given, I leave its working out to the reader.

The three great movements of the American farmer, herein used as
background--the Grange, the Alliance, and the People's party--seem to
me to be as legitimate subjects for fiction as any war or crusade. They
came in impulses with mightiest enthusiasms, they died out like waves
upon the beach; but the power which originated them did not die; it
will return in different forms again and again, so long as the love of
liberty and the hatred of injustice live in the hearts of men and
women.

What the next movement will be I do not know; but when it comes,
Bradley Talcott and Ida his wife will be foremost among its leaders.

HAMLIN GARLAND.

CHICAGO, _May, 1897._

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I.--THE GRANGE PICNIC 1
II.--THE DINNER UNDER THE OAK 17
III.--BRADLEY RESOLVES TO GO TO SCHOOL 26
IV.--TRIALS AT SCHOOL 38
V.--BRADLEY RISES TO ADDRESS THE CARTHAGINIANS 58
VI.--BRADLEY ATTENDS A CONVENTION 78
VII.--THE FARMERS OUST THE RING 87
VIII.--BRADLEY ATTACKS NETTIE'S FATHER 95
IX.--BRADLEY MEETS MRS. BROWN 102
X.--A COUNTRY POLLING PLACE 111
XI.--STUDYING WITH THE JUDGE 122
XII.--THE JUDGE ADVISES BRADLEY 129
XIII.--BRADLEY SEES IDA AGAIN 136
XIV.--BRADLEY CHANGES HIS POLITICS 158
XV.--HOME AGAIN WITH THE JUDGE 169
XVI.--NOMINATION 180
XVII.--ELECTION 195
XVIII.--DON'T BLOW OUT THE GAS 203
XIX.--CARGILL TAKES BRADLEY IN HAND 218
XX.--AT THE STATE HOUSE 232
XXI.--BRADLEY AND CARGILL CALL ON IDA 242
XXII.--THE JUDGE PLANS A NEW CAMPAIGN 253
XXIII.--ON TO WASHINGTON 265
XXIV.--RADBOURN SHOWS BRADLEY ABOUT THE