The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-07-27
u,ss.u ARsErr-s vA.rn.
ctsrFsxtar STORY

The days were a their darkest, and IL,
hearts Of our graudaihefs were weIgheS
dowuwitb doub, aud dependency De
iaa bal followed defeat for the Amer
can army, until the troops bad becom,
demorallEed and Encouragement bad vel
nigh become despair Lord Cornwsllis
alter bis victory 81 FoH Lee, bad march
ed bis army TO Elikabethtown (Decem
Der, I7s6) where they were now en-.
+ camped On the 30,h Of November The
brothers Howe had issued their celebra-
ted proclamation, which offered protec
lion to all who within sixty days should
declare themselves pesoeable British sub
iacts, aud bind themselves to neither
take np arms against their sovereign, hor
encourage others to do so. II was to dis
cuss the advisabiity OF accepting this
offered protection that a group Of men
had met Ia one Of the large old houses oI
which Eizsbethtown was at that time
4 full.
We are apt to think OF those old times
AS days Of umitigaled loyalty and cour
age; of our ancestors as unialtering be-
roes, swerying never in the darkest hours
from the narrow aud lhorny path which
conscience bade them tread. Yet human
nature is human nature in all ages, aud
II at times the "old-f fashioned fire" burnt
low even in manly hearts, and profound
encouragement palsi0d for time the
most ardent courage, what are we that
we should wonder at or condemn them?
OF this period DIR. Asbbel Green wrote !:
81 heard man of some shrewdness
once say that when the British troops
overran the State of New Jersey, in the
closing part of the year l776, the whole
population could have been bought for
eighteen pence per 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 II was the only
thing TO be done. Hope, courage, loyal
~, faith, houor--aIl seemed swept away
upon the great food OF panic which bad
oyerspread the land. There was one lis.
tener, however, of whom the eager dis
putants were ignorant, one to whose
heart the 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 lis
'ened in silence until, carried away by
her feelings, she could bear no more, and
springing to her feet she opened the par
lor door aud confronted the assembled
group,
Can you fancy the scene? 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 bazed in the huge fireplace.
Around the table the group of men, pal
lid, gloomy, detected, disheartened. In the
doorway the figure of the woman, in the
antique costume with which, il these lat
Ter 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 scoln which
clothed her as a garment?
The men alls;arted up at her entrance.
The sight Of ghost could hardly have
cansed more perterbation than did that
of this little woman. Her husband ad-
vanced hastily. She had no business
here; woman should know her place
and keep it, Questions of politics and
political expediency were not for them
but he would shield her as far as posi-.
Bile, and point out the improperly of her
conduct afterwards, when they should be
alone. oohe went quickly up TO her with
a warning whisper
Hannah Hannahl this is no place for
you. We do not want you here just
now and would have taken ber hand to
lead her from the room.
She was docile little woman, and |
obeyed his wishes without a word; but
now il seemed as II she scarcely saw
him, as with one hand she pushed him |
gently back and turned to the startled |
group.
Have you made your decision, gentle
men? she asked. Have you chosen the
part OF men or traitors?
II was putting the question too broad
y-so like woman, seeing only the bare,
lgly facts. aud quite forgetting the deli
cate drspery which was intending to
veil them. II was an awkward position /
70 pat them in, and they stammered and
oungled over their answer, as men In 9
'slse position will. Tne reply came at
asst, mingled with explanations aud ex-
;uses and apologies.
Quite hopeless; absurd for starving,
lall-clothed, undisciplined army like ours
o attempt TO compete with country
With highlands unlimited resources. Re-
pulsed every where ruined = throwing
away life and fortune for shadow you
lnow the old arguments with which men
~ TO prop a staggering conscience.
Mrs. Arnelt listed Ia silence until the
act abjeet word was spoken. Then she
inquired simply Bat what II we should
i've siler ali?
The men looked at eaca other, but no
me spoke.
Hannah! Hannah urged her husband.
Do you not see that these are 20 ques-
ions for yon. We are discussing what
5 beet for us, for you, for all. Go TO
our spinning wheel and leave Us 10 set