very top of their powers in order to make things clearer. There was a considerable assemblage of the farmers of the neighbourhood; and we may venture to assert, without having been present, that a more respectablelooking set of men cannot be found any where under the same circumstances. To be sure, as is often sagely observed, "it takes some of all sorts to make a world;" and so it does to make an election meeting; and this "all sorts" comprised some curious specimens. There was one tall fellow with his hat knocked in on one side and a rifle on his shoulder, who was insisting on his own qualifications for a constableship. Another with a blazing nose more generously advocating the claims of his friend.

"He's a little high just now, to be sure," said this Achates, "but he's never the feller to get drunk when he's got any thing to do."

"Vote for Spriggins," said one, "he's a high-flyer! he licked Kneeland last winter 'cause he said he warn't no gentleman!"

"Don't put Kneeland in," said a ragged

youth, confidentially to a circle of a dozen; "don't vote for him, he's a mean teetotaller!"

A cart drawn up within convenient distance from the scene of action contained the elements of a hundred quarrels and twice the number of black eyes; and there was still standing-place left on the back part. On this conspicuous perch, sure of entranced and stationary auditors, Mr. Rice now exhibited his well-known person, not dressed as for a gala-day, but studiously slovenly and common in his array. The time for opening the poll was near at hand, and not a moment was to be lost.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

"I did but prompt the age to quit their clogs
By the known laws of modern liberty."

MILTON.

"GENTLEMEN," said the orator, taking off his hat and waving it in a courteous and inviting manner, while he wiped his brow with a faded cotton handkerchief; "Gentlemen! may I beg your attention for a few moments? You are aware that I do not often draw very largely on your patience, and also that I am not a man who is fond of talking about himself. It is indeed a most unpleasant thing to me to be in a manner forced to advocate my own cause, and nothing short of the desire I feel to have an opportunity of advancing the interests of my friends and neighbours, in the legislature, would induce me to submit to it."

Somebody groaned-"Oh! Tom, that's tough!" "Yes, gentlemen, as you ob

serve, it is tough, it is a thing that always hurts a man's feelings. But, as I was observing, we must go through with whatever is for the good of our country. The greatest good of the greatest number, I say y!"

By this time the auditory had greatly increased, and comprised indeed nearly all the voters. Mr. Rice went on with increasing animation.

“This is the principle to go upon, and if this was only carried out, we should have all been better off long ago. This is where the legislature wants mending. They always stop short of the right mark. They get frightened, gentlemen! yes, frightened, scar't! they always have a lot of these small souls among 'em - souls cut after a scant pattern - souls that are afraid of their own shadows that object to all measures that would really relieve the people, and so they just give the people a taste to keep them quiet, and no more, for fear of what folks a thousand miles off would say! You've heard of the jackass that was scar't at a penny trumpet, well, these jackasses are

-

scar't at what isn't louder than a penny trumpet, nor half so loud.”

Here was a laugh, which gave the orator time to moisten his throat from a tumbler handed up by a friend.

"Now, you see, gentlemen, nobody would have said a word against that exemption bill, if every body was as much in favour of the people as I am. I don't care who knows it, gentlemen, I am in favour of the people. Don't the people want relief? And what greater relief can they have than not to be obliged to pay their debts, when they have nothing to pay them with? that is, nothing that they can spare conveniently. I call that measure a half-way measure, gentlemen, - it is a measure that leaves a way open to take a man's property if he happens to have a little laid by, - a little of his hard earnings, gentlemen, and you all know what hard earnings are.

"What is the use of having the privilege of making laws if we can't make them to suit ourselves? We might as well be a territory again, instead of a sovereign state,