"I was kind of cal'latin' to go there myself," he observed, regretfully.

"Thoph Newcomb and Cap'n Jed Dean and the rest of us was havin' a talk on politics last night up there and 'twas mighty interestin'.

Old Dean had Thoph pretty well out of the race when I hauled alongside, but when I got into the argument 'twas different.
'What's goin' to become of the laborin' men of this country if you have free trade ?' I says.

Dean had to give in that he didn't know.

'Might have to let their wives support 'em,' he says, pompous as ever.