Year: 1859

1t was dark night. A chilly November
blast made the night dismal and its piercing
breath whistled through the crevices and in
terstices of some frame shanties that stand in
the lower part of the Second Ward. A slight
drizzling rain was borne on the wind and was
driving iiercely by. Two men might have been
seen vending their way through the dark mud
dy street. One q very tall man, the other q
person of about five feet eight inches in heighth.
Their business appeared to be of pressing
character; ever and anon they would stop at
the door and make some kind of an inquiry
and then pass on. 1t was evident that those
men were looking for some one. The tall man
seemed very anxious to find the person for whom
they were seeking, and for this purpose they
were in no ways backward in making the doors
ring with their knuckIes. At length stopping
before a small frame dwelling, the door of
which opened to their summons, and the pedes-
trians entered The room Mt the front of the
house was, perhaps, ten feet square, without
carpet, poorly furnished, and had quite a
squaled appearance. An emaciated woman
was the occupant. The tall man inquired if
Jacob was in; the woman replied in the affirm
ative. She went to rickcty pair Of stairs and
called Jacob. In rough voice Jacob respond
ed that he would be down in few minutes.
He was not long in making his word good.
With no clothing on but his shirt and trowsers,
rough-looking being stood before them,
scratching his head. The tall man commenced
the conversation by telling the rough customer
that he had come to enlist his services to elect
Mr.. Blatherskite to the Senate. Jacob, at a
loss to understand what service he could be
in electing any one to such an important office,
opened his mouth and listened. The intruder
continued:


nJacob, you are aware of the importance OF
electing United States Senator?p The rude
man replied in the affirmative;


swell, we have concluded to elect delegates
on Saturday next, that will pick out the right
kind of members of the Legislature to insure
his election You know that Wilmington has
enough influence always to do just what she
pleases in the County Convention. Now, it re-
mains for us to elect the right kind of delegates
to manage that matter. want you to be
there and sec what can be done"


Jacob interrupted the speaker to inquire
who the delegates were, he was to use his best
efforts to elect. The other replied;


aWe have not made up our minds who they
will be yet perhaps Joe Wafer can tell you
that--we leave all the dirty business for him to
do. II will be enough for you to know that
we require ourseryices to elect these delegates.
Here is enough of the needful to go to market
with once or twice. Be sure and keep sober,
and be careful that Jim Montgomery does not
get hold of you, for he is working against us
| like the devil.


AT the mention of this individuals name, the
tall mans brow became contracted, his teeth
chartered together and he had all the appear
ance of man suffering from the ague. Jacob
granted an assent, and the pair left the house.
The rude mans wife had been standing by all
| the time and heard the conversation. No
sooner had they left the door than she COM
mcnced in the following strain to talk to her
husband


iJacob, be careful how you promise to serve
these men, they are no friends at least, Do
they ever call to see you except at election
times when they think you can be of service
to them. They didn't come around last twenty
fifth of September when the landlord seized
our goods, did they2 Did you go to them
when we buried our baby and needed money
70 bear the funeral expenses? You know who
you did go to- though, and who helped us
through our troubles, and the blackguards tel
you to be careful of him, for he is working
against them like the devil. Do you go witt
your friend, the man who came to our relic
when we stood in need of help, and if here