"How did it all happen?" said the Red Knight.
"Shall I tell the story by Congressional districts or by States?" said the Barrister.
"By States," said the Red Knight.
The Barrister cleared his throat and began:
I took a barrel into Ga.
("'Ga' being Georgia, of course," he explained.)
They jumped right up and yelled "Hurrah."
I took a trunkful into Fla.
They came to cheer from near and far.
I spent two trunkfuls in Ala.
They danced and sang: "You bet we are!"
I took a crateful into Ark.
They said, "Your reasons hit the mark."
"But this is all so very, very obscure," said Alice.
"It was intended to be," said the Barrister, and went on:
I sent to them and said "Endorse,"
They stood right up and said "Of course."
I wrote to them and said "Contest,"
They said, "Cash up, we'll do the rest."
I said to them "Remember now,"
They said, "Keep cool, we'll show you how."
They voted once, they voted twice,
They voted hard, to earn the price.
"But who are 'they?'" asked Alice. "Are there really such people?"
"Of course there are," said the Barrister. "I invented them myself," and he went on: