[Illustration: JOSIAH BEING APPROACHED.] “Wall,” he said, “it might be a foreign minister, and it might be uncle Nate Gowdey.” He thought it wouldn't be best to tell who it was. “But,” says he, “I am bound to be senator. Josiah Allen, M.C., will probable be wrote on my letters before another fall. I am bound to run.” Says I coldly, “You know you can't run. You are as lame as you can be. You have got the rheumatiz the worst kind.” Says he, “I mean runnin' with political legs--and I do want to be a senator, Samantha. I want to, like a dog, I want the money there is in it, and I want the honor. You know they have elected me path-master, but I hain't a goin' to accept it. I tell you, when anybody gets into political life, ambition rousts up in 'em: path-master don't satisfy me. I want to be senator: I want to, like a dog. And I don't lay out to tackle the job as Elburtus did, and act too good.” “No!” says I sternly. “There hain't no danger of your bein' too good.” “No: I have laid my plans, and laid 'em careful. The relation on your side was too willin', and too clever. And witnessin' his campaign has learnt me some deep lessons. I watched the rocks he hit aginst; and I have laid my plans, and laid 'em careful. I am going to act offish. I feel that offishness is my strong holt--and endearin' myself to the masses. Educatin' public sentiment up to lovin' me, and urgin' me not to be so offish, and to obleege 'em by takin' a office--them is my 2 strong holts. If I can only hang back, and act onwillin', and get the masses fierce to elect me--why, I'm made. And then, I've got a plan in my head.” I groaned, in spite of myself. “I have got a plan in my head, that, if every other plan fails, will elect me in spite of the old Harry.” Oh! how that oath grated against my nerve! And how I hung back from this idee! I am one that looks ahead. And I says in firm tones,-- “You never would get the nomination, Josiah Allen! And if you did, you never would be elected.” “Oh, yes, I should!” says he. But he continued dreamily, “There would have to be considerable wire-pullin'.” “Where would the wires be?” says I sternly. “And who would pull 'em?” “Oh, most anywhere!” says he, lookin' dreamily up onto the kitchen ceilin', as if wires wus liable to be let down anywhere through the plasterin'. Says I, “Should you have to go to pullin' wires?” “Of course I should,” says he. “Wall,” says I, “you may as well make up your mind in the first ont, that I hain't goin' to give my consent to have you go into any thing dangerous. I hain't goin' to have you break your neck, at your age.” Says he, “I don't know but my age is as good a age to break my neck in as any other. I never sot any particular age to break my neck in.”