He said very little, but that little was sound, good sense, and, if he did not talk, he made others do so; and, after the men had argued over something, they often looked at Peter, rather than at their opponents, to see if he seemed to approve of their opinions.
"It's a fine way he has wid the b'ys," Dennis told his mother.

"He makes them feel that he's just the likes av them, an' that he wants their minds an' opinions to help him.

Shure, they'd rather smoke one pipe av his tobaccy than drink ten times at Gallagher's expense." After Peter had listened carefully and lengthily, he wrote to "The Honorable Lemuel Porter, Hudson, N.Y.," asking him if he could give him an hour's talk some day.

The reply was prompt, and told Peter that Porter would be glad to see him any time that should suit his convenience.

So Peter took a day off and ran up to Hudson.
"I am trying to find out for whom I should vote," he explained to Porter.