ckens and squirrels, and
vegetables of corn, tomatoes, onions, cabbage and potatoes. The boiling
of this delicious soup was begun the night before. Darkies were stirring
the great kettles as "Turkle" went quietly around, adding some new
ingredient here and there. Others could make burgoo--a certain kind, but
not the Thompkins kind, for there was a lusciousness about his burgoo
that filled you with a satisfaction never known before--a something that
soothed your aching pangs--something that seemed to put your heart at
rest with all the world, and recall the words, "Fate cannot harm me; I
have dined to-day."

Above the smoke of the kettles, the sky was blue and dreamy; the river
was winding like a thread of silver through the quiet valley. The long
table of rough boards, with the row of tin cups and great stacks of
bread, was an inviting spectacle. The farmers stood around in groups,
discussing political questions and cropping prospects until "Turkle"
Thompkins announced dinner. Then came a merry clattering of tin cups as
"Turkle" came by with buckets of burgoo, dipping it out with a long
ladle. What an appetite each individual seemed to develop for this
open-air repast. After the dinner, preparations were made for the
speaking. The spot selected for the speaking was below the grove, where
an elm stump answered for a platform.

The candidates for the county offices were called for, and each one made
a short talk, asking the support of the voters. Doctor Hissong's name
was shouted. Unbuttoning his long blue coat, he drew forth a large red
silk handkerchief and wiped the gathering beads of perspiration from
his forehead. Pulling down his black velvet vest, he made a courtly bow,
took a drink of water from a gourd and began:

"Gentlemen and fellow citizens--It gives me transcendent happiness and
unalloyed pleasure to lend my humble presence to this sublime and
significant occasion, and I cannot permit this occasion to pass without
availing myself of the opportunity that this magnificent and intelligent
audience affords of presenting myself to you as the candidate for the
democratic nomination for the office of representative in the Kentucky
Legislature. It has been the pride of my life to proclaim myself as a
patriot; that I am a descendent of one who helped to make this country
free--'decori decus addit avoto,' and I have felt that the realization
of this patriotism and its dream that has clung to me through life,
would