Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-09-27
A STORY OF COUNTRY LIFE.
71J'yT7VTll

! y
We had at that time more gold mines
than any other country"
| But we haven't enough money;
| that's the trouble" Interrupted Simon.
The quality of money IS vastly more
! important than the quantity. If money
were too plentiful It wouldn't be worth
as much. We would have to carry
more in our pockets to buy the same
things we buy now with less, so it is
unnecessary. What we need is to have
| the money we have to circulate, which
It won't do while there Is fear of free
silver. Times are hard because Of the
fear Of its success, but suppose It were
a reality; why! there'd be the worst
panic ever known in the history of this
country"
Simon and Ezra Grey now arrived at
| home, and there was no moro said on
politics for a while. Political Smon's
| family-Cynthia, Jimmie and Johnny
and the gfrls-were all delighted with
Uncle Ezra
The day wore away; chOre time came,
and the family scattered, to do the
work assigned to each one. Ezra Grey
was now left alone with Cynthia and
the little boys and he determined to
have a conversation with his sister-tn-
law.
What Go you get for butter out here
Cynthia? ?" Ezra ventured to ask.
About 8 cents, or near 1t. Gettin'
lower every year. Eggs have been SO
cheap 1t don't pay to keep chickens any
more. The Lord only knows what will
become of Us If McIIinley's elected
President. Simon says We'll all go to
the p0orhouse, but l don't see how
Marble County's goin' to provide a
poorhouse large enough to hold every
body that would have to so there"
Ezra Grey could not help but laugh at
>Cynthta's idea of Republican times, and
he wondered to himself If this was a
fair example of the Populist sentiment.
'Uncle Ezra" said Jimmie, you must
be sure to vote for Bryan. Money will
grow ON trees, l 'spect, If he's elected
Nv : coin 70 vote for him all right.
II Sot Earmers' Alliance
and Winnie guar, =, LIME: !. - -s,e-
publican Teller, and he's runntn' agfn
her for superintendent, and pa says
:, political opponents should be enemies
and that she mustn't even speak to
him, But she does speak to him, In a
loving way, too, and goes to church
with him. in spite Of pa My! but pa
gets mad sometimes. I guess he'd like
Glen Harrington all right If he was a
Populist, but he says Republicans are
either scoundrels or they lack sense"
q It's hard to tell how much more Jim
ME would have told his uncle had not
Cynthia hustled him out doors in a
hurry.
Uncle Ezra had now been at his
brother Simon's for q number Of weeks
Many arguments they had had, and all
Il were IN good humor, which was rather
singular, considering Political Simon's
disposition. Winnie had listened with
4. keen interest to their long discussions,
and had just acknowledged to Uncle
Ezra that she believed bis side Of poli-
tics was right, but as she he'd said be-
! fore, she intended to let time prove
Il all things to her
One evening as they were seated at
the supper table Jimmie, the boy ora
i tor of the family, blurted out: "Say,
/ pa, Vinnie's gone and turned Republi-
can What do you think about thatY'
What-do-I-think- about thatY
Simon repeated slowly, while look of
horror was depicted on his counter
ance ri don't believe 1t. Vinnies too
j smart gal for that"
"Ah, pa, but amt Uncle Ezra smart,
and amt he Republican,
Eyes, my son, he's smart; but he has
not yet seen the light"
Ezra" he said, II dare say, when
you do see things as they are you'll be
q bright and shining star for the silver
cause"
Ezra laughed and so dia Winnie
which Political Simon was quick to OBJ
| serve.
Ezra" lie SAID, IT hope you haven't
been stuffing Winnie with any Of your
Republican doctrines"
~ dare say, Simon, that Winnie has
enough mind of her own not to be
stuffed. rs you call IT."
We'll, Winnie" said Simon, 81 have
this much to say to you. If you ever
take such ridiculous notion as to turn
Republican, don't you ever mention it.
After all your raisin' and home trainin';
after all the Populist party has done
for you-if you-after all that has been
done for your benefit, turn and say you
are Republican; have your name writ
ten with the Goldbugs-vfnnie Grey!
I'd be ashamed Of your
Simon" said Ezra, did 1t ever occur
to you that you might be mistaken
These Populist papers and speakers
tell you that the Populist party Is the
party for the poor man. They are ar
raging capital against labor, and they
tell you they are on the side of labor. |
But, Simon, didn't it ever occur to you
that they might be false friends-that |
they are not telling you the truth"