The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-05-07

and incapable of doing wrong. l beg she
may be permitted to return to her friends,
in Philadelphia, or come to me, as she
may choose; from your Excelency have
no fears on her account, but sde may suf-
fer from the mistaken futry of the coun-
try"
His fears for his wife were groundless.
There was no heart or hand in all Ameri-
ca base enough to injure his guiltless wife.
She was deservedly popular everywhere.
The officers treated her with the utmost
civility and kindness, and nowhere is
Washington's humanity shown more con-
spicuously than in a brief note 10 her
wher he saw that the fugitive was really
beyond his reach. He assured her that
he had done everything in his power for
the arrest of her husband, but not having
succeeded, he experienced a pleasure in in
forming her of his safety. Who but a
Washington could have penned such a
note in such an hour. How devoid of
honor must Benedict Arnold have become
to have forsaken such a chiefLain.
Not long did Mrs. Arnold remain at
West Point Washington gave her a
passport and she went TO her friends in
Philadelphia. She had left them but n
short time before, bright and happy; she
now came to them, stricken with grief
and weary of life. Our forests we're
clothed in their gorgeous Indian summer
robes, but little needed the weary travel
Ter the beauties which Nature had thrown
around so lavishly. She nestled her fair
head once more in the bosom of her pa
rents, resolving to live and die in the home
of her childhood, with those whom she
could trust-who had never yet deceived
her. She could no longer reverence or
respect her husband; he had blasted eve
ry hope of her life, and could she love him
still? Ask those who, like her, had trust
ed all their happiness TO the keeping Of
one whom they regarded as little less than
an angel, and who have been likewise de-
ceived. Alas for woman's heart in such
an hour of trial, when the undisguised
truth is fully revealed.
But Mrs. Arnold was denied the only
boon she craved. 1t was not allowed her
to remain with her friends. The Execu-
tive Council of Pennsylvania believed her
to be a participant in her husbands guilt,
and ordered her 10 leave the State within
fourteen days, and never return during the
war; Her friends exerted themselves to
the utmost to revoke the decree. She
gave them her word and written promise
not to write to her husband, nor receive
any letters from him, without showing
them TO the Council. But they were in
exorable. There was no alternative, then,
but to join her husband in New York.
Again she took her pilgrim staff, and
went forth from her parental roof passing
through villages where the name of Ben
edict Arnold was hissed and by-word
in every mouth, and his effigy was being
dragged through the streets and burned
at the stake, but no one harmed her.
She arrived at night-fall were such prepa-
rations were going on to burn him in eff
figy, but the people learned that she was
in their midst, and they quietly went on
their way, waiting for another evening to
display their vengeance, when the weary
sojourner had passed on in peace.
AT the close o. the war she accompan-
led her husband to England, sorrowful
and changed woman. She never regain
ed her former cheerfulness, but we are told
that her charms and virtues won her sym-
pathy and friends and helped to sustain
the position of her husband, who was
generally sighted and sometimes insulted.
She did not feel at home in the strange
land; her heart yearned for her native
cline, and longed to look into the face Of
her kindred, and receive parents bless
ing. Her husband finally consented that
she should visit her friends. Alone she
crossed the ocean in one of the slow sail
ing vessels of that day, and again she
slept under the home roof Her friends
and relations greeted her cordially, but
such was the hatred of every true Amer
ican to her husband, that the GOODNESS of
her acquaintance chilled her to the heart.
When about to re-embark for England,
she assured her friends that she never
could come home again.
She never again looked on the green
hills of her native land, but found a grave
far from the home of her childhood, with
none of her early friends to shed tear
over her lowly tomb. She died in Lon
don, eleven years after her visit to the
United States.
The morning sun Of her life arose in
brightness and beauty, no cloud obscured
its midday brilliancy, but its setting was
amid darkness and storm, till she rejoiced
to cast aside the weary burden of life.--
alt is enough-come up higher" was the
gentle summons Of the master, and we
trust she lives where there is no more sin
or treachery, but all is purity and peace.
AS people sprinkle floors before they