"Ever milk a cow?"
"No!"
"Are ye willin' to learn them things?"
"I didn't come here for that purpose."
"Then, what t' 'ell ye kickin' about?" Tom cried, and, glaring at the poet, he thundered fiercely:
"Set down!"
The man of song was so disconcerted by this unexpected onslaught, and by the roars of laughter which greeted Tom's final order, that he dropped into his seat, muttering incoherent protests, and the balloting for the executive council proceeded at once amid universal good humour.
A dozen names were proposed as candidates, and the four receiving the highest votes were declared duly elected.
The election resulted in the choice of Herman Wolf, Catherine, Barbara Bozenta, and Thomas Mooney.
Tom was amazed at his sudden promotion to high office, and insisted on resigning in favour of a man of better education.