They seemed to realize that some of the wisdom of the
fathers in State politics, of the patriarchs with whom he had trained,
had fallen to him by natural inheritance. But though he listened
patiently, he said but little. Harlan noticed, however, that he did take
especial pains to deprecate some of the suppressive movements advised by
the more hot-headed managers.
"Let things swing as they're going," he advised. "She'll take care of
herself, give her free run right now. But you can't pinch up a line gale
by putting a clothespin on the nose of the tempest. Let her snort! Brace
the party and face it like a hitching--post! Don't try to choke off Arba
Spinney. Let him froth."
His grandfather was so insistent on this point that Harlan took notice
of its frequent repetition and the earnestness with which it was
pressed. He began to understand that some plan lay back of his
grandfather's silence to him and to others as to his private reasons for
this appeal. He began to take lively interest in the ramifications of
practical politics as played by the hand of a master.
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