Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-08-02
The Faith Of Hannah Arnett.

now encamped. On the Both of November
the brothers Howe had issued their cele
brated proclamation, which offered protec.
tion TO all who within sixty days should de
clare themselves peaceable British subjects
and bind themselves neither TO take up arms
against their sovereign, nor TO encourage
others TO do so. II was to discuss the advis.
ability Of accepting this offered protection
that group Of meu had met in one of the
large old houses of which Elizahethtown
was at that time full.
We are apt 10 think Of those old times as
days Of unmitigated loyalty and courage of
our ancestors as unfaltering heroes, swervng
never in the darkest hours from the narrow
and thorny path which conscience bade them
tread. Yet human nature is human nature
in all ages. aud If AZ times the od-fash.
ioned fire burned low even in manly hearts
and profound Encouragement palsed for a
time most ardent courage, what are we that
we should wonder at or condemn them OF
this period DR.. Ashhel Greene wrote:
/" heard a man OF some shrewdnoss once
say that when the British troops oyeuan the
state OF New Jersey, in the closing part Of
the year 1916, the whole population could
have been bought for eighteen pence head. "
The debate was long and grave. Some
were for accepting the offered terms at once
others hung back a little, but all had at
length agreed that 10 was the only thing "a
be done. Hope, courage, loyalty, faith, honor
all seemed swept away upon the great flood
Of panic which had overspread the land
There was one listener however. of whom
the eager disputants were ignorant, one Ia
whose heart their wise reasoning was very
far from carrying conviction Mrs. Arnett
the wife of the host, was in the next room
and the debate had reached her where she
sat She had listened iu silence until, carried
away by her feelings, she could bear no more,
and, springing 10 her feet, she pushed open
the parlor door and confronted the assembled
group.
Can You fancy the scene? a large, low
room, with the dark, heavily carved furni-
ture Of the period, dimly lighted bv the tall
wax candles and the wood fire which blazed
in the huge fireplace. Around the table the
group Of men -pallid, gloomy, detected, dis
heartened Ia the doorway the figure of the
woman. in the antique costume with which.
in these latter days, we nave become so
familiar. Can you not fancy the proud poise
of her head, the indignant light Of her blue
eyes, the crisp, clear tones of her voice, the
majesty and defiance and scon which clothed
her as a garment
The men all started up at her entrance
the sight OF a ghost could hardly have
caused more perturbation than did that of
this little woman. Her husband advanced
hastily She had do business there: a woman
should know her place aud keep it. Ques-
tions of politics and political expediency
were not for her; but he would shield her
as far as possible, and point ont the impro-
al
should bee alone. So he went quickly mp to
her with warning whisper
" Hannah Hannah this is no place for
You. We do not want you here Just now. "
and would have taken her hand to lead her
from the room.
She was docile little woman, and obeyed
his wishes in general without a word but
now it seemed As if she scarcely saw him, as
with one hand she pushed him gently back
and turned TO the startled group
" Have YOU made your decision, gentle
men 2" she asked. d" Have you chosen the
part of men or traitors ?"
It was putting the question too broadly
so ike n woman, seeing only the bare, ugly
facts, and quite forgetting the delicate drap-
cry which was intended to veil them. 1t
was an awkward position 10 put them in,
and they stammered and bungled over their
answer, as men in false position will. The
reply came at last, mingled with explana-
tions aud excuses and apologies
"Quite hopeless absurd for starving,
half-clothed, undiscipled army like ours to
attempt to compete with a country with
Englands unlimited resources. Repulsed
everywhere ed-throwinga life and
fortune for shadow r. You know the old
arguments with which men try to prop a
staggering conscience.
Mrs. Amett listened in silence until the
last abject word was spoken. Then she in
quired simply But what if We should
live, after all p
The men looked at each other, but no one
spoke.
"llannah Hannah :" urged her husband,
" DO you not see that these are no questions
for you We are discussing what is best
for us, for you, for ALL Women have no
share in these topics. Go to your spinning
wheel and leave rs to manage these things
My good little wife, you are making your
self ridiculous. DO not expose Yourself in
this way before our friends
His words passed her ear like the idle
winds not even the quiyer of an eyeasl
showed that She heard him.
"Can you not tell me 2" She said, in the
same strangely quiet voice, "if after all,
God does not let the right perish--if America
should win in the conflict, after you have
thrown yourself upon British clemency
where will you be then Z"
4" Then - spoke one hesitating voice
"Why, then, if II ever could be, we should
be ruined. We must leave the country for.
ever. But IL is absurd to think Of such a
thing. The struggle is an utterly hopeless
one We have no men, no money, no arms,
no food, aud England has everything"
"No said Mrs. Arnett Z" you have for
gotten one thing which England has not and
which we have--one thing which outweighs
all Englands treasures, and that is the right.
God is on our side and every volley from our
muskets is an echo of His voice. We are
poor and weak and few, but God is fighting
for us. We enter into this struggle with
pure hearts and prayerful lips. We had
counted the cost and were willing to pay the
price, were it our hearts blood. And now
now, because for a time the day is going
against us, you would give up all, aud sneak
back, like cravens, DO kiss the feet that have
trampled upon us Aud you call yourselves
men, the sons of those who gave up home
and fortune aud fatherland to make for
themselves and for dear liberty resting
place in the wilderness Oh, shame upon
you, towards
Ter words had rushed out in fiery food
which her husband had vainly striven 10
check. She was a little, fair woman, with
kindly blue eyes and delicate features, a
tender aud loving little soul, whose scorn-
ful, blazing words must have seemed 10 her
amazed hearers like the inspired fury of a
pythoness. Are we not all prophets at times
prophets Of good or evil, according to our
bent and with more power than we our
selves suspect To work out the flflment Of
our own prophecies Who shall say how
far this fragile woman aided to stay the
wave of desolation which was spreading over
the land
Gentlemen" said good Mr. Arnett, un-
easily, " / beg you 10 excuse this most uu-
seemly interruption TO our council. My wife
is beside herself, think. You all know her,
and know that il is not her wont TO meddlo
with politics, or to brawl and bnster, To-
morrow she will see her folly, but now pray
your patience
Already her words had begun 10 stir the
manhood in the bosoms of those
who heard her Enthusiasm makes its own
fitting times. No one replied each felt the