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

Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work

Meantime Louise and Mr. Watson were having some interesting interviews

with the farmers' wives along the Marville road. The old lawyer knew

nearly everyone in this part of the country, for he had lived here all

his life. But he let Louise do the talking and was much pleased at the

tact and good nature she displayed in dealing with the widely different

types of character she encountered.

Her method was quite simple, and for that reason doubly effective. She

sat down in Mrs. Simmons's kitchen, where the good woman was ironing,

and said:

"I'm a cousin of Mr. Forbes, up at Elmhurst, you know. He's running for

a political office, so as to do some good for his county and district,

and I've come to see if you'll help me get votes for him."

"Law sakes, child!" exclaimed Mrs. Simmons, "I ain't got nuthin' to do

with politics."

"No; but you've got a lot to do with Mr. Simmons, and that's where we

need your help. You see, Mr. Forbes thinks Mr. Simmons is one of the

most important men in this district, and he's very anxious to win his

vote."

"Why don't you see Dan, then? He's out'n the rye field," replied the

woman.

"It's because I'm only a girl, and he wouldn't listen to me," replied

Louise, sweetly. "But he takes your advice about everything, I hear--"

"He don't take it as often as he orter, don't Dan," interrupted Mrs.

Simmons, pausing to feel whether her iron was hot.

"Perhaps not," agreed Louise; "but in important things, such as this,

he's sure to listen to you; and we women must stick together if we want

to win this election."

"But I don't know nothin' about it," protested Mrs. Simmons; "an' I

don't believe Dan does."

"You don't need to know much, Mrs. Simmons," replied the girl. "What a

pretty baby that is! All you need do is to tell Dan he must vote for Mr.

Forbes, and see that he agrees to do so."

"Why?" was the pointed query.

"Well, there are several reasons. One is that Mr. Hopkins--Mr. Erastus

Hopkins, you know, is the other candidate, and a person must vote for

either one or the other of them.

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