eet to avoid speaking to him, and young friends,
who once would have felt honoured by a word, walked as close before or
behind him as possible that he might hear {149} their insults. He was
getting old; during his labours in 1866 in England bronchitis had
fastened on him; and now the love and trust of the people--that which
had been the breath of his nostrils--failed him utterly.

Having accepted Cabinet rank, he had to resign his seat in Hants
county, and to appeal to his constituents for re-election. The result
was the fiercest fight in the history of the province. Money was
openly lavished by both sides. Howe fought well, but his health gave
way, and for the first time in his life his buoyancy and courage
deserted him. Finally, at a little village where he and a prominent
opponent were to face each other, Howe broke down, and sent a friend to
ask his antagonist to postpone the meeting.

'Why must it be postponed?' was the reply.

'Sir, to speak to-night would kill Mr Howe.'

'Damn him! that's what we want,' was the fierce reply, symbolic of the
merciless spirit of the contest.

Howe dragged himself to the platform, too ill to stand. Eventually he
gained his election, but his health was shattered, and he was never the
old Joe Howe again.

Then came the end. In the Cabinet he was not a success. He
represented a small {150} province with few votes, and even so he
shared the leadership with Tupper. To Sir John Macdonald, too intent
on a few great ends to have any place for unprofitable sentiment, the
weary Titan was of less account than half a dozen Quebec or Ontario
members with less than one-tenth of his ability, but with twice the
number of votes in their control. Howe chafed under Macdonald's
drastic though kindly sway, and by impetuous outbreaks more than once
got the government into trouble. Late in 1869 he was sent to the Red
River Settlement, in the hope of smoothing out the difficulties there.
He did no good, still further weakened his health, and on his return
was involved in a bitter quarrel with one of his colleagues, the Hon.
William M'Dougall.

In 1872 he shared with Tupper the triumph of carrying in favour of the
Conservative party eighteen of the nineteen seats in Nova Scotia, and
of finally silencing the cry of repeal. In May 1873 his failing health
led to his being appointed lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia. He died
suddenly on the 1st of June 1873.

Here, with a few words, we c