The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-11-14

ue iaSt anJect WOFu was Spokcni tucii
he inquired simply; "But what if we
hould live after all ?"
The men looked at each other, but no
,ne spoke
"Hannah! Hannah!" urged her hus-
,and. "Do you not see that these are
10 questions for you? We are discuss:
ng what is best for Us, for you, for all
Vomen have no share in these topics. =
70 to your spinning-wheel and leave Us
o settle affairs. My good little wife,
'ou are making yourself ridiculous. Do
lot expose yourself in this way before
,ur friends.
His words passed her ear like the idle
winds; not even the quiver Of an eye
ash showed that she heard him.
"Can you not tell me ?" she said, in
he same strangely quiet voice "If, af.
.er 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 ?"
"Then ?" spoke one hcsitating voice.
why then ifit ever could be, we should
be ruined. We must leave the country
forever. But it is absurd to think Of
such thing. We have no men, no mon
ey, no arms, no food, and England has
everything"
"No," said Mrs. Arnett. "you haye
forgotten one thing which England has
not, and which we have--one thing
which outweighs all England treasures,
and that is the light. Gid is on our
side, and every voiley from our muskets
is an echo of his voice. We are poor,
and weak, and few, but God is fighting
for US. We entered into this struggle
with pure hearts and prayerful hearts.
We had counted the cost and were will.
ing to pay the Price, we're it our hearts
blood. And now-now because for q
time the day is going against US you
would give up all .and sneak back like
cravens, 10 kiss the feet that have tram.
Piled upon us! And you call yourselves
men-the sons of those who gave up
home and fortune and fatherland TO
make for themselves AMI dear liberty O
resting place in the wilderness! Oh,
shame upon you towards! J"
Her words had rushed out in a fiery
food, which her husband had vainly
striven to check do not know how
Mrs. Arne,t looked, but l fancy her .
fair little woman, with kindly blue eyet
and delicate features--a tender and low
ing little soul, whose scornful and bla
zing words must have seemed to- her
amazed hearers like the inspired fury o
ply ythoness. Are we not all prophets
at times--prophets of-peod on seSih &C
cording to our bent, and with mor'
power than we ourselves suspect e
work out the fulfllment of our owl
prophecies? Who snail say how fa
this fragile woman aided to stay th'
wave of desolation which was spread
ing over the land
'Gen:lemen," said good Mr.. ArEett
uneasily, "l beg you to excuse this un
seemly interruption to our council. NJ.
wife is beside herself, / think. You al
know her, and know that it is not he
wont to meddle with politics or to Draw
and bluster. Tomorrow she will Sc
her folly, but now pray your patience.
Already her brave words had begu
to stir the slumbering manhood in tn
bosoms OF those who heard her. En-
thusiasm makes its own fitting tines
No one replied; each felt too keenly hi
own pittiness, in the light cast upo
them by this woman's brave words.
"Take your protection, If you will,
she went on, alter waiting in vain for
reply. "Proclaim yourself traitors an
towards, false to your country and you
God, but horrible will esthe judgmen
you will bring upon your heads and th
heads Of those who love you. te
you England will never conquer.
know it, and feel it in every fibre of m
heart. Has God led us SO far to desc
us now2' Will He, who led our fathel
across the stormy winter sea, forsai
their children who have put their tru
| in Him? For me, stay with my cou
Itry, and my hand shall never touch Il
hand nor my heart cleave to the hea
of him who shames her."
She flashed upon her husband ga,
which dazz.ed her like sudden lightnin
Isaac, we have lived together TWEEN
years, and for all Of them ! have been
true and loving wife of you. But La
a child of God and to my country, al
liz you do this shameful thing will ne
er again own you for my husband"
my dear wife" cried the husban
aghast, "you do not know what you o
saying. Leave me for such thing
T this"
+ "For such thing as this y she erie
scornfully., "Wha: greater cause cou
there bep married good and tr
man, a faithful friend and loyal Chr
> tian gentleman, and it needs no diyor
: to sever me from traitor and cowaI
! If you take your protection, you 10
your wife, and IL lose my husba
ana my nome!
With the last words the thrilling vol
4 broke suddenly with pathetic fall, a
t q flm crept over the proud blue eyes.
I. Perhaps this little touch Of woman
o weakness moved her hearers as deel
as her brave, scornful words. Th
were not all towards at heart, only tc
e ched by the dread finger of panic, viii
1t now and then, will para'yze the brave
d Some had struggled against it, and OF
half yielded at last. And some th'
d were to whom old traditions had ne'
q become quite reconciled to the stig
3 of Rebel, though reason and judgm
ID both told them that, borne for the cal
t. for which they bore it, it WAS title
nobility. The words of the little
n- man had gone straight to each heart,
IN its main spring what it might Gr
ually the dropping heads were rails
and the eyes grew bright with manlin
le and resolution. Before they left
,e house that night they had sworn
to emn oath 10 staEd by the cause they
IN adopted and the land of their BIZ
ID through good or evil, and to spurn
a offers Of their tyrants and foes as
at deailiest insults.
x Some of the names Of those who
in that secret council we're known af