All those Elliotts and Crawfords and MacAllisters are dyed-in-the-wool politicians . They 're born Grit or Tory , as the case may be , and they live Grit or Tory , and they die Grit or Tory ; and what they 're going to do in heaven , where there 's probably no politics , is more than I can fathom . This Marshall Elliott was born a Grit . I 'm a Grit myself in moderation , but there 's no moderation about Marshall . Fifteen years ago there was a specially bitter general election . Marshall fought for his party tooth and nail . He was dead sure the Liberals would win -- so sure that he got up at a public meeting and vowed that he would n't shave his face or cut his hair until the Grits were in power . Well , they did n't go in -- and they 've never got in yet -- and you saw the result today for yourselves . Marshall stuck to his word . '' `` What does his wife think of it ? '' asked Anne . `` He 's a bachelor . But if he had a wife I reckon she could n't make him break that vow . That family of Elliotts has always been more stubborn than natteral . Marshall 's brother Alexander had a dog he set great store by , and when it died the man actilly wanted to have it buried in the graveyard , ` along with the other Christians , ' he said . Course , he was n't allowed to ; so he buried it just outside the graveyard fence , and never darkened the church door again . But Sundays he 'd drive his family to church and sit by that dog 's grave and read his Bible all the time service was going on . They say when he was dying he asked his wife to bury him beside the dog ; she was a meek little soul but she fired up at THAT . She said SHE was n't going to be buried beside no dog , and if he 'd rather have his last resting place beside the dog than beside her , jest to say so . Alexander Elliott was a stubborn mule , but he was fond of his wife , so he give in and said , ` Well , durn it , bury me where you please .
But when Gabriel 's trump blows I expect my dog to rise with the rest of us , for he had as much soul as any durned XXXXX or Crawford or MacAllister that ever strutted . '
Alexander Anne Christians Crawfords Elliott Elliotts Liberals MacAllisters Marshall Tory