been lackin' ain't so much the money as the spirit, and it's took a
woman to make us find it out."

Back from the windows came a clapping of hands, from the doors a
stamping of feet, and in the enforced pause Mr. Milligan wiped his
shining face and swallowed hastily from the glass of water on the table.

"In my poor way, members of the Yorkburg Council," he began again--
this time fingers interlaced and resting on his breast--"in my poor way
I am here to present this lady to you. She don't need to be introduced
to man, woman, or child in this community. She used to live here, and
when she went away something left Yorkburg that everybody wished
would come back. 'Twas a sort of sunshine. We didn't think she'd ever
find the way back. There was a heap to make her forget, but she didn't
forget. Love found the way, and she's back. Since she left she's seen a
lot of life. She's been around the world, in the big cities and the
little cities, and she's kept her eyes open and her mind open and her
heart open, and there's much she could tell about what's wrong with us,
but that ain't her way. She is here to-night to bring some matters to
your attention which I hope you will consider with intelligence and
appreciation, and just here I'd like to say that even if I didn't know
what they were I would say in advance, 'You could put my vote down for
'em, Mr. Clerk.' I ain't saying all women have business sense. They
ain't got it, but when they have, it's the far-seeingest sense on earth,
and there ain't a star in the heavens a man can't climb to when a woman
of that kind gives him a lift!"

Again a shuffle of feet, but Mr. Chinn's gavel came down heavily. He
turned in his chair and looked first at Mr. Milligan and then at the
clock.