THE ELECTION.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 212, 21 March 1873, Page 5

THE ELECTION.

(By our Vagrant Reporter.) And it came to pass on the fourteenth day of the third month, that the Glennites, the Horswellites, and the Inderites, and also the Bremnerites and the Brookeites, and the tribes which followed them, gathered themselves together—yea, they girded up their loins and put on their armour and bucklers for the strife. And the ways of the tribes were insinuating, for they smiled sweetly upon the people and they were bitter with each other. And the tongues of some were, loosened, and great was the volubility thereof ; and incomprehensible were the things done in that day. During the heat of the contest, Brassi the Scribe, of the tribe of Loaferi, moved about among the people> clothed in the dignity of his high office, and, with head erect and steady gait, communed with himself, saying: " Truly, O! Brassi, thou art great—great in thine own eyes and in the- eyes of the multitude!" And he was pleased at his own saying, for it gladdened his heart, and his countenance beamed with joy. And the sayings of Donaldus the son of Mac, surnamed the Truthful, are recorded in the chronicles of the people of the Mountain City ; for his speech was mild and his ways were winning, and the exuberance of his spirits was envied much by them. And towards the setting of the sun, Wirgmanus the Chief of the Magistrates declared unto the people that Tobias the Aged had that day been chosen by them to rule over them. And when Wirgmanus had finished speaking unto them they became full of excitement and commotion, and they shouted and made a great noise with their hands and also with their feet and. cried aloud unto Tobias to speak unto them. And he appeared unto the people and spake unto them saying :—"Listen unto me, oh ye men of the Mountain City. My tongue hesitates to perfornrits functions, for my heart is full, and exceeding joy and gladness dwells within me. Great is the victory I have this day achieved over mine enemies. Let joy and gladness abound. Let us exult over their defeat, and glory in our triumph and in our. strength and great power. Havel not this day arrived at the height of my ambition, and is the cherished desire of along life not accomplished? Yea, the fondest dream of my youth has been consummated. My temper, which has been bitter for many years, Trill in the future be sweetened through my exaltation, yea, the uplifted arm will be extended for the friendly grasp. Let us bury the hatchet, and smoke the calumet of peace." And the multitude was pleased exceedingly at the strange sayings of Tobias the Aged,_ and they placed him in a chair, arid lifted him high upon the shoulders of the people, and carried him from the hall of Wirgmanus, even through tJie streets of the City carried they him. And the men of the City played upon instruments of music made of brass and of skins, and they shouted and made a great noise, and the Aged Tobias bowed unto the people, and thej r were glad, and great was the rejoicing thereof. And when the people had done with the Aged Tobias they placed him carefully in front of his own door, and he spake again unto them, and they were hurt ;\n& sore displeased at his sayings ; but, as they knew him of old, they heeded them not.

And it came to pass that a number of the: wise men of the City were selected as councillors to represent the several interests and portions thereof. And there was a man among them named Kirbias, a dealer in sweet, waters and in vegetables, and who was cunning in the use of the pick and shovel, and, also, the broom; and, withal, a man possessed' of great wisdom and understanding. And he came before the people and spake unto them, saying:— "Have you not all drunken of my sweet waters, and partaken of my vegetables? and have you not pronounced them very good ? The public places of the city have I not kept clean; yea, are the last sad offices of frail humanity not punctually attended tc ? From among you, CM ve people of the Mountain City, is there a man better adapted for high honor, or one more deserving of exaltation ? Have I not been known among yon as one possessed of great knowledge, superior wisdom, and vast understanding ? Elect me to the position. I aspire te, 0.! ye people, and my talents and accomplish, ments will be expended for your welfare." And the people were amused at the presumption of Kirbias, for he was well known unto them, and they asked one of the other if he was beside himself, and they answered him,,. "Yea," •