Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work
But
Thompson ran against him on the Republican ticket and couldn't win his
party vote."
"Who's Thompson?"
"The general store keeper. He has a reputation for short weights and
measures."
The boy sipped his coffee thoughtfully.
"Tell me, sir; how did you happen to know all this?" he asked.
"I've been looking up Hopkins's record. I have disliked the man ever
since he treated us so shabbily on the night of the meeting."
"Never mind him. We've done with him."
Mr. Watson shifted uneasily in his chair.
"I wonder if we have?" he said.
"Why not, sir?"
"Well, Kenneth, we have to reside at Elmhurst, which is Hopkins's
district. Also I believe Elmhurst to be the most important estate in the
district, and you to be the largest taxpayer. This man wishes to go to
the State Legislature and make laws for you to obey."
"Well?"
"Well, it's our duty to watch him. If he isn't a fit man it's our duty
to prevent him from representing us."
The young man nodded somewhat dreamily.
"Some of these country yokels must represent us," he observed. "It
doesn't matter much whether it's Hopkins or someone else."
"Except that you, being a prominent man, owe it to the community to
protect its interests," added the lawyer.
"Do you want me to mix in these petty politics?" asked the boy,
irritably.
"Oh, do as you like, my boy. If you can shirk your duties with a clear
conscience, I've nothing to say."
For a time the young man was silent. Finally he asked:
"Why isn't Hopkins a good Representative?"
"He's what is called a 'grafter'; a term signifying that he is willing
to vote for any measure that he is paid to vote for, whether it benefits
his constituents or not."
"Oh. Is he singular in this?"
"By no means. The 'grafter' is all too common in politics."
Again the boy fell into a thoughtful mood.
"Mr. Watson, am I a Democrat or a Republican?"
The old gentleman laughed outright.
"Don't you know, Ken?"
"No, sir, I haven't asked myself before."
"Then I advise you to be a Republican.
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The Wood Maiden: The Story of Betushka and the Golden Birch Leaves
Category: Czechoslovak folktale
Read times: 71 -
The Golden Spinning-Wheel: The Story of King Dobromil and the Good Dobrunka
Category: Czechoslovak folktale
Read times: 34 -
There was once an honest journeyman tailor, by name Labakan, who learned his trade with an excellent master in Alexandria. It could not be said that Labakan was unhandy with the needle; on the contrary, he could make excellent work: moreover, one would have done him injustice to have called him lazy. Nevertheless, his companions knew not what to make of him, for he would often sew for hours together so rapidly that the needle would glow in his hand, and the thread smoke, and that none could equal him.
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