Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1906-09-20

tufn- Meh were SolicltouS about Ills
health. He came to know that shaw,s
and dress patterns and jewelry were
being sent TO his mountain home Tai
Tors were ready to measure him for
new suits without cost to himself, and
hints were thrown out that after the
ADJOURNMENT he would be wanted to
fill an Important position down in the
lowlands.
All this was Very soothing aud Sc
ductive TO Abe. lie had always been
used 10 plain speech, a spade was
either spade or not n spade. The
sophistry of the lobbyists tangled him
up. He was made to see that under
certain circumstances n long handled
shovel became Il short handled spade.
He was man without grain of nat
ural vanity, but when gentlemen OF
wealth and education asked him to sit
down and drink and smoke with them
and deferred TO his opinions 1t was
only natural that he should feel puffed
up.
The day came when poll of the
house showed that the vote on the rail-
Iotu blll NOulu Ire IL tie. ABE IteWSOD
could not he 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
down, but between the lobbyists for
and the members agans. the bill they
had soon been reduced to state OF I'M
certainty. For the first time In the
history of the legislature an ignorant
but honest 'cOonskin" member held
the balance Of power with the most Inn
portant bill Of two decades In the bal
ance.
Queerly enough, the lobbyists had not
They might argue and catole and
throw hints Of rewards, bur they felt
afraid to 20 further. Both sides felt
that he was trying to cgure things out
for himself and then cast his vote as
conscience dictated.
The day finally came when the bill
was to be put on its final passage.
That it would he n tie vote every one
was assured Abe Hewson was In his
seat, pale nervous and hesitating be-
tween two opinions He was no near
er n decision In his own mind than n
week before. Some preliminary bust
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. 1t was thirty-six miles over
the rough mountain road to 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, Tilda. but you yere" ex-
claimed Abe as he laid Il hand on her
shoulder.
Yes, Abe"
"But what for? What dun brung
ye?"
THAT railroad bill. Abe. I've been
readin' of it right along, and I've dun
been prayin."
"And-and'-
"Prayin' to Gawd, Abe-prayin' that
he 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 be an honest man. I've
walked all night to get here and tell
you. | was skeered b." the darkness,
ana Tn skeered by the people. They
are laughn' Mt me now. I'd never
have come Abe-Td never have come
in this livin' world IL Gawd hadn't dun
sent me-
Half an hour later the bin was put
on its passage, and one of the mes
sages going over the wires to people
Interested read:
RAILROAD bill knocked into a cooked
hat Abe Hewson's wife did it."