Tales and Sketches | Page 3

in
this election as yours."
"I don't think I should feel entirely easy to vote for the candidate," said
Aminadab.
"Mr. Ivison," said the bank director, "I always took you to be a shrewd,
sensible man, taking men and things as they are. The candidate may not
be all you could wish for; but when the question is between him and a
worse man, the best you can do is to choose the least of the two evils."
"Just so the little iron man said," thought Aminadab. "'Get thee behind
me, Satan!' No, neighbor Discount," said he, "I've made up my mind. I
see no warrant for choosing evil at all. I can't vote for that man."
"Very well," said the director, starting to leave the room; "you can do
as you please; but if we are defeated through the ill-timed scruples of
yourself and others, and your business pinches in consequence, you
need n't expect us to help men who won't help themselves. Good day,
sir."
Aminadab sighed heavily, and his heart sank within him; but he
thought of his dream, and remained steadfast. Presently he heard heavy
steps and the tapping of a cane on the stairs; and as the door opened he
saw the drab surtout of the worthy and much-esteemed friend who sat

beside him at the head of the meeting.
"How's thee do, Aminadab?" said he. "Thee's voted, I suppose?"
"No, Jacob," said he; "I don't like the candidate. I can't see my way
clear to vote for a warrior."
"Well, but thee does n't vote for him because he is a warrior,
Aminadab," argued the other; "thee votes for him as a tariff man and an
encourager of home industry. I don't like his wars and fightings better
than thee does; but I'm told he's an honest man, and that he disapproves
of war in the abstract, although he has been brought up to the business.
If thee feels tender about the matter, I don't like to urge thee; but it
really seems to me thee had better vote. Times have been rather hard,
thou knows; and if by voting at this election we can make business
matters easier, I don't see how we can justify ourselves in staying at
home. Thou knows we have a command to be diligent in business as
well as fervent in spirit, and that the Apostle accounted him who
provided not for his own household worse than an infidel. I think it
important to maintain on all proper occasions our Gospel testimony
against wars and fightings; but there is such a thing as going to
extremes, thou knows, and becoming over-scrupulous, as I think thou
art in this case. It is said, thou knows, in Ecclesiastes, 'Be not righteous
overmuch: why shouldst thou destroy thyself?'"
"Ah," said Aminadab to himself, "that's what the little iron soldier said
in meeting." So he was strengthened in his resolution, and the
persuasions of his friend were lost upon him.
At night Aminadab sat by his parlor fire, comfortable alike in his inner
and his outer man. "Well, Hannah," said he, "I've taken thy advice. I
did n't vote for the great fighter to-day."
"I'm glad of it," said the good woman, "and I dare say thee feels the
better for it."
Aminadab Ivison slept soundly that night, and saw no more of the little
iron soldier.

PASSACONAWAY.
[1833.]
I know not, I ask not, what guilt's in thy heart, But I feel that I love thee,
whatever thou art. Moor.
THE township of Haverhill, on the Merrimac, contained, in the autumn

of 1641, the second year of its settlement, but six dwelling-houses,
situated near each other, on the site of the present village. They were
hastily constructed of rude logs, small and inconvenient, but one
remove from the habitations of the native dwellers of the wilderness.
Around each a small opening had been made through the thick forest,
down to the margin of the river, where, amidst the charred and frequent
stumps and fragments of fallen trees, the first attempts at cultivation
had been made. A few small patches of Indian corn, which had now
nearly reached maturity, exhibited their thick ears and tasselled stalks,
bleached by the frost and sunshine; and, here and there a spot of yellow
stubble, still lingering among the rough incumbrances of the soil, told
where a scanty crop of common English grain had been recently
gathered. Traces of some of the earlier vegetables were perceptible, the
melon, the pea, and the bean. The pumpkin lay ripening on its frosted
vines, its sunny side already changed to a bright golden color; and the
turnip spread out its green mat of leaves in defiance of the season.
Everything around realized the vivid picture of Bryant's Emigrant, who:
"Hewed