Smyrna times., 1876-07-26

w
when they should be alone. So he went
quickly up to her with warming whisper:
Hannah! Hannah 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 a docile little woman, and
obeyed his wishes in general 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, gentle
men ?' she asked. "Have you chosen the
part of men or traitors p
1t was putting the question too broadly
so like woman, seeing only the bare,
ugly facts, and quite forgetting the delicate
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 false position will
The reply came at last, mingled with ex-
plantations and excuses and apologies:
"Quite hopeless; absurd for a starving,
halfclotned, undisciplined army like ours
to attempt to compete with a country
with England's unlimited resources.
| Repulsed -ruined-throwng
away life and fortune for shadow" You
know the old arguments with which men
try to prop staggering conscience.
Mrs. Arnett listened in silence until the
last object word was spoken. Then she
inquired simply: "But what if we should
live after ALP"
The men looked at each other, but no
one spoke.
Hannah Hannah I" urged her husband.
Do you not see that these are no ques-
tions for you? We are discussing what is
best for US, for you, for all. Women have
no share in these topics. Go to your
spinningwheel and leave us to settle
affairs. My good little wife, you are making
yourself ridiculous. Do not expose your
self in this way before our friends"
His words passed her ear like the idle
winds; not even the quiver of an eyclash
showed that she heard them.
" Can you not tell me?'' she said in the
same strangely quiet voice, " if, after all,
God does not let the right perish-if
America should win in the conflict, after
you have thrown yourself upon British
clemency, were 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 every
thingw
"No," said Mrs. Arnett: "you have for.
gotten one thing which England has not
and which we have-one thing which out
weighs all Englands treasures, and that i:
the right. God is on our side, and every
Yolley 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 prayer
, full lips. We had counted the cost and
were willing to pay the price, were it oui
hearts blood. And now-now, because fol
l time the day is going against us, you
f would give up all and sneak back, like
cravens, to kiss the feet that have tram
pied upon us And you call yourselves
men-the sons of those who gave up home
! and fortune and fatherland to make fo
S themselves and for dear liberty restin,
place in the wilderness Oh, shame upor
e you, towards y
Her words had rushed out in fer,
9 food, which her husband had vainl,
striven to check. l do not know how Mrs
Arnett looked, but fancy her a little, fai
woman, with kindly blue eyes and delicat
e features, a tender and loving little soul
It whose, scornful, blazing words must hav
Il seemed to her amazed hearers like the in
y spired fury of pythoness. Are we not al
z, prophets at times-prophets of good O
n evil, according to our bent, and with NOR
+ power than we ourselves suspect to worl
r, out the fulfllment of our own prophecies
Is Who shall say how far this fragile woma
dlucu W stay Iuc wave Vi ueSOlaLlOn W0lc
g was spreading over the land?
e Gentlemen" said good Mr.. Arnet
d uneasily Il beg you to excuse this mos
e unseemly interruption to our council NJ
j, wife is beside herself, l think. You a
d know her and know that it is not her wor
1T to meddle with politics, or to brawl an
D. bluster. Tomorrow she will see her folly
but now pray your patience"
W Already her words had begun to stir til
l. slumbering manhood in the bosoms of tho:
lie who heard her. Enthusiasm makes i
n own fitting times. No one replied; eac
le felt the light cast upon them by tn
Y, woman's brave words.
~ "Take your protection, if you will" 81
ie went on, after waiting in vain for a repl
s, reclaim yourselves traitors and coward
OF false to your country and your God, bl
n horrible will be the judgment you wi
p, bring upon your heads and the heads
i'd those that love you. l tell you thi
a ENGLAND will never CONQUER I know