“What am I talkin about?” says he. “What am I talkin about? Betsy, Ime talkin about Coxey—Coxey! Theyve went and nominated him for governor, and he’ll stomp all the grass out of the State of Ohio if the fences haint built higher and stronger. “You can see now what them Populists are a bringin us to. “You can see now what you git for readin them Populist books and papers. “You git to carry rails, and set stakes, and put on riders, and——” I had sot down and went to churnin. When Jobe heerd the sound of that dasher he stopped huntin for them overhalls, and, turnin to me with fire in his eyes, says, says he: “Haint you a goin to help build that fence?” I stopped churnin, and, turnin round facin him, with my hands on my knees, says I: [Illustration: “I had sot down and went to churnin.”] “Jobe Gaskins, if you and your likes would begin to build up your common sense and good judgment with sich ideas as Coxey’s ‘county bonds without interest,’ and Coxey’s plan of makin roads and givin work to idle men like yourself—I say, if you and your likes would build up your common sense with some sich ideas instid of votin the strait ticket with your eyes shet, you wouldent have to lose so much time in the future a borrowin interest money and workin to pay taxes. Yes, if you and your likes had been a votin for some sich ideas for years past instid of votin for a lot of office-seekin canderdates (who never had a idea), you wouldent be $1,800 in debt to-day; you wouldent be a sellin wheat for sixty cents a bushel and wool for fifteen cents a pound; you wouldent be a givin all you raise every year for interest and taxes. “So my advice to you, Jobe Gaskins, is for you and your likes to open gaps in your wall of prejudice and let Coxey and his ideas in, instid of buildin higher fences around your medders to keep him out. “Yes, put up a notice invitin Mr. Coxey to come in and plant his ideas all over your field, and tromp them in if need be. “Do this, and I think when you go to vote hereafter you will see crops a growin you haint seen before.” Jobe had been sidelin toward the door while I was speakin, and, reachin it, he went out a mutterin somethin about dyin before he would change; that he wouldent let Coxey into his medder if it would cause enough hay to grow next year to pay off the $1,800 mortgage that’s on our farm. I went on a finishin my churnin so as to have the butter to trade for some groceries when the huckster comes around. It was lovely butter. I was tempted to use some of it for dinner, but dident dare, for fear I wouldent have enough left to git what we actually need. [Illustration] CHAPTER XXVI. THE BLOOMERS. I MADE me a pair of Dimicratic bloomers day before yisterday, and Jobe he is mad. Ive been a waitin to make me a pair all summer, but put off doin so till arter the Dimicratic State convention. As soon as I heerd from that convention I sot to work and made them.