Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-09-29

turn Men were solcitous about his
health lie came To- know that shawls
AMI dress patterns and icNclry were
being sent to his mountain home. Tai
lors were ready to measure him for
new suits without cost To- himself aud
hints were thrown out that after the
adjournment he would hc wanted to
Ill an important position down in the
lOwlandS
All this was very soothing and So
Luctiyc 10 Abe. lie had always been
used TO plain speech y spade was
either Il spade or not spade The
tophistry of the lobbyists tangled him
up. lie was made To- see that under
certain circumstances Il long handled
shovel became a short handled spade
He was man without grain of nat
urnl vanity but when gentlemen of
wealth and education asked him to sit
down aud drink and smoke with them
ANA deferred 10 his opinions il was
only natural that he should feel pulled
up.
The day came when II poll of the
house showed That the vote on the rail
road bill would he tie Abe IIcwson
could not be- counted for certain on
either side Both Sides claimed him
but he had made no direct promise
The casting vote would be his Some
of his mountain constituents had come
.iAtsp itttf l...f l.. i.l. fnr
and the members against the bill they
had soon been reduced 10 state of I'm
certainty. For the first time IN the
history Of the legislature an ignorant
but honest "coouSkin" member held
the balance Of power with the most I'm
portant Till OF two decades In the bal
anCc
Queerly enough. the lobbyists had not
rcsortcd To direct bribery In Abc's case
They might argue ana cajole and
throw hints Of rewards but they felt
afraid to 20 further Both sides felt
that he WAS trying To figure things out
for himself aud then east his vote ms
conscience dictated.
The day finally came when the bill
was 10 be- put on lis final passage
That II would be tic vote every one
was assured Abe Hewson was IN his
seat. pale nervous aad hcSitating he
tween two opinions. He was no near
er decision In his own mind than
week before, Some preliminary busi
ness WAS being transacted when
messenger called him out. Just out
side the doors he found his wife She
had on her poke bonnet and heavy
shoes and calico dress and had been
the sport OF crowd for the last ten
minutes. II was thirty six miles over
the rough mountain road Ia the log
cabin. and she had walked all night
She had never been in the city before.
never seen such crowds. never beheld
such buildings. never looked so many
men IN the face
"Gawd Tllda. but YOU we're" ex
claimed Abe as he laid hand on her
shoulder.
Yes. Abe"
But what for? What dun hrung
yeT'
THAT railroad bill. Abe. I've been
readln of /, right along, and I've dun
been prayin'."
And and
"Prayin 70 Gawd Abe prayln' that
lie might dun gimme light to see my
way clear and make You see yours
The light come yesterday Gawd he
dun wants YOU to vote agin that rail
road and still bc nm honest man I've
walked all night to get here and tell
YOU | was skeered by the darkness.
and I'm skecrcd by the people They
are laughln NJ me now I'd never
have come. Abe-id never have come
In this Twin world II Gawd hadn't dun
sent me"
Half an hour later the bin was put
on It's passage. and one of the mes
sages going over the wires to people
interested read:
Railroad bill knocked into cooked
hat. Abe IIewDn's wife did it,"