Tales and Sketches | Page 2

again. Then I thought I was down in the
Exchange, talking with neighbor Simkins about the election and the
tariff. 'I want a change in the administration, but I can't vote for a
military chieftain,' said neighbor Simkins, 'as I look upon it
unbecoming a Christian people to elect men of blood for their rulers.' 'I
don't know,' said I, 'what objection thee can have to a fighting man; for
thee 's no Friend, and has n't any conscientious scruples against military
matters. For my own part, I do not take much interest in politics, and
never attended a caucus in my life, believing it best to keep very much
in the quiet, and avoid, as far as possible, all letting and hindering

things; but there may be cases where a military man may be voted for
as a choice of evils, and as a means of promoting the prosperity of the
country in business matters.' 'What!' said neighbor Simkins, 'are you
going to vote for a man whose whole life has been spent in killing
people?' This vexed me a little, and I told him there was such a thing as
carrying a good principle too far, and that he night live to be sorry that
he had thrown away his vote, instead of using it discreetly. 'Why,
there's the iron business,' said I; but just then I heard a clatter beside me,
and, looking round, there was the little iron soldier clapping his hands
in great glee. 'That's it, Aminadab!' said he; 'business first, conscience
afterwards! Keep up the price of iron with peace if you can, but keep it
up at any rate.' This waked me again in a good deal of trouble; but,
remembering that it is said that 'dreams come of the multitude of
business,' I once more composed myself to sleep."
"Well, what happened next?" asked his wife.
"Why, I thought I was in the meeting-house, sitting on the facing-seat
as usual. I tried hard to settle my mind down into a quiet and humble
state; but somehow the cares of the world got uppermost, and, before I
was well aware of it, I was far gone in a calculation of the chances of
the election, and the probable rise in the price of iron in the event of the
choice of a President favorable to a high tariff. Rap, tap, went
something on the floor. I opened my eyes, and there was the little
image, red-hot, as if just out of the furnace, dancing, and chuckling, and
clapping his hands. 'That's right, Aminadab!' said he; 'go on as you
have begun; take care of yourself in this world, and I'll promise you
you'll be taken care of in the next. Peace and poverty, or war and
money. It's a choice of evils at best; and here's Scripture to decide the
matter: "Be not righteous overmuch."' Then the wicked-looking little
image twisted his hot lips, and leered at me with his blazing eyes, and
chuckled and laughed with a noise exactly as if a bag of dollars had
been poured out upon the meeting-house floor. This waked me just now
in such a fright. I wish thee would tell me, Hannah, what thee can make
of these three dreams?"
"It don't need a Daniel to interpret them," answered Hannah. "Thee 's
been thinking of voting for a wicked old soldier, because thee cares
more for thy iron business than for thy testimony against wars and
fightings. I don't a bit wonder at thy seeing the iron soldier thee tells of;

and if thee votes to-morrow for a man of blood, it wouldn't be strange if
he should haunt thee all thy life."
Aminadab Ivison was silent, for his conscience spoke in the words of
his wife. He slept no more that night, and rose up in the morning a
wiser and better man.
When he went forth to his place of business he saw the crowds hurrying
to and fro; there were banners flying across the streets, huge placards
were on the walls, and he heard all about him the bustle of the great
election.
"Friend Ivison," said a red-faced lawyer, almost breathless with his
hurry, "more money is needed in the second ward; our committees are
doing a great work there. What shall I put you down for? Fifty dollars?
If we carry the election, your property will rise twenty per cent. Let me
see; you are in the iron business, I think?"
Aminadab thought of the little iron soldier of his dream, and excused
himself. Presently a bank director came tearing into his office.
"Have you voted yet, Mr. Ivison? It 's time to get your vote in. I wonder
you should be in your office now. No business has so much at stake