The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-06-30
Hannah Arnett S Faith.
BY HENRIETTA H. HoLDIcH.

the hearts or our grandfatherS were
weighed down with doubt and despond-
ency. Defeat had followed defeat for
the American troops, until the army
had become edemoralized and discourage
ment had well-nigh become despair.
Lord CORVALLIS, after his victory at
Fort Lee, had marched his army to
EliZabethtOwn, dec, I776), where they
were now encamped. On the Both of
November the brothers Howe had is
sued their celebrated proclamation,
which offered protection to all who
within sixty days should declare them
selves peaceable British subjects and
bind themselves neither to take up arms
against their sovereign, nor to encour-
age others to do so. 1t was to discuss
the advisability of accepting this offered
protection that group of men had met
in one of the large old houses of which
Elizabethtown was, at that time, full.
We are apt to think of those old times
as days of unmitigated loyalty and
courage; of our ancestors as unfaltering
heroes, swerving 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, and if at times the "old-fashioned
fire" burned low even in manly hearts,
and profound Encouragement palsied
for time the most ardentcou what
are we that we should wonder at or con-
demn them? OF this period DR.. Ashbel
Green wrote:
al heard a man of some shrewdness
once say that when the British troops
over-ran the State of New Jersey, in the
closing part of the year 1776, the whole
population could have been bought for
eighteen pence a head"
The debate was long and grave. Some
were for accepting the offered terms at
once; Others hung back little; but all
had at length agreed that it was the
only thing to he 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 to
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 sound of the
debate had reached her where she sat-
She had listened in silence, until, carried
away by her feelings, she could bear no
more, and springing to her feet she
pushed open the parlOr door and con-
tronted the assembled group.
Can you fancy the scene? A large
low room, with the dark, heavily-carved
furniture of the period, dimly lighted
by the tall wax candles and the wood
fires which blazed in the huge fire. place.
Around the table, the group of men
pallid, gloomy, detected, disheartened.
In the doorway the figure of the wom-
an, in the antique costume with which,
in those latter days, we have become so
familiar. Can you not fancy the proud
F,niCn Of hnr honyl ind g
her blue eyes, the crisp, clear tones of
her voice, the majesty and defiance and
scOrn which clothed her as a garment ?
The men all started up at her en-
trance; the sight of a ghost could hardly
have caused more perturbation than
did that of this little woman. Her hus-
band advanced hastily. She had no
business here; woman should know
her place and keep it. Questions of pol
itics and political eXpediency We're not
for them; but he would shield her as far
as possible, and point out the impro-
priety of her conduct afterwards, when
they should be alone. So be went
quickly up to her with a warning whis-
per:
Hannah Hannah this is no place
for you. We do not want you here Just
now" and would have taken her hand
W ltdu uGT lTOIil btle room.
She was a 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, gen.
tlemen ?' she asked. "Have you chosen
the part of men or of traitors ?u
1t was putting the question toe
broadly-so like a woman, seeing only
the bare, ugly facts, and quite forgetting
the delicate drapery which was intended
to veil them. 1t was an awkward posi-
ton to put them in, and they stam-
mered and bungled over their answer
as men in false position will. The re-
ply came at last, mingled with expIana-
tions and excuses and apologies
"Quite hopeless; absurd for a starv-
ing, half-clothed, undisciplined army
like ours to attempt to compete with q
country with England's unlimited re.
sources. Repulsed everyWhere-ruined
shadoW"-you know the old argument:
with which men try to prop a stagger.
ing conscience.
Mrs. Arnett listened in silence unit
the last abject word was spoken. Ther
she inquired simply: "But what if We
should live, after all ?''
The men looked at each other, but nc
one spoke.
Hannah Hannah w urged her hus.
band. "DO you not see that these are
no questions for you? We are discuss.
ing what is best for us, for you, for all
Women have no share in these topics
Go to your spinning wheel and leave US
to settle affairs. My good little wife
you are making yourself ridiculous
Do not expose yourself in this way be.
fore our friends.n
His words passed her ear like the idle
wind; not even the quiver of an eyelast
showed that she heard them.
"Can you not tell me-" she said, il
the same strangely quiet voice, elf, af
ter all, God does not let the right perish
If America should win in the conflict
after you have thrown yourself upor
British elemency-where will you bt
then?"
''lhen ?" spoke one hesitating voice
why, then, if it ever could be, we
should be ruined. We must leave the
country forever. But it is absurd &c
think OF such a thing. The struggle il
an utterly hopeless one. We have nc