The Birthday Party, page 9 by Oliver Optic
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ant little gentleman who had been to New York, was delighted with the action of the committee. He thought all the children could see what a very fine leader he would make, and that all of them would vote for him.
"What shall we do for votes, father?" asked Frank.
"We can easily manage that, Frank," replied Mr. Lee.
"We have no paper here."
"Listen to me a moment, children," continued Mr. Lee. "There are four boys to be voted for; and we will choose one leader first, and then the other.
"Those who want Henry Vernon for a leader will put a blade of grass in the hat which will be the ballot box; those who want Charley Green will put in a clover blossom; those who want David White will put in a maple leaf; and those who want to vote for Tommy Woggs will put in a--let me see--put in a dandelion flower."
The children laughed, for they thought the dandelion was just the thing for Master Woggs, who had been to New York.
One of the boys carried round Mr. Lee's hat, and it was found that Henry Vernon had the most votes; so he was declared to be the first leader.
"Humph!" said Tommy Woggs. "What does Henry Vernon know? He has never been to New York."
"But he lives in Boston," added Charley Green.
"Boston is nothing side of New York."
"I think Boston is a great place," replied Charley.
"That's because you have never been to New York," said Master Woggs. "They will, of course, all vote for me next time. If they do, I will show them how things are done in New York."
"Pooh!" exclaimed Charley, as he left the vain little man.
While all the children were wondering who would be the other leader, Flora was electioneering among them for her favorite candidate; that is, she was asking her friends to vote for the one she wanted. Who do you suppose it was? Master Woggs? No. It was David White.
The hat was passed round again, and when the votes were counted, there was only one single dandelion blossom found in the hat.
Tommy W