The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-05-25
Wives of Politicians.

The wives of some public men enjoy
more social distinction than the wives of
ward politicians enjoy, but no statesmans
wife has more personal responsibility or
exercises more direct influence upon her
husbands career than the wife of many
district leader or ward boss.
Mary is the wife of Phil Delaney. Mary
is the daughter of local boss, for whom
the younger politician was a wide awake
lieutenant Politics were Mary's native
air. She knew all the material of the dis
trict, each mans claim for recognition,
who were the $780, $500, the 81 200 men,
and what were their political sobriquets.
AS Phil's wife she is a walking political
barometer, and could scent in the air a
temporary depression and its area Against
these she is prepared. She always man
ages to know whether there are any likely
vacancies in the street cleaning or scrub
force, and has made first for Phil next for
the organization and third for the party,
many faithful adherent by finding
place for some poor creature thrown out of
work, hungry and cold. If there is no
place handy Mary has always supply of
coats, trousers, shoes and hats to clinch
things until she can look around bit.
When there is a quiet little gathering Of
Phils political friends at Pills house Just
to keep things in hand, nobody minds
Mary's presence, nor the word she drops in
now and then as she sits mending the chill
dren's clothes by the fire.
But Mary's great work is with Phil.
Phil has a warm heart but a light head
After little fraternizing with the chief,
or some of the swell young men who have
gone into politics, he shows a disposition
to rise to greater heights of language and
demeanor. These would not go down in
the ward Mary knows this So does Phil.
Once after a district rally Mary heard him
say 'eyether," and she clapped her hands
on little Pills ears and sent Eustacia out
Of the room.
Mother of Moses, Phil, it's a mercy no
body heard you. Would We be having the
children carrying the word to school, and
the neghborhood passing it round as COM
ing from your There's nothing but plain
talk wanted now until after election, mind
you that"
But this was nothing to the danger from
which she rescued him when the campaign
was hottest. Looking out of the window
to see if Phil was coming to supper, she
did see him. But what were those white
things below his trousers and over his
boots? Mary's heart stood still They're
them dust covers" she muttered, "and the
boys are all out before Dennis Raffertys
saloon"
With presence of mind Mary ran down
to the pavement where little Phil and Eu-
| stacia were playing with little Grille Shan
non.
Run, children. There comes papa.
Don't stop for your lives until you meet
him. Hang around his knees" The chill
| dren were off.
"Eustacia," she cried, take the inside,
| you and Grille. You're both got on petit
coats. Don't you leave go, deares, until
papa is home, or PIP But Eustacia was
knowing child; in fact, Marys own
daughter Phil was hattered by the chill
| dren's eagerness. He liked the air of a
family man in public, SO different from
many men, he thought.
| Mary watched them with beating heart
Safely they conveyed him past Dennis Raj
ferty's saloon and to his own door, where
self.
"Take an easy chair, papa; stretch out
your feet on this footstool."
Phil obeyed, but now, with an air of
stricken self consciousness, as he saw the
white spats which he hadn't believed could
be so confoundedly obtrusive
Fall to- Philly, and you, Eustacia, I'M
button the slip covers of your papa's
shoes"
The children were on their knees and ran
a race to uncover their fathers shoes. Each
held up a white canvas overgaiter
"Now, lovies, take them down in the eel
lar and bury them SO deep the ward will
never see them again. Come up as soon as
you are through, children; papa and 1 are
going to supper"
That was all, but it lasted through the
campaign -NelC York Sun.