Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-02-03
BE pulled up as we met, and called

Well, COn'G tell II you uOnb want
to-" continued he, but know. You're
going to Vanderson's."
what then?" inquired.
Nothing, only your man isn't at
home. You might as well save your
self the trouble of going any farther"
Now this struck me as suspicious.
did not precisely think Fred was tell
ing falsehood, but my brief expert
ence of politics had inclined me to dis
trust everything an opponent might
say. So resolved to find out for my
self, and told Fred as much.
"All right for you, Charley" replied
he, driving on offended. go ahead
and see VIII at you'll make OF 1t.
reached Vanderson's comfortable
looking farmhouse almost certain of
proving Fred right and myself wrong
by finding no ono there. To my ex-
IRENE surprise I saw an elderly man
near the stable, hard at work oiling a
wagon-wheeL
"Mr. Vanderson2" inquired.
"The same" he replied, hardly look
ing up.
I caught my breath. Fred had told
me q lie, after all I am glad to be
able to say that wish had believed
him.
ST want you to come to town with
me, if you please" continued, after q
minute. He looked at me, quizzically.
want me to vote, eh?"
Eyes, that's it. How did you know"
''OhI there was another young man
here awhile ago, who wanted the same
thing"
So Master Fred had been trying to
GREETED anything, but solemnly re-
solved that Vanderson should go to the
polls if 1 had to carry him on my back.
HE laid down on me pretty consid'-
BILE hard, but 1 told him it warn't no
use. I'm all sole alone to-day, for my
sons gone away and there's slathers O.
things to do"
at won't take you an hour, Mr.. Van
derson. The elections awfully close,
and we need every vote we can get" I
pleaded.
do, eh2 Well. ye can't have mine,
young SIR" answered he, looking ex-
tremely obstinate. 'Fustly, this wag-
on's to lie"
"Ill help you on thatw exclaimed l,
jumping from the buggy and grasping
the Oil can.
Secondly. the stoves to black" he
continued. giving up the oiling to me
| without protest.
"I'll do that. too"
''rhirdly. the ashes is to sift for
mulching the apple trees.
"And that, too" persisted, wonder
ing how 1t happened that all his Jobs
should be either dirty or dusty. He
began to show signs of yielding.
'Tf ye can git through in time. p'r'aps
I'll go with ye, young SIR"
My oiling of that wagon must have
been a rare sight, and my backing OF
that stove a rarer. By the time be-
gan to sift the ashes my face and
clothes were oil where they were not
all stove polish. Tho ashes combined
with the other substances and the per
spiration arising from my exertions
| formed remarkable complexion pow
der.
| Meanwhile old Mr.. Vanderson lighted
q pipe, seated himself comfortably &c
windward of my whirling ash dust and
talked on about his farm, family,
friends and foes until thought he
| would drive me distracted Then he
began to ask me questions about ths
studies at school, and, finding astrono
my to be one of them, Immediately
brought out his hobby-s theory thai
the moon is inhabited.
Upon this he argued to such an un
bearable degree that heartily wished
the moon were inhabited by Wander
son, vote or no vote. But 1 had put my
hand to the ash sitter and l would no
look back.
finished the work, did three or foul
more little jobs which he pointed out
and at last. oily, dusty and tired. sue
ceeded in getting fairly on the road tx
town.
We drove up to the hall only just il
season. The crowd seemed in more
suspense than ever and our arriva
caused great commotion. Some ap
plauded, some cheered and som,
laughed-not few hissed-and a gen
eral rush was made into the building.
AS hurried my companion through
the throng l caught sight of Fred, VIII,
stood staring at Us with a queer mix
ture of conflicting expressions. With
triumphant glance at him pressed a.
to the box, in which, scarcely q secon,
before the clock struck the hour O
closing, Vanderson calmly placed
straight ballot which carried the cleo
} ton by one vote for-the opposit
partyi
Such a yell as went up! Nothin,
saved me from being mobbed by m,
friends except that the other side sur
rounded me in a dense mass to proffe
their sincere though bitterly ironica
congratulations. And Fred was tn
loudest Of them all
Didn't tell you, didn't tell you?
he kept shouting. THE son who ha
gone away was your man. Old MI
Vanderson's never voted anything bu
our ticket for the last forty-fve years!
'Sartain true, young sir!' said tn
old man, grinning. I'VE never aske
me about my views, an TUX it fu
granted ye was one Of us But if y
amt much of a canvasser ye're a mas
ter hand to work. If yell come out tc
morrow we'n continue our argymen
, CONSUMING the Enthusiastically c
the moon, an I'll hav s'more ashes fe
ye to siftr'
broke away from him. escaped tn