The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-09-20

pulses eN6ryWnefe - ruiaeOf throwing
away life aad fortune for q shadow
You know the old argument with which
men try to prop staggering con-
| science.
Mrs. Arnett listened in silence until
the last abject word was spoken. Then
she inquired simply, "But what if we
should live, after all ?"
"Hannah Hannah !" urged her hus-
band. "Do you not see that these are
no questions for you? We are discuss
ing what is best for you-for all. Wo-
men have no share in these topics Go
to your spinning-wheel 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 culver of an eye
lash showed that she heard them.
"Can you 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, 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 tothink
of such thing; the struggle is an utter
ly hopeless one; we have no men, no
money, no arms, no food, and England
has everything
NO." said Mrs. Arnett; "you have
forgotten one thing which England has
not and which we have-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 entered into the struggle with
pure hearts and prayerful lips; we
had counted the cost and were willing
to pay the price, were it our heart s
blood. And now-now, because for q
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 your
selves men-the sons of those who gave
up home and fortune and fatherland to
make for themselves and for dear Gber-
ty resting place in the wilderness
Oh, shame upon you, towards" "
Her words had rushed out in fiery
, food, which her husband had vainly
: striven to check. l do not know how
Mrs. Arnett loo ed, but | fancy her lit,
, tie, 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 inspired fury of a pythoness
{ Are we not all prophets at times
prophets of good or evil, according tt
. our bent, and with more power than we
: ourselves suspect, to work out the full
8 tilment of our own prophecies? Wht
r shall say how far this fragile woman
j, aided to stay the wave of dessolatior
/, which was spreading over the land?
Gentlemen" said good Mr.. Arnett
uneasily, 81 beg you to excuse thi
: most unseemly interruption to our coun
> Gil. My wife is beside herself, l think
You all know her, and know it is not he
= want to meddle in politics, or to baw
and buster. Tomorrow she will SCI
}, her folly, but now l pray your pa
tience."
Already her words had begun to sti
. the slumbering manhood in the bosom
}. of those who heard her. Enthusiast
= makes its own fitting times.
= No one replied; each felt too keenl.
> his own pettiness in the light cas-
- upon them by this brave woman
=, words.
'"rake your protection, if you will,
y = she went on. after waiting in vain for
= reply. "Proclaim yourselves traitor
. and cowards-false to your God bu
horrible will be the judgment you vii
bring upon your heads and the head
i of those that love you. l tell you tina
. England will never conquer. know
u and feel it in every fibre in my hear
/ Has God led US so far to desert US now
IS Will he, who led our fathers across I'll
. stormy winter sea, forsake their childre
q who have put their trust in him F'
y me, I stay with my country, and m
L hand shall never touch the hand, nor m
II heart cleave to the heart of him WI
u shames her."
# She flashed upon her husband a ga
which dazzled him like sudden Ggh
e ming.
st 'Isaac, we have lived together Fl