The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-07-19
HANNAH'S FAITH.

| HANNAH'S FAITH.
Henrietta H. Holdich in the New York observer.
The days were at their darkest, and
the hearts of our grandfathers were
weighed down with doubt and des-
pondency. Defeat had followed defeat
for the American troops, until the ar
my had become demoraliZed, and dis
! enlargement had well nigh become
despair. Lord CORVALLIS, after his
victory at Fort Lee. had marched his
army to Elizabethtown December,
l776), where they were now encamped
On the Both of November the brothers
Howe had issued their celebrated pro-
clamation, which offered protection to
all who within sixty days should de-
clare themselves peaceable British
subjects, and bind themselves neither
| to take up arms against their Sove-
reign nor to encourage others to do so.
| 1t was to discuss the advisability of
accepting this proffered protection that
group of men had met in one of the
large old houses of which Elizabeth
town 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 I'M
faltering heroes, swerving never in
the darkest hours from the narrow and
thOrny path which conscience babe
them tread.
Yet human nature is human nature
! in all ages and, if at times the cold
fashioned fire. burned low even in
manly hearts, and profound discour-
agement palsied for time the ardent
courage, what are we that we should
wonder at or c )ndemn them? Of this
period DR.. Ashbel Green wrote:
81 heard a man of some shrewdness
once say that when the British troops
overrun the State of New Jersey, in
the closing part of the year 1776, the
whole population could have been
bought for Is 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
it was the only thing to be done.
Hope, courage, loyalty, faith, honor
all seemed swept away upon
the flood of panic which had over
spread 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, car
ried away by her feelings, she could
bear no more, and springing to 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 furniture of the period, dimly
lighted by the tall wax candles and
the wood fire which blazed in the huge
fireplace. Around the table, the
group of men;-palid, gloomy, defect
ed, disheartened. In the doorway the
| figure OF the woman, in the antique
costume with which, in these latter
days, we have 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
scorn which clothed her as garment?
The men all started up at her er.
| trance; the sight OF ghost could hard
ly have caused more perturbation than
did that Of this little woman. Her
husband advanced hastily. She had
no business here; a woman should
know her place, and keep it. Dues.
lions of politics and political expedi-
ency were not for them; but he would
shield her as far as possible, and point
out the improperly of her conduct af-
terwerds, when they should be alone.
So he went quickly to her with warn
ing whisper
''Hannah Hannah this is no place
for you. We do not want you here
Just now;;" and would have taken her
by the hand to lead her from the
room.
+ She was docile little woman and
obeyed his wishes without 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,
gentlemen she asked, shave you
chosen the part of men, or of trait.
ors!''