Read on line
Listen on line
Main > Fairy tale > All authors > Frank Baum > Fairy tale "Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work"

Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work

She had a nice talk with the

hardware man, and he gave her much useful information about the most

important people in the neighborhood--those it would be desirable to win

for their candidate. When he mentioned Thompson, she said:

"Oh, he's impossible. I've talked with him."

"Thompson is really a good Republican," replied Mr. Andrews, the

hardware man. "But he's under Hopkins's thumb and doesn't dare defy

him."

"Doesn't he like Mr. Hopkins?" asked Patsy, in surprise.

"No; he really hates him. You see, Thompson isn't a very successful

merchant. He has needed money at times, and borrowed it of Hopkins at a

high rate of interest. It's a pretty big sum now, and Hopkins holds a

mortgage on the stock. If he ever forecloses, as he will do some day,

Thompson will be ruined. So he's obliged to shout for Hopkins, whether

he believes in him or not."

"I think I understand him now," said Patsy, smiling. "But he needn't

have been so disagreeable."

"He's a disagreeable man at any time," returned Mr. Andrews.

"Has he any political influence?" asked the girl.

"Yes, considerable. Otherwise he couldn't have secured the nomination

when he pretended to run against Hopkins--for it was only a pretense.

You see, he's a well known Republican, and when he sides for Hopkins

he's bound to carry many Republicans with him."

But there were other important people whom Mr. Andrews thought might be

influenced, and he gave Patsy a list of their names. He seemed much

amused at the earnestness of this girlish champion of the Republican

candidate.

"I do not think we can win," he said, as she left him; "but we ought to

make a good showing for your cousin, and I'll do my very best to help

you."

As she rode home with Uncle John in the afternoon, after a day of really

hard work, Patsy sized up the situation and declared that she was

satisfied that she had made progress. She told Mr. Merrick of the

mortgage held over Thompson by Mr. Hopkins, and the little man made a

mental note of the fact. He also was satisfied with his day's work, and

agreed to ride over to Fairview the next day with her and carry the war

into this, the largest village in Kenneth's district.

Also read
Read
Brewery of eggshells
Category: Celtic folktales
Read times: 6
Read
The lad with the goat-skin
Category: Celtic folktales
Read times: 11
Read
The Little White Cat
Category: Irish folktales
Read times: 17