The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-08-23
BY CLAUDE PAuRAREs
Copyright, im, y W. r. calapsl


Abe Hewson was nominated and
elected. He didn't have 10 pay out O
shilling for campaign expenses, and he
didn't make any promises. They knew
him throughout bis district AS an hon
est man. They said of him as they
said of January coonskin-that was
prime"
His wife was not puffed up with
pride over his nomination. She had lit
tie to say during the campaign. II
was only when he came home and told
her that he was elected that she mo-
toned him to sit down and then said:
abe Hewson, nobody could dun say
that you wasn't an honest man when
married you"
Il was tryln' to walk straight, Til
da."
EUR ten years you was buyln' and
sellin' nevis. Abe, did you ever lie
and cheat In that buslnessY
'Drat me, but was SO squar' that I
couldn't make livin' Mt It."
''For six or seven years you have
been buyln' coon and skunk and wood
chuck skins. Have you been a liar and
a cheatP
'No, Tilda. ! could have lied once
and made So ON a barskin, but shet
my teeth hard agln IT."
"You kin borrow dollar of most
any man, can't your"
Reckon So"
"And when man has got your word
he depends on lti'
"'Pears that way"
"And all this is why you've been
'lected. It's cause you've got good
name; It's cause your squar' man.
Abe, we uns is pore folks. We halnt
eddecated. Pianers and silks and
broadcloths are not for sich as us. We
squatted yere twenty years ago, and
We'll stay squatted till the end.
hain't maxim the least complaint over
II. don't believe I'd care to be rich
and have grand things I'm satisfied
TO 90 right along just like this, but
don't fling us down, Abe don't do
that"
''What dye mean, Tllda y he asked.
II hain't much of reader, but can
make out 'nuff In our weekly paper to
know that heaps O. men are willin' to
part with their honesty to get ahead in
the world. Don't part with yours. You
are goin' whar you'll be tempted, but
shet your teeth agln 1t. I'm holdin'
my head high and feelln' jest as good
as any one on this here mounting, not
bekase we've got money, Abe, but be-
kase you are a squar' man. If you
should lose that name you'd lose me.
I'm lovin' you as much as a wife can,
but I'm speakin' mighty straight when
tell you that IL SO much as whisper
should come back here that you had
lost your squar'ness I'd walk off and
starye to death In the woods rather
than live on with you"
"And | wouldn't be bIamln' you, TIL.
da," quietly replied Abe as he went out
to walk about and think.
Abe Hewson went down to the capi-
tai Of the state in fear and trembling
He was marked down by certain mem
bers and lobbyists as a good thing, bur
they gave him time to shake himself
down into his place. There were axes
TO grind on every hand, but it was the
coal men who had the largest. They
wanted charter for railroad TO rnD |
TO certain undeveloped mines. /,
wasn't line TO build up the country
and accommodate the people, but 10 I
bring coal out to market. They want /
ed grant Of state lands to recour
themselves.
A powerful lobby, well supplied with |
money and arguments, was on hand. /
Those who saw through the scheme |
and knew that II was steal also /
knew that they had their hands full to
fight It.
Abe was moving along slowly and /
trying to look ahead for pitfalls when /
the matter OF the railroad came up and
he found himself In the thick Of IL, He
found himself IA the position OF many
another before his time The state
employs no lobbyists TO protect herself.
All the argument and sophistry aud
money are In the hands OF those who
would rob her The opponents Of the
railroad scheme sat down with Abe
Iiewson and tried TO make him under
stand. They found him dense, but real
izcd that he wanted 10 be honest. They
contented themselves by telling him
that II was his duty 10 vote against the
bill. II was clear enough TO Abe that
day. but not 40 clear the next. The
lobby had got after him.
Your congressional or legislative lob
byist Il a smart man. He Is student
OF character. lie II diplomat He Is
sleek and slick In this ease when IL
became appasnt that the vote would
be close The Hon Abraham IIewson
was given especial attention. Cigars
and champagne met him at every
q m sel were solicitous about bis
health lie came 20 know that shawls
aDo ;feas .'siterns and 1eweiry were
being sent 10 his mountain home Tai.
lors were ready 10 measure him for
ncw suits without cost TO himself. anl
hints were thrown out that after the
adjournment be would be wanied 10
hll an inposiant position down ia tie
lowlands.
All this WIS very soothing and Sc
dnctlre 10 Abe HE had always been
used 10 piain speech. A spade was
either a spade or not a spade The
Of the lobbyists tangled him
up lie WIS made 10 see that under
certain circumstances q long handled
shovel became short handled spade.
lie was man without grain of nat