Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-08-07
Hannah Arnett's Faith.
A CENTENNIAL SKETCH.

weighed down with doubt and despond-
ency. Defeat had followed defeat for
the American troops until the army had
bncome demoralized and discouragement
had we'll nigh become despair. Lord
Corvallis, after his victory at Fort Lee,
had marched his army to Elizabethtown
december, l779,) where they were now
encamped. On the 3Oth of November.
the brothers Howe had issued their eel
ebrated proclamation, which offered pro-
lection to all who within sixty DAYS
should declare themselves peaceable
British subjects and bind themselves nei-
ther to take up arms against their SOW
ereign, nor to encourage others to do so.
1t was to discuss the advisability of ac-
cepting this offered protection that
groop 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 unmitigatcd loyalty and cour-
age of our ancestors as unfaltering he
roes, 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 1.-THE old fashioned fire" bur-
ned low even in manly hearts, and pro-
found discouragement palsied for time
most ardent courage, what are we that
we should wonder at or condemn them
Of this period DIR. Ashbell Green wrote
81 heard man of some shrewdness
say that when the British troops overran
the State of New Jersey, in the closing
part of the year 1776, the whole popu-
lation could have been bought for eigh-
teen pence head"
The debate was long and grave Some
were for accepting the offered terms at
once others hung bach little. but all
had at length agreed that it was the only
thing to be done. Hope, courage, 10y
atty, faith, honor-all seemed swept
away upon the great food of panic which
had overspread the land. There was
one listener, however, of whom the ca
ger 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 debate had reached
her where she sat. She had listened in
silence, until, carried away by her fell
ings, she could bear no more, and spring
ing to her feet, she pushed open the par
lor 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
paid, gloomy, detected and disheartened.
! In the doorway the figure of the woman,
in the antique costume with which in
, these latter days We have been so famil-
lar. Can you not fancy the proud poise
, of her head, the indignant light of her
blue eyes, the crisp, clear tones of hel
voice, the majesty and defiance and scorr
which clothed her as a garment.
The men all started up at her entran
, ce the sight of ghost could hardly
have caused more perturbation than die
that of this little woman. Her husband
advanced hastily. She had no bushes;
e here woman should know. her place
, and keep it. Questions of political ex
pediency were not for them but b,
would shield her as far as possible. and
point out the improperly of her conduc
y afterward, when they should be alone
= So he went quickly up to her with !
I warning whisper
: Hannah Hannah this is no plac
for you. We do not want you hea
: just now" and would have taken he
= hand to lead her from the room.
s She was docile little woman, an,
= obeyed his wishes in general without
word but now it seemed as if she scarce
r ly saw him, as with one hand she push
y ed him gently back and turned to tn
i startled group.
u "Have you made your decision, gen
= tlemen ?" she asked. "Have you chOse
the part of men or traitors %
J. 1t was putting the question too broad
It ly-sO like woman. seeing only tn
e bare. ugly facts, and quite forgettin
:; the delicate drapery which was intende
, to veil them. 1t was an awkward posi-
tion to put them in, and they stammer
~ ed and bungled over their answer a
E. men in false position viii. The repl
in came at last, mingled with explanation
10 and excuses and apologies.
: !, "Quite hopeless absurd for star'
a ing half clothed. undisciplined arm
like ours to attempt to compete with
m country with England's unlimited IT
I'd sources. Repulsed everywhere-ruine
Y throwing away life and fortune for
n n shadow" You know the old argument
er with which men try to prop a staggel
y ing conscience.
Mrs Arnett listened in silence unit
the last abject word had been spOkel