET HIS MONEY A,

HIS WIFE'S CURRANT WINE.
"Well, what do think ?' queried
Mr.. Bowser, is he looked up at me
across the supper table one evening.
''You-you haven't been and
bought another horse, Mr.. Bowser ~
"Horsel Can't you think of any
thing but horse? l suppose you'll
throw that horse up to me to your
dying day ~
I'm so glad you have decided not
to buy another. Is it some more
chickens, or Il new fire escape, or an
other dog to eat us up"
He turned pale and refused to say
another word for two hours. Then
he could hold himself no longer, and
he suddenly observed:
Il suppose you will feel proud OF
the title of Mrs. Alderman Bowser ~
What do you mean"
lust what l say. You are soon
to be known as Mrs. Alderman Bow
ser?"
"Are you going to run for office ?''
Il am. 1t was all settled this af-
ternoon l am going to be nominal
ed for alderman of this ward"
Mr.. Bowser, is it possible that
you are going to let them lead you
into any such foolishnessl l thought
you had a more level head than that,
in spite of all your mistakes"
MY mistakes ?" he shouted. 81
never made one in my life, except
when l married you! Level head !!
| I'd like to see some one who carries
a more level head than dol"
"And so you are going to be alder
MANI
IF live"
but what for ~
Because it is the wish of the peo-
pie Ny country calls. The commit
tee have canvassed the ward and
concluded that l was not only the
best man for the Office, but the only
one who stood any show against the
vicious opposition. 1t is a sacrifice
on my part, but the true patriot
must be ready to sacrifice.
I'm so sorryl'
$50 sorry! For what? Because
have been selected above all others
Because honors have been thrust up
on mel Mrs. Bowser, you have new
er apprecia ted the man you married,
well, | shan't say any more. |
think it is put-up job to get money
out of you, and l know what gang
will be running here after you. It's
your own affair, however. Don't
blame me if you get left"
"There you gol Always opposed
to mel l can plainly see why some
men never get along. If had a wife
like some | know of I'd have been
governor of the state long ago. I'm
going to run, however, and after I'm
elected you'll be just mean enough to
say you brought it about"
| didn't say any more. AS soon as
he left the house the next morning l
prepared for visitors, and | was not
disappointed. He was hardly out of
sight before the bell rang, and open
ed the door to find a dirty looking
fellow, with his hat on his ear, who
asked
as Bowser home ?"
"No, SIR
Gets out pretty early, doesn't he?
Leave any money for me -
mo, sir
"He didn't, eh? Purity specimen
of a candidate he is! Expects us to
do all the fgurin' for nuthin', does
he ?"
"Who are you, STRIP
"Who are | ?" he repeated as he
slanted his hat little more and spat
over his shoulder. "I'm the party as
carries this ward in his vest pocket,
| am, and if old Bowse don't cum
down literally he gets left. Tell him
to come and see me-"
Nine times that forenoon | answer
ed the bell to find a ward heller or
some other sort of political parasite
on the doorstep. One of them even
went so far as to ask me to pledge
Mr. Bowser to vote for him to run
one of the City hall elevators. There
were three others waiting for him
when he got home to dinner, and l
saw him give them money. He came
in excited and jubilant, and when l
told him what had occurred he re-
piled:
"Let the dear people come! They
know that | am the man to do all |
can for them if | am elected, and
elected | shall be as sure as the sun
rises on the day What do you
think l was talking with a prom
inent man belonging to the opposi-
ton and he said it would be no use
for his party to put up man against
me. BOwser stock is way up, hey ?"
For a week | lived in a state of
miserable agitation. Every hour in
the day ward heller rang the bell,
and when he wasn't ringing, it was
some man who wanted a sewer or
other contract. Every evening the
house was full Of politicians laying
plans and guiding down my currant
wine, andon three nights Mr.. Bow
ser had to 'go the rounds Of the
ward and 'see the boys" On the
last night had to help him up stairs,
and the tears rolled down his checks
as he whimpered:
"Shay, Mrs Bowser, it just breaks
my heart to shee how e'r people love
me. They cry FIR me, and-I cry FIR
Them !"
This went on for week, and then
the caucus was held to nominate.
Mr.. Bowser said he would go
through by reclamation, but as the
boys would expect some sort of
speech, not to say key of beer after
ward, he would have to be on hand.
AS soon as nominated there would
ben more heelers running after him,
and a nomination meant election by
alarge majority. l didn't say much,
but l felt pretty sure how it would
come out.
Along about 9 O'Clock he came
home. He was running. He also
breathed hard and looked white.
'What ON earth Is the matte