Rock pulled out a massive silver watch and looked at it.

"I got to go!" he said. "Let's boil this down! All present who want
Homer Hollopeter for postmaster, say so; contrary-minded? It's a vote!
We'll send the petition to Washin'ton. Next question is, who'll he have
for an assistant?"

There was a movement of chairs, as with fresh interest in the new topic.

"I was intendin' to speak on that p'int!" piped up a little man at the
end of the row, who had not spoken before.

"What do we need of an assistant? Homer Hollopeter could do the work
with one hand, except Christmas and New Years. There ain't room enough
in there to set a hen, anyway."

"Who wants to set hens in the post-office?" demanded Seth Weaver.
"There's cacklin' enough goes on there without that. I expect about the
size of it is, you'd like more room to set by the stove, without no eggs
to set on."

"I was only thinkin' of savin' the gov'ment!" said the little man,
uneasily.

"I reckon gov'ment's big enough to take care of itself!" said Seth
Weaver.

"There's allers been an assistant," said Salem Rock, briefly. "Question
is, who to have?"

At this moment a window-blind was drawn up, and the meek head of Mr.
Homer Hollopeter appeared at the open window.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen!" he said, nervously. A great content shone
in his mild brown eyes,--indeed, he must have heard every word that had
been spoken,--but he shuffled his feet and twitched the blind uneasily
after he had spoken.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Postmaster!" said Salem Rock, heartily.

"Congratulations, Home!" said Seth Weaver. The others nodded and grunted
approvingly.

"There's nothing official yet, you understand," Salem Rock added,
kindly; "but we've passed a vote, and the rest is only a question of
time."

"Only a question of time!" echoed Abram Cutter and John Peavey.

Mr. Homer drew himself up and settled his sky-blue necktie.

"Gentlemen," he said, his voice faltering a little at first, but gaining
strength as he went on, "I thank you for the honor you do me. I am
deeply sensible of it, and of the responsibility of the position I am
called upon to fill; to--occupy;--to--a--become a holder of."

"Have a lozenger, Home!" said Seth Weaver, encouragingly.

"I--am obliged to you, Seth; not any!" said Mr. Homer, slightly
flustered. "I was about to say that my abilities, such as they are,
shall be henceforth devoted to the service--to the--amelioration; to
the--mental, mo