Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-08-29
Molly's Declaration
Of independence
BY 2. II. LANCASTER.
tCopyrlghl. by Daily Story PUB Co


said hotly, TO the wall opposite. 1T
Is high time | made my declaration
OF independence" And then she
paused.
Like many young people of the pres.
ent generation, Molly Madison had
never though much about the Declar-
alton Of independence. She had read
II periunetorily at school and her
teacher had perfunctorily pointed out
It's noble sentiments-espeeially the
all men are created free and equal"
This last had been impressed upon
Molly's mind because one Of the boys
had seized the first opportunity TO
assure her that that might be noble
but II wasn't true. and Molly had
eleyerly caught him up with nothing
can be noble that isn't true" The
boy had appeared posed. and Molly
had. in consequence. always remem.
bered about the free AID equal part
OF the declaration.
Now, after many years, she and the
boy had differed again about that
clause Of equality and freedom. Had
differed not In words. but In the spirit.
The boy lived TO the belief that a
man should be master in his house
and admitted OF no equal in the sphere
OF his home. Molly lived TO the belief
that she was the boys equal in many
respects. That, at least. she had
right TO say so sometimes. Molly and
the boy had been married just year.
and Molly was beginning to ind that
Fmatrimony may be bitter thing in
that It presupposes the humiliation of
obedience.
Il had sense enough to take care c'
myself before was married she re.
, peated. hotly, TO the wall. And why
should he presume to give nc orders
like | was a nine-pin or nonenity, 1
! don't want you TO go out today | sup
I pose he thinks that II he wanted me to
stay In bed all day ought to be meek.
| ly content TO stay there. But I'll show
him. I'll go from one end of this town
to the other. He might just as well
/ learn right now that | do not intend
/ TO be a martyr TO every within that
enters his head I'll celebrate my
Fourth of July with a declaration of
independence. I'll write one. I'll draw
/ 1t up in legal style and leave it for him
TO read That will be fine" And
Molly almost forgot her indignation
in the enthusiasm for her scheme. She
hustled through the morning work,
got together pen and ink and legal
cap paper and began to write.
BE 1t enacted" she wrote. and hest
tated. THAT would make 1t an enact
ment-and Jack would laugh at me
for mixing things. must be sure to
begin right. How does the real decla-
ration begin?" II took Molly a good
while to find an old school history
and look up the declaration in the
appendix, but the result rewarded her
and with a joyous, "Oh, yes! That's
fne," she took a fresh sheet and be-
gan:
When In the course of human
] events, II DtCOlits hVSCSSais AoA
wife to loosen the bonds her husband
has sought to bind about her and to
assume among the people of the earth
the equal station to which the laws of
nature and of natures God entities
her, decent respect for her husband
REQUIRES that she should tell him of
1 the causes which have impelled her to
take this step" Molly read over her
beginning and sighed with content
That's beautiful" she said. Now
| to set forth the causes. No, wait!
| We hold these truths to be self-evi-
dent, that women and men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their
! Creator with certain inalienable
rights; that among these are life, lib
erty and the pursuit of happiness.
Molly underscored the liberty and
consulted the original document The
consultation lasted through puzzling
period, but finally Molly seized her
pen and wrote with fervor:
Common sense will admonish the
wife not to upset the domestic peace
for light and transient causes. But
when a long train of abuses and usur-
pations, pursuing invariably the same
/ object. evinces a design to reduce her
under absolute despotism, it is her
right. 1t is her duty, to throw of such
tyranny and to provide new guards for
her" Molly stopped and struggled
for the word she wanted. Individual
ity. that's it. New guards for her in
J dividuality. Such has been the patient
sufferance of this writer, and such is
now the necessity which constrains
her to alter her former system OF sub
mission. To prove this, let these facts
be submitted to candid world. That's
fine. That will get Mr.. Jack"
And in a glow of conscious power.
Molly began upon her list of griev-
ances.
II was a delightful task. The boom
ing guns far away; the distant cheer
ing: the fizzle and spat OF crackers
near at hand; all sank to insignifi-
canoe. were lost thought OF, forgotten,
whelmed utterly by the swelling, full
tide 10y of the work she had in hand.
The original document was an unfail-
ing source of inspiration. Molly
studied it in prolonged absorptions