Court!' says Isaac, striking his forefinger into the palm of his left hand, with as much emphasis as if a new world had been created. I felt more mag nanimous than ever. 'I shan't accept,' said I.

9. "Shan't accept!' screamed out Isaac, in the greatest amazement, with his eyes starting out of his head. 'Shall I go back and tell them so?'

10. "I'll take into consideration, Isaac,' says I, trying all the while to look as important as I could. It is an office of great responsibility, Isaac, you know,' says I; 'but I'll think of it, and after due deliberation, if my constituents insist upon my going, why, then, if I thought I could be of any credit to our town, I'd go and try to let 'em know what's what,' says I.

11. "I could not shut my eyes to sleep, all that night. I determined on getting a bran new suit of clothes; and, in addition to this, I did'nt hesitate long about having a watch-chain and breastpin. It can't be imagined, how much the affairs of the nation occupied my mind all the next day, and three weeks afterwards. The concerns of the whole commonwealth, seemed to be resting on my shoul

ders.

12. "Every body wished me joy of my election, and seemed to expect great things of me. I saw that the eyes of the whole community were turned upon me, and I could not help seeing that nothing would satisfy them, if I did not do something for the credit of the town.

13. "Squire Dobbs, the chairman of the selectmen, preached me a long lecture on responsibility. 'Lieutenant Turniptop,' says he, 'I hope you'll keep up the reputation of Squashborough.'

14. I hope I shall, squire,' says I, holding up my head, for I felt my dignity rising.

"It is a highly-responsible office, this going to Gineral Court,' says he.

6

15. "I am altogether aware of that,' says 1, looking serious. I am aware of that, totally and officially, and I feel more and more the responsibility, the more I think of it,' says I.

"Squashborough,' says the squire, 'has always been a credit to the commonwealth

16. "Who doubts it?' says I.

"And a credit to the Gineral Court,' says he; and I hope you'll let 'em know who you are.'

666

"I guess I know a thing or two,' says I.

17. But,' says the squire, 'a representative can't do his duty to his constituents without knowing the constitution. It is my opinion you ought not to vote for the dog tax.'

18. "That is a matter that calls for due deliberation,' says I. So I went home, and began to prepare for my legislative duties. I studied the statute on cart wheels, and the act in addition to an act entitled an act.

19. "People may sit in their chimney corners and imagine it is an easy thing to be a representative; but this is a great mistake. For three weeks, I thought of my responsibility and my duties to my constituents. As all the representatives from our part of the country, had done great things for their constituents, I determined not to do less.

20. "I resolved, therefore, to make a speech; to make a motion for a bank in Squashborough; to move that all salaries be cut down one half, except the pay of the representatives; and to second every motion for an adjournment.

21. "As to my speech, I took care to have it all written before hand. It was all about my constituents, and responsibility, and Bunker Hill, and the heroes of "76, and dying for liberty.

22. "After I had got it well by heart, I went out into the woods, where nobody could hear me, and delivered it off to see how it would go; but I was

not quite satisfied with it, and so I wrote it over again, and put in something about fought, bled, and died,' and tucked in a few more words, here and there, about responsibility.

23. "When the time came for me to set out for the General Court, the whole town came to see me off. They all gave me strict charge to stand up for my constituents. I promised them I would, for I am fully sensible of my responsibility,' says I."

1. "THE day I took my seat, was a day of all days in the year. I never shall forget it. I thought I had never lived till then; and when I thought how much I was expected to do for the credit of the town, it was overwhelming. What a weight of responsibility I felt!

2. "It beats all nature, to see what a difficulty there is in getting a chance to make a speech. Forty things were put to vote, and passed without my being able to say a word, though I felt certain I could have said something upon every one of

them.

3. "At last, however, two great questions were brought forward which seemed to be too good to lose. These were respecting the Salt River turnpike, and cart wheels. The moment I heard the last one mentioned, I felt convinced it was just the thing for me.

4. "The other members thought so too; for when it came up for discussion, the member from Clamville gave me a jog with his elbow. 'Lieutenant,' says he, 'now is your time.' No sooner said than done. I jumped up and called out, Mr

Speaker.'

5. "As sure as the world, I had caught him at last. There was nobody else had spoken quick enough, and I had the floor. 'Gentleman from Squashborough,' says he. Now,' thinks I to myself, 'I must begin.'

6." Mr. Speaker,' said I, 'I rise to the question. Mr. Speaker,' says I again. Here every body looked round at me. Five minutes before I was bold as a lion; but now I felt so much dashed, that I believe I should have sat right down, had not the member from Gull-Hill said, 'Now is your time, lieutenant; that is right; give them the grand touch! Squashborough forever!' says he. This had a mighty encouraging effect, and so I began and went on.

7. "Mr. Speaker,' says I, 'this is a subject of vital importance. The question, Mr. Speaker, is on the amendment. I have a decided opinion on that point, Mr. Speaker. I am altogether opposed to the last gentleman, and I feel bound in duty to my constituents, and the responsibility of my office, to express my opinion on this question. Mr. Speaker, our glorious forefathers fought, bled, and died. for glorious liberty. My constituents have a vital interest in the subject of cart wheels.

8. "Let us take a retrospective view, Mr. Speaker, of the present condition of all the kingdoms and tribes of the earth. Look abroad, Mr. Speaker, over the wide expansion of Nature's universe, beyond the mighty billows of the great Atlantic! Behold Bonaparte going about like a thunderbolt, turning the world topsy turvy, and making a terrible stir among the sons of men.

9. "But to return to the subject, Mr. Speaker. 1 am decidedly opposed to the amendment; it is contrary to the principles of freedom and the principles of responsibility. Tell it to your children and to your children's children, Mr. Speaker, that

iberty is the everlasting birthright of the grand community of Nature's freemen.

10. " Why, Mr. Speaker, sir, if we only stand up for our rights, our rights will stand up for us, and we shall all stand uprightly together, without shivering or shaking. A true patriot, Mr. Speaker, will die for his country. May we all imitate the glorious example, and die for our country.

11. "The member who said so much about these hard times, and every thing and more too about commerce, may say as much as he pleases about factories and making iron.

12. "Why, Mr. Speaker, sir, what does the gentleman mean? Is not agriculture to be cultivated? He that would not stand up for agriculture, and for the best interests of his constituents, is worse than a cannibal, a Hottentot, or a hippopotamus.

666

13. "I stand up here, Mr. Speaker, for the cart wheels, and so do my constituents. When my constituents call on me with the voice of a speaking trumpet, may I never be backward in coming forward. I stand up here, Mr. Speaker, to keep the rising generation from falling into the deep slough of anarchy.'

14. "But here, just as I was saying 'rising generation,' a little fat, round-faced man turned round and looked right up at me, twisting the corner of his mouth into a queer kind of a pucker. This bothered me so, that I could not remember the next word.

15. "I felt in my pocket for my speech - it was not there; then in my hat- - it was not there; then behind me and on both sides of me; but lo and behold, it was not to be found. But all this while I pretended to be going on with my speech, saying, 'rising generation,' 'responsibility,' 'my constituents fought, bled, and died.'

16. "Finally, the little man with the round face