Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1913-06-27
Prudence andMercy
A Revolutionary Story
For Independence Day
By F. A. mitchell

during the Revolutionary war Quak-
er merchant yclept Jonathan SUIT
phen Mr.. Sutphen was a patriot and
would gladly have fought the British
who were trying to reduce the Ameri-
cans to obedience had he not belonged
to the sect of noncomba tants. He so
far went back on his principles as to re-
frain from forbidding his son to enlist
in the American army. but his con-
science would not permit him to bear
arms himself
When General Howe and his red
coats held possession Of Philadelphia
on stated days he would send detach-
ments out into the country to protect |
the farmers who desired to bring their
produce into the city for market. JON
athan Sutphen was too patriotic to sell
anything to a redcoat, and since it was
/, the practice Of the British commanders
to avoid doing anything to'irritate the
people against the kings authority
they gave orders that no one need sell
unless he chose to do so.
i Sutphen. on being asked to sell his
butter and eggs, would say:
Friend. do not desire to sell thee
my products. If thee take them with
out my consent thee have only to
do So"
Now, these words might be inter-
preted to mean, II, being Quaker.
cannot oppose youSin combat; there
fore you have only to take what you
want or there might be reply such
as has been made to men demanding the
surrender OLA fort, "If you want it
come and take It," The soldiers could
not tell which Of these two interpreta-
ton to put upon the old mans word
and had some. curiosity in the matter.
Jonathan, having winked at his son
entering the rebel army, was left with
his two daughters; They had been
brought up Quakeresses, but the non
combatant principle was not as solid in
them as it was in their father. One
day when a British sergeant and sew
eral privates asked the old man If he
didn't wish to sch his butter and eggs
he received the reply, "Thosc products
of the COW and the hen are the prop
erty Of my daughters" The sergeant
then applied to Prudence, one of the
: daughters. who said, mo redcoat is
welcome to our property even by pay
ing for it."
"But suppose we take it. Surely you,
a Quakeress. would not resist u.s.
"Surely thee as soldier would not
take from a woman what she would
> deny thee
!, I'VE would take from any rebel
! against the authority of the sovereign
I what we need to sustain US in the
! kings service"
! With that he went to the henhouse
near by and began to look for eggs.
: Having gathered what he found there,
? he was passing the kitchen door when
|. he received douche of scalding wa
! ter all over him.
He was too badly burned to think of
anything except the pain he suffered,
but the men who were with him, see
> Ing what had been done. vowed they
! would duck the girl in pond on the
: premises, giving her cold bath to pay
: her for the hot water she had given
: they were endeavoring to drag her
b out when there appeared in the door
: way the towering form of the old
: Quaker, her father.
"Thou miscreants!' he said, raising
. a huge walking staff he held in. his
L hand. Thou minions of tyrannical
9 king! will smite thee hip and thigh!
Down came the staff on the back Of
one Of the men. Then it was raised
e and fell again on the head Of another
! They had left their mnskets outside
y Intending to use both hands in drag
y ging the girl to the pond, and were
!" consequently without weapons. Pru
: dence's sister, Mercy. seized rolling
J. pin and brought it down on the skull
Il Of one of the soldiers. who had stoop
y ed to avoid blow from her father
= The man, stunned. lay on the floor
;, Then the old man finished the Other
!. soldier with blow Of his staff on the
u stomach, and Prudence, selling a
II clothesline coiled on nail driven into
u the wall, assisted her father and bel
J. sister to bind both the intruders.
, "You old villainr' roared one Of the
y redcoats. II thought you We're
~ Quaker and wouldn't fight"
y II have sinned in resisting thy i'm
IS portunities." replied the OLD man, "bu1
" I have been sorely tempted. / would
'e have turned my other cheek to thee
Il but could not see thee constitute thy
self Judge in the case Of my daugh
u ter nor permit thee to smite her"
L The door was. darkened. and Brit
II ish officer stood looking at his meI
'e bound and guarded by an old imam and
IS two girls He asked what it meant and
II was told He directed them to unbint
le the men, promising that they shoulc
"a not be further annoyed.
9 Il am obliged to report this case tt
g headquarters. he said please give
u me your names"
IT "My name is Jonathan Sutphen.
d said the oldtman meekly.
% "And yours?" to one of the girls.
q prudence The officer could moi
% repress smile.