This eBook was produced by David Widger
AMINADAB IVISON started up in his bed. The great clock at the head ofthe staircase, an old and respected heirloom of the family, struck one.
"Ah," said he, heaving up a great sigh from the depths of his inner man,
"I've had a tried time of it."
"And so have I," said the wife. "Thee's been kicking and threshingabout all night. I do wonder what ails thee."
And well she might; for her husband, a well-to-do, portly, middle-agedgentleman, being blessed with an easy conscience, a genial temper, and acomfortable digestion, was able to bear a great deal of sleep, andseldom varied a note in the gamut of his snore from one year's end toanother.
"A very remarkable exercise," soliloquized Aminadab; "very."
"Dear me! what was it?" inquired his wife.
"It must have been a dream," said Aminadab.
"Oh, is that all?" returned the good woman. "I'm glad it's nothingworse. But what has thee been dreaming about?"
"It's the strangest thing, Hannah, that thee ever heard of," saidAminadab, settling himself slowly back into his bed. Thee recollectsJones sent me yesterday a sample of castings from the foundry. Well, Ithought I opened the box and found in it a little iron man, inregimentals; with his sword by his side and a cocked hat on, lookingvery much like the picture in the transparency over neighbor O'Neal'soyster-cellar across the way. I thought it rather out of place forJones to furnish me with such a sample, as I should not feel easy toshow it to my customers, on account of its warlike appearance. However,as the work was well done, I took the little image and set him up on thetable, against the wall; and, sitting down opposite, I began to thinkover my business concerns, calculating how much they would increase inprofit in case a tariff man should be chosen our ruler for the next fouryears. Thee knows I am not in favor of choosing men of blood and strifeto bear rule in the land: but it nevertheless seems proper to considerall the circumstances in this case, and, as one or the other of thecandidates of the two great parties must be chosen, to take the least oftwo evils. All at once I heard a smart, quick tapping on the table;and, looking up, there stood the little iron man close at my elbow,winking and chuckling. 'That's right, Aminadab!' said he, clapping hislittle metal hands together till he rang over like a bell, 'take theleast of two evils.' His voice had a sharp, clear, jingling sound, likethat of silver dollars falling into a till. It startled me so that Iwoke up, but finding it only a dream presently fell asleep again. ThenI thought I was down in the Exchange, talking with neighbor Simkinsabout the election and the tariff. 'I want a change in theadministration, but I can't vote for a