The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-07-29
CANVASSING FOR FLOOD.
HOWIT VAS DOHE ~ TIM BACK
WUUDs or HUChINGHAM.
The village H,.cksmith-A Volunteer
Preacher--No Lights or shadows la
Humble Walks.



that IS yet unstirred by breath OF M
dern activity. The broad sweep OF ."s
river encircles 1t. and nifty mile s''e'e"
of forest land fu,her nrotects St from con-
tact with tho outer world. It's pfoP
cling 10 the old time cOnVehughS, 'r,,irs,
strict distinctions IN class, anu p..,ar wore
the old relation OF servant ~ ~ fhe State
nearly than in other parts y. 'I nenvass for
| was asked By my friend 10 cam I.n, a.
Mr.. Flood nomluatiOn as the ~, my
candidate for Congress, anu - knou-n
campagn through the torres. .tpa1cS Moods
of Buckinghain Here the peoPIe ~ for,
little spots OF cleared land, IL of
the public road. and cut OIL p9 LD,. evil
trees from their neighp2fsii Ia maj have
van homes there are chn9Ien, md often
never left their own clearing anu LIN
grown folk that cannot remeihoe ~ a' ri~ai
crossed the river II Il saiI py ~ ~ crcss
counties that. when bu 4., thnv must be
blindfolded before they VIII Neh h.,,s,.e 49,
tie fiat bottom Jerry boats, tli5 3 ~, am,
IL pure maliciOusness. ! ehJOytu ~ -
uaicn through buckingham anu Pio
80, oiyino vou INV first days experience
among the politicians ot the Dr. ,,,hroall
started one morning before daypIean,
when the world was stu aslegX an -
hush Of the hour lay over IL. Inc 8ou'm
cast was h3dde1 by It grove Of OAKS, hut
| could see along the Nes'etn a.. nm
reelected glow just tinginS me neep ~
pie. The stars nodded sieepiiy, pl'''n ~
ing a mild defiance Al ms httaiu "a
Dawn. rode on through the absolute
stiffness. feeling with Keen ple13utt0 ~
touch Of my mares NOUN on tIlS ~, 80,
the splendid play OF her ni.I,.e s,.r,nath inv
me- she brought me into nearer ssInPa,snSi
with this stranger world. As | WhtcIcu
them the stars we're extingulshed slnSy
the warm purple light fading chai,Beu ,a,,
grey, a chii dry wlnd arose ana Tue '"'
was born. ,.., o,,
/ went along in the cool morning an an
entering the big woods As the sun Sll'eI
its first pale yellow through the ~ re-
was going to the village 10 sSr rso,s-
gistrar of the voting precihct' AhS =
trar was also the blacksmith anu i.Tf
called what my friend had told me. \,
you want information about dlis t ~ 49,
10 blacksmith. A. Iesui be -. 90, on the
fessiOn he IS thinker. an authority Dm . ~
subject of human nature. ana ~ a. - -
man OF business Then he knows 'nt % %,
crets Of the whole neighborhood ~ 49, 49,
a man will trust his morse ~ VIZ met
his most cherished theories; ana one Hlua -,
exuand into condolences around the .Hc,
forge. where the voice Is drowneI ~ I a.
anVHs ciang. SO he becomes Tue tlo0f -.
iluential man OF the NlISst NJ ih,nnens 10
Of the masonic lodge, Il there H"Fp,C"' Ia
be one: is church warden, an Sts'iiS'
ncate questions Of domestic TlShSES5' d,,..s
The smith WAS Just pesinnins MA! NJ qH vo'I
work when reached the SHOP III S"H
take the bellows a moment ne 1SNe ~
as ! stood waiting for an aunitncS' ia
must get this iron ready. / wdtcneq Wy
glow and sparks that the iorst sptfS ~ tb h.,
into the blackened room. 10 "O",'Ii u "a
smith Is "A leader and moran5l' ueil-
tatod. feeling the influence OF the Innnts,
scribabc tints that spring irOih tne b.
