The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-06-12

CtUNS.
was sick. When he did drive out again,
they noticed how much changed he was
by his illness. Indeed, ii was almost
startling His face had lost its color, and
there were Il little quaver in his voice
and an uncertainty in his step which
had never been there before. His
clothes were not so carefully tended,
and there began to be a suspicion of
dinginess on his immaculate shirt front.
People began to see that he was an
old man. You must take care of your
self, governor" his friends said.
In the meantime the boom for Miles
Holcomb still hurried along. The eau
cuses went solidly for him all over the
state. a young lawyer from the north
was TO be made lieutenant governor.
All records for harmony were sur
passed. The question now arose as to
who would present the name of our
candidate before the state convention.
Holcomb, who had warmed up to the
game by this time was very much in
terested in this. He made up his mind
he must have Governor CulDerson, and
with characteristic directness he went
to him and asked him for his services.
my dear sir" replied the old gentle
man, with dignity, while | appreciate
the distinguished honor you offer me,
fear | shall be obliged to decline.
could not do you justice, sir"
"Oh, thunder said Holcomb. "If
had only half your gift of CAB, I'd be
n happy man. AS it is, l lie awake
nights thinking of how many different
kinds of fool I'm going to be when I'm
governor"
Culberson pleaded hard. "Mr. Hol-
comb" he said, Il am not what have
been | am an old man, sir. | will tell
you confidentially, sir, that my sleep is
very broken. and my appetite has been
leaving me lately. am not very strong,
fear, sir"
But Holcomb insisted, and finally the
old man yielded TO him.
Il could not refuse with honor" he
said to his friends
THE choice of ex-Lieutenant Gov
ernor Culberson TO present the name OF
our candidate at the state convention"
said the Herald sis happy one. There
is now no other figure in our section of
the state or indeed in the common
wealth that commands greater respect
than our honored and esteemed fellow
citizen"
At last the day before the convention
came, and we sent up n special train
with our candidate. In the prospective
governors car back toward the rear,
sat old Governor Culberson, Il strange,
erect. impressive figure amid the clouds
of tobacco smoke. That evening he
went for Il short time with the rest
through the corridors of the hotel, where
the committee headquarters were, and
watched, as he had many times before,
the spirit of Americanism worShipod
with the incense of cigars and mixed
drinks. He did not know many people
there now, however, and he went to
bed early for his effort of the morrow.
The convention of that year was q
quiet and harmonious one, without any
marked features, and it is perhaps for
that reason that |. with many others, |
had indelibly fixed in my mind the fine
old figure of Ex-Governor Culberson as
he made his little speech of nomination.
There were some little things TO regret |
about the affair. those little things in
great occurrences which are so painful. |
and the old man WINGED when the
chairman referred to his former distin- |
guished service as governor of the state.
But he had himself well in hand for
the occasion and was more Al governor |