one woman as candidates for
the Assembly. That woman was--as I need hardly say, for the world knows
it--myself. I had not solicited the honor, and therefore could not
refuse, especially as my daughter Melissa was then old enough to
keep house in my absence. No woman had applied for the nomination for
Sheriff, but there were seventeen schoolmistresses anxious for the
office of County Treasurer. The only other nomination given to the
women, however, was that of Director (or rather, Directress) of the
Poor, which was conferred on Mrs. Bassett, wife of a clergyman.

Mr. Strongitharm insisted that I should, in some wise, prepare
myself for my new duties, by reading various political works, and I
conscientiously tried to do so--but, dear me! it was much more of a task
than I supposed. We had all read the debate on our bill, of course; but
I always skipped the dry, stupid stuff about the tariff, and finance,
and stay laws and exemption laws, and railroad company squabbles; and
for the life of me I can't see, to this day, what connection there is
between these things and Women's Rights. But, as I said, I did my best,
with the help of Webster's Dictionary; although the further I went the
less I liked it.

As election-day drew nearer, our prospects looked brighter. The
Republican ticket, under the editorial head of the "Burroak Banner,"
with my name and Mrs. Bassett's among the men's, was such an evidence,
that many women, notably opposed to the cause, said: "We didn't want the
right, but since we have it, we shall make use of it." This was exactly
what Mrs. Whiston had foretold. We estimated that--taking the
County tickets all over the State--we had about one-twentieth of the
Republican, and one-fiftieth of the Democratic, nominations. This was
far from being our due, but still it was a good beginning.

My husband insisted that I should go very early to the polls. I could
scarcely restrain a tear of emotion as I gave my first ballot into the
hands of the judges. There were not a dozen persons present, and the
act did not produce the sensation which I expected. One man cried
out: "Three cheers for our Assemblywoman!" and they gave them; and I
thereupon returned home in the best spirits. I devoted the rest of the
day to relieving poorer women, who could not have spared the time to
vote, if I had not, meanwhile, looked after their children. The last
was Nancy Black, the shoemaker's wife in our street, who kept me waiting
upon he