"I'm a cousin of Mr.Forbes，up at Elmhurst，you know.He's running for a political of？ce，so as to do some good for his county and district，and I've come to see if you'll help meget votes for him.""Law sakes，child！"exclaimed Mrs.Simmons，"I ain't got nuthin'to do with politics.""No；but you've got a lot to do with Mr.Simmons，and that's where we need your help.You see，Mr.Forbes thinks Mr.Simmons is one of the most important men in this district，and he's very anxious to win his vote.""Why don't you see Dan，then？He's out'n the rye ？eld，"replied the woman.
"It's because I'm only a girl，and he wouldn't listen to me，"replied Louise，sweetly."But he takes your advice about everything，I hear—""He don't take it as often as he orter，don't Dan，"interrupted Mrs.Simmons，pausing to feel whether her iron was hot.
"Perhaps not，"agreed Louise；"but in important things，such as this，he's sure to listen to you；and we women must stick together if we want to win this election.""But I don't know nothin'about it，"protested Mrs.
Simmons；"an'I don't believe Dan does."
"You don't need to know much，Mrs.Simmons，"replied the girl."What a pretty baby that is！All you need do is to tell Dan he must vote for Mr.Forbes，and see that he agrees to do so.""Why？"was the pointed query.
"Well，there are several reasons.One is that Mr.Hopkins—Mr.Erastus Hopkins，you know，is the other candidate，and a person must vote for either one or the otherof them.""Dan's a friend o''Rastus，"said the woman，thoughtfully."I seen 'em talkin'together the other day.""But this isn't a matter of friendship；it's business，andMr.Forbes is very anxious to have your husband with him.If Mr.Forbes is elected it means lighter taxes，better roads and good schools.If Mr.Hopkins is elected it does not mean anything good except for Mr.Hopkins.""I guess you're right about that，"laughed the woman."'Rastdon't let much get away from him.""You're very clever，Mrs.Simmons.You have discovered the fact without being told.""Oh，I know 'Rast Hopkins，an'so does Dan.""Then I can depend on you to help us？"asked the girl，patting the tousleda head of a little girl who stood by staring at "the pretty lady.""I'll talk to him，but I dunnob what good it'll do，"saidMrs.Simmons，thoughtfully.
"I know.He won't refuse to do what you ask him，for a man always listens to his wife when he knows she's right.You'll win，Mrs.Simmons，and I want to thank you for saving the election for us.If we get Mr.Simmons on our side I believe we'll be sure to defeat Hopkins.""Oh，I'll do what I kin，"was the ready promise，andafter a few more remarks about the children and the neatness ofthe house，Louise took her leave.
"Will she win him over？"asked the girl of Mr.Watson，when they were jogging on to the next homestead.
"I really can't say，my dear，"replied the old lawyer，thoughtfully；"but I imagine she'll try to，and if Dan doesn't give in Mrs.Simmons will probably make his life miserable for a time.You ？attered them both outrageously；but that will do no harm."And so it went on throughout the day.Sometimes the farmer himself was around the house，and then they held a sort of conference；Louise asked his advice about the best way to win votes，and said she depended a great deal upon his judgment.She never asked a man which side he favored，but took it for granted that he was anxious to support Mr.Forbes；and this subtle ？attery was so acceptable that not one declared outright that he was for Hopkins，whatever his private views might have been.
When evening came and they had arrived at Elmhurst again，Louise was enthusiastic over her work of the day，and had many amusing tales to tell of her experiences.
"How many votes did you win？"asked Uncle John，smiling at her.
"I can't say，"she replied；"but I didn't lose any.If one sows plenty of seed，some of it is bound to sprouta.""We can tell better after election，"said Mr.Watson."ButI'm satis？ed that this is the right sort of work，Mr.Merrick，to get results.""So am I，"returned Uncle John heartily."Are you willingto keep it up，Louise？""Of course！"she exclaimed."We start again bright and early tomorrow morning."