Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1848-12-13

"Ah" said he heaving up a great sigh from the
depths OF his inner man, "Fve had a tried time of
it," "
"And so have l." said his wife. "Thee's been
kicking and threshng about all night do wonder
what ails thee"
And well she might For her husband, a weto
/ do portly middle-aged gentleman, being blessed
with an easy conscience n genial tcmpbr and n
comfortable digestion, able to bear great deal
| OF sleep, and seldom varied note in the gamut of
/ his snorc from one years end to another
"a very remarkable exercise" soliloquized Amin
adab every ;"
! "Dear me what it z" inquired his wife
at must have been dream" said Aminaaab
"Oh is that all z" returned the good woman.
"rm glad it's nothing worse. But wha has thee
been dreaming about" uaf0
"its the strangest thing, Hannah thai t''se ever
heard Off said Annadab, settling himself slowly
back into his bed, "I'hee recoects Jones sent me
yesterday a sample of castings from the Foundry
Well, thought opened the box and found in it a
little Iron man, in regimentas, with his sword by
/ his side and cooked hat on, looking very much
like the picture in the transparency over neighbor
/ ONeaPs oyster cellar, across the way | thought it
rather out of place for Jones TO furnish me with
such sample, as should not feel easy to show il
TO my customers, Oh account OF its warlike APPEAR
ance. However, as the work was well done. took
the little Image and set him up the table, against
! the wall and, sitting down opposite, began TO
think over my business concerns, calculating how
much they would increase in profit in case a Tariff
man should be chosen Our ruler for the next four
years Thee knows am not in favor of choosing
men of blood and strife to bear rule i'm the land b
1t nevertheless seems proper to consider all the cir
cnmstances in the case and as one or the other of
the candidates of the two great parties must be clo-
sem TO take the least Of tco eUls. All at once heard
SMART quick tapping on the table, and, looking up
there stood the little Iron Man close at my elbow
wnking and chuckling. That's right Amnadab
said he, clapping his lille metal hands together till
he rang all over like bell, Take the least of two
evils His voice had sharp, clear, lnging sound
like that Of silver dollars falling into i'll. 1t start
led me so that woke up but, finding it only dream
presently fell asleep again. Then thought was
down in the exchange, talking with neighbor Lump
kns about the election and the tariff. Il want u
change in the Administration, but | can't vote for
military chieltain,' said neighbor Lumpkins 'as
look upon it unbecoming Christian people to elect
men of blood for their rulers q dout know said
!, what objection thee can have TO a fighting man.
for thee's no Friend, and hasn't any conscientious
scruples against military matters. For my own
part do not take much interest in politics. and
never attended a caucus in my life, believing it best
10 keep very much in the quiet, and avoid. as far as
possible, all letting and hndering things; but there
may be cases where military may be voted
for, choice of evils, and means of promo
ting the prosperity OF the coHnry, in business
ters.' what! said neighbor Lumpkins, 'are you
going to vote for man whose whole life has been
spent in killing people 2 This vexed me little,
good pfincE"eFoo IAN amp thatlie 49,. - be
sorry that he had thrown AWAY his vote 1'Siead of
using it discreety. why, there's the Iron business,
said but just then heard claer beside me-
and looking round, there was the little Iron Soldier
clappng his hands in great glee. chats it, Amina-
dab said he. business first, conscience afterwards
Keep up the price of Iron with Peace if YOU cam
but keep it up at any rate This walked me again
in good deal of trouble but remembering that it
is said that dreams come of the multitude of bust
ness once more composed myself to sleep"
"Well; what happened next Z" asked his wife,
"Why thought was in the Westinghouse, sit
ting on the seat as usual. tried hard to settle my
mind down into quiet and humble state, but some
how the cares of the world got uppernost; and be-
fore was well aware Of it, was far gone in a cal
culaton of the chances of election, and the prob
able rise in the price of iron in the event of the
choice of President favorable to a High Tariff
Rap! rap! went something the floor. | opened
my eyes, and there was the little Image red hot,
if just ont of the furnace, dancing and chuckng
and capping 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
he taken care of in the next Peace and Poyer5,
or War and Money. It's choice of evils, at best and
here's Scripture to decide the matier "Be not
righteous over much" Then the wicked looking
little Image twisted his hot lips and ieeied at me
with his blazing eyes, and chuckled and laughed
with noise exactly as if a bag of dollars had been
pushed out upon the Westinghouse floor. This
walked me just now, in such fright. wish thee
would tell me, Hannah, what thee can make of these
three dreams :"
at don't need a Daniel to interpret them" an
swercd Hannah. s"'rhees been thinking of voting
tomorrow for a wicked old soldier, because thee
cares for thy Iron business than for thy testi-
mony against wars and fightings. | don't a bit won
der at thy seeing the Iron Soldier thee tells of; and
if thee votes Tomorrow for Man of Blood it
wouldn't be strange if he should haunt Tree all thy
life"
Aminadab lvison was silent, for, his conscience
spoke in the words of his wife. He SLEPT no more
That night and rose up in the morning wiser and
better
When he went forth to his place of business he |
saw the crowds hurrying to and fro; there were
banners flying the streets, huge pacards were
on the walls, and he heard all about him the hustle
of the Great Election
"Friend lvison," said a ed-iaced lawyer, almost |
breahess with his hurry, "nore money is needed
in the Second Ward Committees are doing
great work there. What shall put you down for ?
Fifty dollars? If carry the election your proper
ty will rise twenty per cent Let me see! you are
in the Iron business | think z"
Aminadab thought of the little Iron Soldier of his /
dream and excused himself Presently Bank Di- |
rector came tearing into his Office
slave you voted YET Mr. lyison ? It's time TO get
your in. | wonder you should be in your office
now No business has so much at stake in this E.
lection as yours"
81 don't think | should feel entirely easy to vote
for the candidate" said Aminadab.
"Mr Ivison," said the Bank Director, 81 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 be-
tween him and a worse man, the best you can do is
10 choose the least of two evils"
"Just so the little Iron Man sad," thought Amina-
dab "Get the ebehind me- Satan~ "No, neighbor
Discount" said he "l'ye made up my mind / see
no warrant for choosing evil at all can't vote for
that man.
every WELL" said the Director, starting 10 leave
the room, "you can do you please but if we are |
defeated through the il-tmed scruples of yourself