The advocate., 1895-07-24

be bitter opponent of the Constitution. They
knew he would be-, because they were conscious he
ought to be. At the same time they were fully
aware Of his great power and of his hold upon the
people, So, for months, they have been industr
ousy scattering nsinuatons that he has been bribed
to disrupt the Union and bring about reunion Of
the states with Great Britain Some Of these insin
uations, am reliably informed, have even ema-
mated from holy Mount Vernon"
"The damned scoundrelsp' exclaimed Breadmong-
Ster. "Ought to be served like Nero's mother, sir
Boiling would be sweet mercy to them. What set
of Scheming damned scoundrels they are, sirP'
"I never swear, Judge Breadmongster," said
Lilburne with a smile "but am extremely obliged
to you for your assistance / sometimes think this
contest was not foreseen, or was overlooked when
the Ten Commandments were engraved on the tables
of stone, or an exception would have been made Of
the future anti-Federsls in the one against pro-
family 1t is bad cause, gentlemen, which re-
quires the sandering of bertys true tried friends
"Dld you observe to what subterfuges of rhetoric
they resOrted to avoid answering Mr.. Henry's PER
tinent questiOnsP But am hopeful. have often
heard of Patrick Henry, and l have been the won.
derful stories of his power, but / am now satisfied
that with all Virginias distinguished men and ours,
toO in the scale against him. that one great man
will tip the beam. If Patrick Henry cannot save
us, then we are lost"
"Whst remarkable change comes over the man
when he speaks" said the Hermit. He sits there,
a stoop-shouldered, shabbily dressed, ordinary
locking mortal and bye and bye as the fire kndles
in those eyes of his his form is erect his bearing is
regal, his face has supernatural illumination and
yon seem to be looking upon and listening to dem
god. I never witnessed 80 remarkable transfor-
mationp
"Ah, you have not yet seen Mr. Henry at his best
His efforts to-day were but commonplace to those of
us who have heard him when he was really elo-
quent, said Lilburne
"Surely, sir, you jest" said the Hermit "Com-
mOnplsceS What, then, are we privileged to hear
before the convention cosesY
"You will hear such eloquence as will more than
rival that Of Demosthenes as described by his most
ardent admirers" answered Lnburne "ID the CEN
turies to come Patrick Henry will be recognized as
the greatest orator of modern times If not Of all
time Why, sir, what was it but his single speech
made in the obscury of that meeting house we have
just left which made this continent fly to arms and
defy powerful, Warlike naton2 When the first
congress Of delegates assembled, they became sud
denly conscious that what they were about to do
was treason, and they grew timid, When they COM
peted their organization there was absolute silence.
The delegates were unnerVed. Patrick Henry rose
and addressed them, and manly bold defiance
flashed from every eye under the spell of his ire
sistible eloquence and the greatest activity sue
ceeded to the previous paralysis. The like Of him
has never lived in modern times"
The party had arrived at Lilburne's plantation as
be ceased, and BreadmOngster went for walk,
while the rest went to the house. When Sydney
went in search of the burly lawyer to bring him In
TO dine, he found him sitting in Lorettas faVorite
seat .,.,