The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-12-03
Isham Always Gets There.
Cor. Nashville Banner.

OOt' NdsnNllle DHuueI
am not sure that the following has
ever appeared in print. Your recent
reminiscent editorial on kissing the
wrong baby recalls the incident.
Once upon time many year ago,
Isham G. Harris, the senior United
States Senator for Tennessee, was max
ing canvass of his county of Franklin
for offlce-the Legislature perhaps-or
was it for Congress? At any rate he
and his opponent travelled around to-
gether, their personal relations being
very pleasant. do not now recall the
name of Mr.. Harris worthy compet-
itor, but for convenience will call him
Jones. 1t was their habit in this can
vass to spend the night with some
farmer.
Late one afternoon after long days
ride on horseback they drew rein be-
fore the humble dwelling of Mr.. Scott,
an aged agriculturalist OF acknowledge
ed influence in his district, but whose
store of worldly goodswas not to be COM
pared to that of some of our modern
monkey kings, The SCOTS didn't
even employ servant.
Mr.. Harris was very anxious to make
a favorable impression upon this
family, for its head was power at the
polls in those days Mr. Jones was al
so quite willing to 90 to any trouble in
order to secure Mr.. SCOTS good opin-
ion, for he was known all over the
country as the "boss" of this particu-
lar precinct.
The two candidates were cordially
received, and while the farmer busted
himself with caring for the horses his
good wife prepared to milk the cows,
which duty she always performed prior
to cooking the evening meal.
There were no babies in the house to
kiss, no daughters to flatter and no
sons to praise, and as the candidates
revolved these things over in their
minds, each determined to do some
thing that would gain for himself the
lasting good will Of the "old lady"
/ Mr.. Harris, always quick to think
and act, went out and drove up the
COWS, letting down the bars with his
own hands, and standing by ready to
render any further service that might
suggest itself while Mrs. Scott was
fetching the pals.
Jones didn't propose to be cleft, and
casting about for something to turn
his hands to, discovered that the water
bucket was empty. That was God
send. Selling the pail he was off like
shot to the spring, taking care to
pass near Mrs. Scott that she might
see how readily he could adapt himself
to circumstances,
Mr.. Harris took in the situation
at glance and nearly took his breath
when he saw the good housewife
smile her acknowledgements at his OPP
ponent. 1t really looked as if Jones
had the best of it, for wasn't the bring
ing of pail of water from spring a
quarter of a mile away superior ser
, vice to the rather tame act of letting
down the bars for the COWS to pass in
, from the pasture to the milking lot?
Jones did not deign to look at Har-
ris as he walked proudly by on his
way to the spring. But Harris
mind was not idle, and before Jones
was half way down the hill, at the foot
Of which he was to fill his bucket with
water, he had evolved brilliant idea.
Jones reached the spring and filled
his vessel, and as he came up the hill
near the house was heard humming
the old familiar air of "Comin' Thro'
the Rye" He was feeling very COM
Portable at that moment, for he re-
allied that his adversary twas not in
it" when it came to contest in which
the prize was woman's smile.
But his Oomplacency was desti ned to