"Madam," he said In his most ingratiating way, "may I kiss these
beautiful children?"

"Certainly, sir," the lady answered demurely.

"They are lovely darlings," said the campaigner after he had finished
the eleventh. "I have seldom seen more beautiful babies. Are they
all yours, marm?"

The lady blushed deeply.

"Of course they are--the sweet little treasures," he went on. "From
whom else, marm, could they have inherited these limpid eyes, these
rosy cheeks, these profuse curls, these comely figures and these
musical voices?"

The lady continued blushing.

"By-the-way, marm," said the statesman, "may I bother you to tell your
estimable husband that ------, the Republican candidate for Governor,
called upon him this evening?"

"I beg your pardon," said the lady, "I have no husband."

"But these children, madam--you surely are not a widow ?"

"I fear you were mistaken, sir, when you first came up. These are not
my children. This is an orphan asylum!"