The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-09-20
HanqaP Arqetts Fait4.

Inc Gays were dJ IutlT uH fheSt, anu LILO
hearts of our grandtathers were weighed
down with doubt and dependency. De-
feat had followed defeat for the Ameri-
can troops, until the army had become
demoralized, and Encouragement had
well nigh become despair. Lord Corn
wallis, after his victory at Fort Lee, had
marched his army to ElizabethtoWn
December 1776), where they were now
encamped. On the 30th of November,
the brothers Howe had issued their cele-
brated proclamations, that offered pro-
lection to all, who, within sixty days,
should declare themselves to be peace
full British subjects, and bind themselves
neither to take up arms against their
sovereign nor encourage Others to do 80.
1t was to discuss the advisability of ac-
cepting this proffered protection, that a
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 the days of unmingled loyalty and
courage; of our own ancestors as un-
faltering heroes, never swerving 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-fash-
ioned fire" burned low, even in manly
hearts, and profound discouragement
palsied for time the ardent courage
what are We, that we should wonder at
or condemn them Of this period, DR..
Ashbel Green wrote
Il heard man of some shrewdness
once say that, when the British troops
overrun the State of New Jersey, in the
closing part of the year 1776, the whole
population 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 a little, but all
had at length agreed that it was the
only thing to be done. Hope, courage,
loyalty, faith, honor-all seemed swept
away upon the flood or panic which had
overspread the land. There was one
listner, however, of whom the eager dis
putants were ignorant one to whose
heart their wise reasoning was very fal
t 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 listened in 81.
lence, until, carried away by her feel.
ings, she could bear no more, and
r springing to her feet, she pushed oper
, the parlor door, and confronted the as
!, sembled group.
r Can you fancy the scene? A large
f low room, with the dark, heavy -carvec
q furniture Of the period, dimly li5h hted by
the tall wax candles, and the wood fire
which blazed in the huge Fireplace
s Around the table the group of men
: pallid, gloomy, detected, disheartened
i In the doorway, the figure of the woman
# in the antique costume with which, ii
!. these latter days, we have become 81
J. familiar. Can you not fancy the prouC
poise of her head, the indignant Hgh
J, of her blue eyes, the crisp, clear tone O.
!, her voice, the majesty and defanc,
o and scorn which clothed her as a gar
J. ment?
! The men all stared up at her entrance
d The light of ghost could hardly have
, caused more perturbation than did tina
q of this little woman. Her husband ad
n vanced hastily. She had no busines
here; woman should know her plac
n and keep it; questions of politics ALI
y political expediency was, not for them
n but he would shield her as far as posi-
i BILE, and point out the improperly o
e her conduct afterward, when they shoul,
= be alone. So he went quickly to he
+ with warning Whisper
e "Hannah! Hannah! this is mo plac
II II for you; we do not want you here jus
!, now"-and would have taken her han
y to lead her from the room.
IL She was docile little woman, an
obeyed his wishes in general without
- word; but now it seemed as if she scarce
W ly saw him, as with one hand she pushe
h him gently back, and turned to tn
r startled group,
If "Have you made your decision, gentle
as as men ?" she asked. "Have you chose
r the part of men or of traitors?"
If If 1t is putting the question too broad
lie 80 like woman, seeing only the bar
e. er ugly facts, and quite forgetting tina
We delicate drapery was intended to ve
It them. 1t was an awkward position t
y put them in, and they stammered an
" bungled over their answer, as men in
false position will. The reply came Z