Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-08-07

wife, you are making yourself redicu-
lOus. Do not expose yourself in this
way before our friends.
His words passed her ear like the
idle winds not even the quiver of an
eyelash showed that she heard him.
"Can you not tell me, she said, in
the same strangely quiet voice. eff after
all, God does not let the right perish
if America ehn,,ld win III the conflict,
after You have thrown yourself upon
British elemency, where will you be
then ?''
"Then !' 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 to
think of such thing. The struggle is
an utterly hopeless one. We have no
men, no money, no arms, no food. and
England has everything
"NO y said Mrs. Arnett ; ''you have
forgotten enc thing which England has
not and which we havc-one thing which
outweighs all England's 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 in our hearts blood.
And now-now, because for time the
day is going against US, you would give
up all, and sneak back, like cravens, to
kiss the feet that have trampled upon
US And you call yourselves men, the
sons of those who give up home and for
tune and fatherland to make for them
selves and for dear liberty resting
place in the wilderness Oh shame up
on you towards l''
Her words had rushed out in fiery
flood which her husband had vainly
strlven to check. l do not know how
Mrs. Arnett looked, but 1 fancy her a
little, fair woman, with kindly blue eyes
and delicate features, tender and low
ing little soul, whose scornful, blazing
words must have seemed to her amazed
hearers like the inspired fury of ply
thoness. Are we not all prophets at
times-prophets of good or evil, accord
ing to our bent, and with more power
than we ourselves suspect to work out
the fulfliment of our own prophecies ?
Who shall say how far this fragile
woman aided to stay the way of desola-
ton which was spreading over the land ?
"Gentlemen,," said good Mr.. Arnett,
uneasily. al beg you to excuse this
most unseemely interruption to our cOun-
Gil. My wife is beside herself, l think.
You all know her and know that it is
not her wont to meddle with politics,
or to brawl and bluster. Tomorrow
she will see her folly, but now 1 pray
your patience.
Already her words had begun to stil
the slumberlng manhood in the bosoms
of those who heard her. Enthusiasm
makes its own fitting times. No one
replied each felt the light cast upor
them by this womans brave words.
"Take your protection, if you will.
she went on, after waiting for reply
Proclaim yourselvs traitors and towards
false to your country and your God
out horrible will be the judgment yoy
will bring upon your heads aud the
heads of those that love you. l tell you
that England will never conquer.
know it and feel it in every fibre of my
heart. Has God led US SO far to deser
us now ? Will He, who led our father
across the stormy winter sea, forsake th'
children who have put their trust il
Him For me, 1 stay with my country
and my hand shall never touch the hand
nor my heart cleave to the heart of hin
who shal1es her."
She flashed upon her husband gaz
which dazzled him like sudden light
ming.
'Isaac, we have lived together 70
twenty years, and for all of them | hav
been true and loving wife to you
But | am the child of God and of m
country, and if you do this shameful
thing will never again own you 70
my husband"
my dear wife" cried the husban
aghast, "you do not know what you ar
saying. Leave me for such thing a
this :"
"For such thing as this Z" she erie
scornfully. "What greater cause coul
there be / married good man an
true. faithful friend and loyal Chri:
tian gentleman. and it needs no divorC
to sever me from traitor and coward
! If you take your protection you loos
! your wife, and II loose my husban
and my home" "
With the last words the thrillin
l voice broke suddenly with a patheti
5 fall and film crept over the proud blu
: eyes. Perhaps this little touch of won
anly weakness moved the hearers as deeI
| ly as her brave. scOrnful words. The
!. were.not all towards at heart. only toucI