OF the bellows. The fire Vas nov az M NJ
proper point Of heat; and the smith put
tinF MS iron among the Goals, tutlled 70
wards me. While inquiring my business ., ne
threw a professional glance at nay '"o-
IouE nDISSu.. -, -t,,, q, { said. Il came to
consult about another matter. ,.,.,e- 20
IRIS seldom ! get sucn pretty ho1aS -
work on as hers He was 700 COY. - II
however 10 show his dsappointment, ,d"9
be- lt.tnned attentively while | explained
n obiect of ms visit He "a We me M
OF names. H. ~ men, he sald "yulI 80
me how the county stood about 'nS NO'''
| ing nomination. ,......,,-..1 ~ ast,
| arr. Won Tor Fiood or Tucker .t,,.
Il Gou't take sides" he answered. y" ~
| , rsrfatn dignity. of course am Dem
ocr.,f "a is every Respectable man. Jul
,s,,er vote al the nominations, \ man
In NV business carnt take sides IN par
~, dcnt men. there's got 20 be one
linblassed man 70 settle qudrreIS III t"e
Willie re talked the two benches IN
front Of Tho shop had Ea1ually necoMt
occupled who is that OLD gentleman
! / asked indicating stout 1aFhicr' N'lO
held possession OF an ehtte VSi''ii, -, ne
seemed 70 be the lea"et III '"
''o oTh ats Old Man Upper" answered
the smith. as ne commence4 heatlls rs
iron into shape. | moved from out lHe
rarpe of the white hot sparks. tie
! knows more bout land than anyboiy
J This side the river: and he's got S0oa
bit Of influence with the youngsters
but IFS no use your talking TO hiin.- 9ir'
! he's dead set against politics.
] scrutinized the Old Man from me
shadow Of the doorway. Lines or
strength and intelligence marked MS
wise. old face. his hands were stretched
on his broad knees. and he moved them
ouphatically as ne talked. Moving IL
tie forward l listened 10 what ne was
yes. ! know Hal Flood" said the old
man. # knew him when ne was shay
or. ! lived mp the river then. ana ne Il
steal apples right reg lar from my or
child. Hls father was the last man ! Not-
| ga for. My son Tom was named iof nm.
you amt much on politics then are
vout' asked man that had just ridden
up and who seemed To he stranger.
"Polltics,' exclaimed the tit Man,
"What good does politics DO me! 10 II
shoe my horses. or men my pIoW~t
When ttU come To electtn' blacksm!ths
| and jedges I'm right with you; but what
ken men up in Washln ton do Tor me
| No. III as soon 20 TO meetin' as to the
poles"
you went to preachin once't. Grand
| pap" said a boy, who iounged against "A
| bareback mule. The Old Man chuckled
! "a "A dry untertOIe.
you see" the smith explained to me,
J Speaki1 low. me went 10 preaChin' once
| about five years ago, he had'ent been In
/ the meetlu house before since he was
| married there. The Old Man amt fond
! Of preachin."
How did ne happen TO 80 that timef'
| ] asked
We'll. he wanted TO give the folks a
| talking 20. an he thought he could DO il
| more convenient like in church When
| Dee come In every body was that sur
prised. they forgot 10 follow the hymn.
| He had put on his wtddin clothes. and
/ the hat that was shot through durin
| the war He'd grown considerable stout
! or since he was married THAT was back
! in the fiftesl. an his daughter was 50
! feered he'd bust that coat that ! conl1
| see her tre,nblin' way cross the meetln
| house. The livid iron had now cooled
! 10 red. and the smith paused in his mar
! native 10 give he last, vigorous strokes.
[ The Old Man KEEP right still all through
| the sncin and prayin'.' he continued,
| when he had thrown the iron into a pail
! Of water. when the preacher got Hp
| the was young Teller with his FIRST
! beard. when the preacher got up. the
! old Man put his hands on the pew back
| and histel himself onto his feet. heard
hls daughter say. Mind your WeStcnt.
| Pa He didn't notice her ut all: he
| Just raised his hand. and said TO the
| preacher Ghem two bein' the Onllcst ones
! standby. you've had your say. oftin
now ] want you 70 give me show, -
! said the OLD Man. I've got somethin' 10
say" And he said II, | can tell you.
! Twas at the time when there vas so
much talk about the Nolers. and he lust
| IN into them slandercrs for their talk.
| He said Of they couldn't keep their
mouths shut at home they'd better not
come TO meeun' 10 sit prim-like, as II
| they couldn't get n pin between Their
! lips. He didu't believe In meetin-house
| reileion anyhow. Church IS a good
| enough place for dne clothes an singin'
| LIT rcIic-fo,,r fnr hornn. nd --Mnll 81 IN I