MR.

BRADLAUGH'S STRUGGLE.
And now dawned the year 1880, the memorable year in which commenced Mr.Bradlaugh's long Parliamentary battle.

After a long and bitter struggle he was elected, with Mr.Labouchere, as member for Northampton, at the general election, and so the prize so long fought for was won.

Shall I ever forget that election day, April 2, 1880?
How at four o'clock Mr.Bradlaugh came into the room at the "George", where his daughters and I were sitting, flung himself into a chair with, "There's nothing more to do; our last man is polled." Then the waiting for the declaration through the long, weary hours of suspense, till as the time drew near we knelt by the window listening--listening to the hoarse murmur of the crowd, knowing that presently there would be a roar of triumph or a howl of anger when the numbers were read out from the steps of the Town Hall.

And now silence sank, and we knew the moment had come, and we held our breath, and then--a roar, a wild roar of joy and exultation, cheer after cheer, ringing, throbbing, pealing, and then the mighty surge of the crowd bringing him back, their member at last, waving hats, handkerchiefs, a very madness of tumultuous delight, and the shrill strains of "Bradlaugh for Northampton!" with a ring of triumph in them they had never had before.