A Processional Anecdote.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1991, 11 April 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

A Processional Anecdote.

JIOKMMi. Tin snow> fiont of Mi. \an Dycer's shirt reflect' il the rays of tho lnoimng suii as he sipped his coilee and glanced o\er the papers. " The boom gro.vs apace," he murmured ; "it is Cleveland e\eiy>\heie — Cleveland all tho time." A man entered with a subscription list. \an Djcii met him with a smile. "'Certainly! niv fine' fellow," he said cheerily ; " here are two tlollais for your ucw club uniforms, and if you want (my more do not hesitate about culling on me. \an turned to his books, cast up columns of iigtues with a tranquil mind, for he had done something toward the campaign, aud he was full of peace. | "We must all of us put a shoulder to the wheel," ho said. " There must be no drones in tho Democratic party."

NOON. \an met his wife beamingly. " There is to be a big piocession this evening, my love, "he remarked sweetly, " and if you would like to see it I will get jou a good place at a Montgomery-street window." " Do you turn out ?" inquired the lady. " I think," said the patriot hesitatingly, " that I ought to fall in with the boys. It is the part of every good Cleveland man to keep his end up in this campaign. We must not allow the enthusiasm to die out, so I really think I will fall in line to-night." " But considor your corns, love," said the lady. " Tiue," musedher patriotic husband. " Cobblestones and corns do not go well together, " but then, my lovo, we must sutler something for the cause." "Go, my hero!" cried the noble wife; "go and march and cheer for Cleveland. Lift youi torch toward the eternal stars, and be sure in your moment of triumph that your wife's eyos are upon jou."

NIGHT. Mounted police — " 'Rah for Cleveland ! " Citizens on horseback — citizens on cobble-stones. Threo cheers for Cleveland ! — torches, calcium lights — three cheers for Cleveland !— umpa ! u.npa ! Star-spanglod banner !— Cleveland for ever!

2 A.M. All silent on Van Nesi avenue. A solitary traveller, beating an extinguished torch, ga/es into the starry vault. In following the course of a brilliant meteor his legs tangled and he fell heavily to the dust. " Keep your pla-sch m the ranks," he growled, clambering to hit feet. " 'Hah for Cleveland !— where the deusch's my torch ? Half an hour elapses, and a white-robed female props up the patriot, torch and all, against the hat-rack. Her ejes are full of unshed tears. " Van," sho says, " you are deplorably drunk." "Campaign lie ! — shober as a judge ! 'Kali for " but insensibility charitably flings her mantle over him, and he is borne to bed by the united strength of the household. Clubs may come and clubs may go, but there is one patriot to whom tho flaming glory of the torchlight procession must be for ever a stranger — The Wasp.