The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-02-19
HE MIXED THE COWS.

An Incident of the Days When Candi-
dates for ONCE Hustled for Votes.
In one congressional campaign Mr..
Harris and his competitor stumpe(l
the county together and spent the
nights at the farmers houses.
Late one afternoon, after a long
days ride ON horseback, they drew
rein before the humble dwelling of
Mr.. Scott, an aged agriculturist of
acknowledged influence in his dis
trict, but whose store of worldly
goods was not to be compared to thai
of some of our modern money kings
The SCOTS did not even employ a
servant
Mr.. Harris was very anxious to
make favorable impression upon
this family, for its head was the pow
er at the polls in those days. Mr.
Jones was also quite willing to go to
any trouble in order to secure Mr..
SCOTS good opinion, for he was
known all over the country as the
boss" of this particular 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 per
formed 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 candi
dates revolved these things over in
their minds each determined to do
something that would gain for him
self 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 left,
and, casting about for something to
turn his hands to, discovered that
the water bucket was empty. That
was godsend. Selling the pail he
was off like shot to the spring. tax
ing care to pass near Mrs. Scott, that
she might zee how readily he could
adapt himself to circumstances.
Mr.. Harris took in the situation at
a glance, and nearly lost his breath
when he saw the good housewife
smile her Acknowledgements at his
opponent. 1t really looked as though
Jones had the best of it, for wasn't
the bringing of a pail of water from
a spring a quarter of mile away a
service to the rather tame
act of letting down the bars for the
cows to pass in from the pasture to
the milking LOTT
Jones did not deign to look at Har
ris as he walked proudly 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 a brilliant
idea.
Jones reached the spring and filled
his vessel, and as he GENE up the hill
near the house was heard humming
the old familiar air of Comm Thro
the Rye" He was feeling very com
Portable at that moment, for he real
lied that his adversary was not in
il" when it came to contest and the
prize was woman's smile.
But his complacency was destined
to a speedy overthrow, for his sur
prise and CONSERVATION knew no
bounds when, arriving at the bars,
he saw the willy Harris sitting ON a
stool, his head half buried in the
cows tanks, milking away for dear
life.
History records the fact that Mr.
Harris carried the Scott precinct ON
election day. Nashville Banner.