Evening journal., 1913-06-20
Prudence and Mercy
A Revolutionary Story
For Independence Day
By F. A. MICHEL


lonly called Philadelphia. there lived
urlng the Revolutionary war a Qunk
r merchant yclept Jonathan snt
hen Mr sutphen wns patriot aud
,ould gladly have fought the British
rho were trying TO reduce the Amer
ans TO obedience had he not belonged
D the sect Of noncomoatnnts He So
az went back on his principles as TO r.
rain from forbidding his son to enlist
D the American army. but bis con
cience would not permit him TO beai
rms himself
When General Howe and his red
oats held possession OF Philadelphia
stated days be would send detach
nents out into the country 10 proieci
he farmers who desired to bring theh
roduce into the city for market Jon
than sutphen was too patriotic TO sci
nything TO redcoat. and since II wa,
he practice Of the British commander
O avoid doing anything 10 irritate th'
,eople against the kings authority
hey gave orders that no one need sci
mless he chose to DO 30.
sutphen. on being asked TO sell BIZ
utter and eggs. would say;
~Friend. DO not desire TO sell the,
ny products. II thee take them with
nut my consent thee have only {,
10 So"
Now, these words might be inter
reted to mean. Il. being a Quaker
annot oppose you In combat; there
lore you have only 20 take what yop
want" or there might be a reply such
n has been made 70 men demanding the
urrender OF fort, III you want Il
some and take t." The soldiers could
sot tell which OF these two interpreta
don to put upon the old mans WORD
and had some curiosity in the matter
Jonathan. having winked at bis son
entering the rebel army. was left witt
bis two daughters. They had been
brought up Quakerssses. but the non
eombatant principle was not as solid in
them as e wss IN their father. One
lay when British sergeant and sew
tral privates asked the old man II h'
aidnt wish to sell his butter and egg
be received the reply, "rhoss product
Df the COW and the hen are the prop
srty OF my daughters" The sergeant
then applied to Prudence. one Of th,
daughters. who said. No redcoat h
welcome to our property even by pny
Ing for IT,
"But suppose we take It. Surely you
a Quakeress. would not resist us"
Surely thee as a soldier would no
take from n woman what she wOul'
deny thee"
I'VE would take from any reh,
against the authority OF the sovereig
what we need 10 sustain us In th
Kings service"
With that he went TO the henhous
near by and began to look for egg
Having gathered what he found ther
be was passing the Kitchen door whe
be- received donche OF scalding vi
1cr aii over him
he was too badly burned 10 think ,
nnDfhing except the pain he suffered
bat the men who were with him. sc,
tug what had been done. vowed the
would duck the girl IN a pond on th
premises. giving her a cold bath 10 pa.
her for the bot water she had give
the sergeant Rushing to the kitchen
they were endeavoring to drag be
out when there appeared in the door
way the towering form OF the oil
Quaker. her father.
Thou miscreantsr' be said. raisinl
a huge walking staf he held in hi
hand. Thou minions OF a tyrannica
king! will smite thee hip and thigh
Down came the stan on the back oi
one Of the men. Then II was raisec
and fell again on the head Of another
They had left their muskets outside
Intending TO use both hands in drag
ging the girl TO the pond. and were
consequently without weapons. Pru
dence's sister. Mercy. seized a rolliul
pin and brought Il down on the skull
OF one OF the soldiers. who had stoop
ed to avoid a blow from her father
The man. stunned. lay on the door
Then the old man finished the Othe
soldier with a blow OF his staff on th'
stomach. and Prudence. seizing
clothesline coiled on a nail driven int
the wall. assisted her father and he
sister to bind both the tntruders.
you old villainr' roared one OF tn
redooats- Il thought you were
Quaker and wouldn't fight"
81 have sinned IN resisting thy I'm
portunities." replied the old man. 'bu
have been sorely tempted woull
have turned my other cheek TO thee
but could not see thee constitute thy
self a judge in the case OF my daugh
ter nor permit thee TO smite her"
The door was darkened. and a Bril-
fish officer stood looking at his me
bound and guarded by an old man an
two girls. He asked what II meant an
was told He directed them to unbin
the men. promising that they shoul
not be further annoyed.
Il am Obliged TO report this case {
headquarters" he said please XIV
me your names"
MY name Is Jonathan Sutphen.
said the old man meekly.
"And yoursN 10 one Of the girls
"Prudence" The officer could u,
repreSs a smile.
And yoursr he said to the 9th,
sister
Mercy"
He burst into a laugh
We'll Mistress Prudence and MI
tress Mercy. all ! have 10 say 10 v,
Is that yon belle your Names.
After the war the officer married Pr
cc1ce. admitting TINT " was the mo
imprudent act OF his life