Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-06-10
~ HALLE
HR1fC BY ERMINIE
u ~ RIVES
Courageous
Copyright 1902 by The Bowen-Merrill Co.

From her seat in the west gallery,
whittier jefferson had taken her, Anne
surveyed the scene below.
The first proceedings Interested her
little - the reading of Jamaicn's late
memorial to the king-and her gaze
wandered Through the open windows
she could hear the hum of the great
crowd about the building and catch
glimmer of the foaming James. The
space below her was packed and full
of a strange intentness.
Here and there she could see faces
which she knew. The ladies of Rich
mond were scattered through both gal
leries. Freneau and young st. George
| Tucker were leaning over the rail OPP
posite. Jefferson and Colonel Benja-
min Harrison of Berkeley sat together
| lust below Peyton Randolph. the pres
ident.
Colonel Washington sat far back,
hands on knees, quiet and meditating,
and Just below her Mr.. Thomas Nelson
shifted nervously in his seat turning
his eyes now there, now here.
:
Lee of Chantilly, "the gentleman of
the silver hand" The black bandnge
he wore over his hand fascinated her.
| She had heard 1t said he wore it to
hide a wound he got swan shooting on
the Potomac.
Her attention came back with Il start
as she heard the resolution in answer
| TO Jamaica that 1T is the most ardent
wish of this colony, and we are per-
suaded of the whole continent of North
America, to see a speedy return To those
halcyon days when we lived free and
happy people" AS she looked down at
Henry, Anne saw that he was scrib-
bling on a scrap of paper.
There was u hush as he arose and
buzz of expectancy as he mounted the
rostrum. He held In his hand the pa
per upon which he had been scribbling
Anne felt touch of disappointment
at the cold. measured quality of his
tone. With that pickering half smile
which meant dissent he moved an
amendment to the Jamaica resolutions.
He read without gesture, in pronun-
citation as plain as homespun His voice
moved evenly, almost carelessy, over
the periods.
But as he progressed the assembly
awoke with a shock, and Anne saw a
certain ripl lie almost of alarm surge
over it. Henry had spoken the phrase,
our inestmable rights and liberties"
At that moment the speaker raised
his voice, and the last words came
challenge-like, the snap of whip. I'VE
do resolve, therefore, that this colony
be put in a state of defense and that
there be a committee to prepare plan
for embodying, arming and disciplin-
ing such a number of men as may be
sufficient for that purpose"
Anne looked at Henry in the black
clothes and tie wig which set off his
face and drew a breath. The humility,
the diffidence, the modesty of address
were gone, and in their place was stern
ness. Even his voice had grown harsh,
as though in menace, and on the con-
vention, uncertain and wavering, those
lovers of the "halcyon days" the men
ace fell. 1t was the plunge from hest
tatiOn TO resolve from eXpostulation to
powder. The fire had fallen.
Henry knew his men. All these years
he had been learning them, drawing
them out questioning, story telling,
watching effects, experimenting in their
emotions.
His eye held every man within those
walls. He turned it upon Richard Hen
~ Lee, and he, his polished oratory for
got, hurled a blunt second at the chair.
Mr.. Pendleton, Colonel Harrison,
limping from the govt, and Colonel
Richard Bland got upon their feet with
arched frowns, barking that such ac-
ton was "premature," and at the word
Anne saw pale scorn burn Henry $
face. These, who had so lately sat in
the Continental congress, prated OF
"dignified patience" "filial respect and
discretion" the relenting of the SOW
ereign," 1.-The nakedness of the col
onies."
Anne had afterward no certain recol-
lection of how Henry began in answer
All impression was swallowed up IL
that thrill which held every nearer. II
has been said that he spoke as Homer
wrote.
shall we shut our eyes-we wise
men struggling for liberty-and listen
10 the song of the siren till she trans
forms US to beasts?" he cried. "Shal
we, having eyes, see not, and, having
ears, hear not the tidings Of our TEN
poral salvation? For my part | vii
know the worst, and will provide fol
it. l cannot judge the future but by
the past, and by the past how shall
you solace yourselves? What is there
in the conduct of the British ministries
| of the past ten years to justify hope?"
As he went on passion crept over hi;
| face like the wind that precedes {
| storm; his lean neck was scarlet anC