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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

"

"Nonsense!" exclaimed the Honorable Erastus. "Ev'ry man Jack's agin the

fool notion."

"Then perhaps the people don't understand it."

"Forbes has given up already," continued Hopkins, laughing at the

recollection. "He's gone back into his shell like a turtle, an' won't

come out to fight. I tell you, Senator, he's the worst licked candidate

that ever ran for office."

Nevertheless, the suggestion that the anti-sign issue had been

successful in other localities made Mr. Hopkins a trifle uneasy, and he

decided to return home and keep the fight going until after election,

whether young Forbes came out of his shell or not.

He arrived at Hilldale on the early morning train and went to his house

for breakfast. To his amazement he found two great banners strung across

the village streets bearing the words: "_Vote for Forbes--the People's

Champion!_"

"Who in thunder could 'a' done that?" murmured Mr. Hopkins, staring

open-mouthed at the great banners. Then he scratched his head with a

puzzled air and went home.

Mrs. Hopkins, a tired-looking woman in a bedraggled morning wrapper, was

getting the breakfast. She did not participate largely in the prosperity

of her husband, and often declared she was "worked to death," although

there were no children to care for.

"When did those Forbes banners go up?" asked Mr. Hopkins, irritably.

"I dunno, 'Rast. I don't keep track o' such things. But all the town was

out to the girls' meetin' last night, an' I went along to watch the

fun."

"What girls' meeting?"

"The girls thet air workin' fer to elect Mr. Forbes. It was in the town

hall, an' all three of the girls made speeches."

"What about?"

"About Mr. Forbes, and how he orter be elected. He wants to beautify the

farm places by doin' away with signs, an' he wants better roads, an'

three new school-houses, 'cause the ones we've got now ain't big enough.

An--"

"You blamed idiot! What are you talking about?" roared the exasperated

Hopkins.

"Oh, you needn't rave at me, 'Rast Hopkins, just 'cause you're gettin'

licked.

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