The Washington weekly post., 1900-11-27
Mr. BOWSeY'S Iw6uLah0uS.

II you can save this country by going out
tonight and talking and arguing for
three or four hours, don't hang back"
And you-you won't blow and jaw
around if l am out till midnight?"
Not word. If you can prop up those
totterilg bulTarks, you may stay out for
thirty-six hours, and 1 won't say a word
Indeed, / bid you CO.
by George, but you have got sense-a
heap of senser' he said as a smile came
TO his face. Il feel it my duty to GO, but
/ DIDN'T want to leave you alone and have
row about 1t. Under any other circum-
stances l wouldn't do it. you know"
''Of course not. Go at once. You NAV
be able to save America and get hack
home in two hours; but, If not don't
think of me. As an American woman
also born 81 the State of Connecticut 7
am also willing to make sacrifices. put
on your hat and overcoat and go right
along"
Mr.. Bowser went. He had heard dur
ing the day that numbers of electors in
MS ward were wavering, and the idea had
come 10 him that if he could bring these
fifteen or twenty waVerers over To his
side liberty might continue to Go business
at the old stand for another four years
His mission, then, was to hunt up the
waverins, and he found two OF them on
the first corner He knew them for wav-
erers the minute he set eyes on them
Ihey had that thirsty, dubious, and un-
certain look never seen with a man who
mas MADE up his mind, and can't be turn
ed aside by mad dogs.
"Yes, boss" they replied as bo "a
dressed them, de fact is, we don't knoyu
exactly how to vote. We did tbink .,
votin' TO bust dis country all To smash
but dere wasn't no beer in It. We's readv
now to save America, but we must WEI
our throats." wei
fou snail wet them, gentlemen" said
Mr BoWser. Not only shall Won yva,
your throats. but when the country has
peen saved l shall take care that your ef-
Iofts become known. If you will step in
with ne. gentlemen"
Ihey stepped. They not only wet their
hroats and called Mr.. Rowser a goad
IeiioW' Dut they accompanied him on mis-
travels ana hunted out other electors who
were Wavering- The number was some-
tbing OF surprise. There were three ar
icuf Oh every corner and five or six In
mont OF every saloon. Some few got over
~ayering after one schooner Of beer had
been disposed CT, but in the ma iority of
cases II took two TO stiffen their spinal
columns and brace their legs for the
shock of battle. Mr. Bowser would have
preferred pop or sarsapariIia, but his
crowd Of patriots objected. In their opin-
ion. no man capable Of saving the country
would turn 10 baby drinks Ia the face OF
peril. he therefore took beer, and II ne
lives TO be thousand years old he will
never be able TO remember whether II
was fourteen glasses or fourteen barrels
he drank. For two hours he labored Ia
the vineyard as John Hancock labOred be-
fore seizing the goose quill and affixing
his signature 10 the Declaration of Inde-
pencence. Over a hundred Wayerers were
brought ever and nailed fast, and tie
number would nave been doubled II his
money had held out lie had spent hls
LAST cent when his family butcher hap
pened to run Stross him and said:
See here. Bowser, you have done
enough for America and had better 90
home
-Ish er country shayed?" he anxiouzly
asked.
She Is"
'-Bulwarks OF liberty all rizeT'
''All right Come along home"
II was an hour past midnight, but Mrs.
DOHEEl anu AAI tA% ufiE ElAli sltktEE u.
Mf. Bowser was sieered through the gate
and left 10 find his way up the steps. They
dOdged and WaD0led great deal, bat h.
finally beat their tricks. and Mrs. BOwser
opened the door for him and helped him
into the slttlng-FOofn. AS he sat down On
chair his head fell 20 one side, and he
stuck out his legs.
well. Is America to live onr' she axked
after looking him over.
America Is al rize-zu riZe," he .epilea
as he tried 10 brace up.
And you saved herr
.I-haye-shaved herr
Then I'll 20 10 bed and sleep content %
She left gas jet burning and left hls,
as he sat She had got upstairs when 4
muddIed thought struck him that 49,
would have a hold on him II he dlsin'. SO,
something, aid he called out.
"Wo-w0VFan. / Shee how IL Isl You en-
couraged sne 10 shave 'er country That yot1
NIGH eF-might 'er--"
And then Mrs Bowser heard a heavy
fall and knew that he was on the fIo3r
and would sleep I'll morning.