Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-05-26


bind themselves neither 10 take up arms
against their Sovereign, nor to encourage
others to do so. 1t was to discuss the ad-
visibility of accepting this offered pro-
lection 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 cour
age; of our ancestors as unfaltering he
roee, 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 d-fashioned fire. burned
low even in manly hearts, and profound
encouragement palsied for time the
most ardent courage, what are we that we
should wonder at or condemn themy Of
this period DR.. Ashbel Green wrote:
81 heard a man of some shrewdness
once say thatwh the British troops over
ran the State Of New Jersey, in the closing
part of the year, 1116, the whole popula-
ton 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 little, but all hsd
at length agreed that it was the only thing
to 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, how
ever, of whom the eager disputants were
ignorant, one TO whose heart their wise
reasoning was very far from carrying con-
viction 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 confronted the
assempled group.
Can you fancy the scene2 A large low
room, with the dark, heavily carved fur
niture 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 woman, in the antique
costume with which, in those latter days,
we have become so familiar. Can you not
fancy the proud poise of her head, the in
dignant light of 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 entrance;
the sight of ghost could hardly 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. Questions of politics and political ex-
pediency were not for them; but he would
shield her as far as possible, and point
out the impropriety OF her conduct after
ward, when they should be alone. So he
went quickly up to her with a warning
whisper;
Hannahl Hannahl 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 u
word; but now ii seemed as if she scarce
ly saw him, as with one hand she pushed
him gently back and turned to the startled
group.
Have you made your decision, gentle
menu she asked. "Have you chosen the
part of men or of traitors g'
1t twas putting the question too broadly
SO like u woman, seeing only the bare,
ugly facts, and quite forgetting the deli.
cate drapery which was intended to veil
them. 1t was an awkward position to put
them in, and they stammered and bungled
over their answer, as men in a false posi-
lIOu W III. InG lOPl1 CdlllC at last, ulluBlcu
with explanations and excuses and apollo
gies.
"Quite hopeless; absurd for starv-
ing, half-clothed, undisciplined army like
ours to attempt to compete with country
with England's unlimited resources. Re-
pulsed everywhere ruined-throwing
away life and fortune for a shadow -
you know the Old arguments with which
men try to prop staggering conscience.
Mrs. Arnett listened in silence until the
last abject word was spoken. Then she
inquired simply:
"But what if we should live after all?"
The men looked at each other, but no
one spoke.
Hannah! Hannahr' urged her hus-
band. 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 and leave us
to settle affairs. My good, little wife, you
are making yourself ridiculous. Do not
expose yourself in this way before our
| friends"
His words passed her ear like the idle
wind not even the quiYer of an eyelash
showed that she heard them.
| Can you not tell me?" she sand, in the
same strangely quiet voice, " IT, 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?"
| "Then" spoke one hesitating voice.
| "Why, then, if it ever could be, we should
be ruined. We must leave the country
forever. But ii is absurd To think of such
a thing. The struggle is an utterly hope
| less one. We have no men, no money, no
arms, no food, and England has every
thing"
mo" said Mrs. Arnett; "you have
| forgotten one thing which England has
not and which we have-one thing which
outweIghs all Epgland'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 en-
tered into this struggle with pure hearts
and pTayeriul 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 and
sneak back, like cravens, to kiss the feet
that have trampled upon us And you
! call yourselves men-the sons of those
who gave up home, and fortune and IA
dear liberty resting-place in the wilder
ness Oh, shame upon you, towards"
Her words had rushed out in a fiery
flood, which her husband had vainly
striven TO check. do not know how Mrs.
Arnett looked, but fancy her little, fair
woman, with kindly blue eyes and delicate
features-a tender and loving little soul,
whose scornful, blazing words must have
seemed to her amazed hearers like the in
spired fury Of pythoness, Are we not all
prophets at times-prophets of good or
evil, according to our own bent, and with
more power than we ourselves suspect IL
work out the fulillment of our own
prophesiesY Who shall say how far this
fragile woman aided to stay the wave OF
desOlatiOn which was spreading over the
landY
Gentlemen" said good Mr.. Arnett,
uneasily, "I beg you to excuse this most
unseemly interruption 10 our council. My
wife is beside herself, | think. You all
know her, and know that it is hot her