"

CHAPTER XIV.

TAKING SIDES.

"I have been reading the Federalist," said Charlie one evening, as he
entered Nat's study, "and I am a pretty good Federalist." He looked very
pleasant as he spoke, and Nat replied in a similar tone and spirit,
without the least hesitation,

"I have been reading the life and writings of Jefferson, and I am a
thorough Democrat."

"A Democrat!" exclaimed Charlie, with a hearty laugh at the same time.
"Do you know what a Democrat is?"

"Perhaps I don't; but if anybody is not satisfied with such principles
as Jefferson advocated, he is not easily suited."

"But Jefferson was not a Democrat. The Federalist calls him a
Republican."

"I know that," replied Nat. "The Jefferson party were called Republicans
in their day; but they are called Democrats now. I don't like the name
so well, but still the name is nothing in reality,--the principles are
what we should look at."

"You don't like company very well, I should judge," said Charlie; "I
should want to belong to a party that could say _we_."

"What do you mean by that?" inquired Nat.

"Father said there wasn't but four democratic votes cast in town at the
last election; that is what I mean. I should think you would be lonesome
in such a party."

"If _I_ had been old enough," continued Nat, "there would have been
_five_ votes cast. I don't care whether the party is great or small, if
it is only right."

"I glory in your independence," replied Charlie, "but I am sorry you
have so poor a cause to advocate."

"I guess you don't know what the cause is, after all. Have you read the
life of Jefferson?"

"About as much as _you_ have read the Federalist," replied Charlie. "We
are probably about even on that score."

This interview occurred some time after Nat and Charlie entered the
factory, perhaps a year and a half or two years. Charlie really thought
he was in advance of his fellow-student on this subject. He did not know
that Nat had been reading at all upon political topics. Being himself
the greatest reader of the two, he knew that he read upon some subjects
to which Nat had given no attention. He was very much surprised to hear
him announce himself a Democrat, and particularly for the reason named.
It was about thirty years ago, when the followers of Jefferson were
first called Democrats. Many of them were unwilling to be called thus,
and for this reason they were slow to adopt the title. It was a fact
that only four