“Democrats
Eat old dead rats!”
sang Ned and his crowd.
{
“Republicans
Lick old tin pans!”
retorted Hal and his fellow partisans.
Whereupon the Republicans claimed the best of the argument.
Nobody in Beaufort was more faithful in attending the various political meetings than was Ned. With eyes and ears alert he sedately accompanied his father; or else, doing as he pleased, tagged the band about through the streets until it brought up at hall or opera house. He sat or stood, squeezed in, the whole evening through, listening to orators declare what great and wise things their party had done, and what mean and foolish things the other parties had done. In case it was a Republican meeting he cheered in triumph; in case it was the opposition (for he did not limit himself to the one) he cheered “just for fun.” Thus he was able to do lots of shouting, and went home hot, hoarse, and full of enthusiasm.