The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-06-28
Prudence and Mercy
A Revolutionary Story
For independence Day
BY F. A. mitchell.

Near the City of Brotherly Love. com
monty called Philadelphia. there lived
during the Revolutionary war a Quak.
er merchant yclept Jonathan Sut.
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 noncomDatants He so
TAR went back on his principles as TO re.
traln 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 dctach.
ments ont into the country to protect
the farmers who desired TO bring their
produce into the city for market Jon
ATTAIN Sutphen was too patriotic TO sell
anything to Il redcoat, ana 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.
\ 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
prcted 10 mean, 81, being a Quaker,
cannot oppose you in combat; there.
fore You have only to take what you
want" or there might be reply such
as has been made TO men demaudngthe
surrender of fort "if YOU want 1t
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 i'm their father. One
day when British sergeant and sew
eral privatcS asked the old man if he
didn't wish to sell his butter and eggs
he received the reply, Those products
of the COW aud 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 us"
surely thee as soldier would not
/ take from Il woman what she would
deny thee"
1--WE would take from any rebel
against the authority of the sovereign
what we need to sustain us In the
kings service"
With that he went TO the henhouse
near 10y and began TO look for eggs.
Having gathered what he found there,
he was passing the kitchen door when
! he received a douche OF scalding wa
I 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
the sergeant. Rushing to the Kitchen,
they were endeavoring To drag her
out when there appeared in the door
way the towering form of the OLD
! Quaker, her father,
Thou mscrcants" he said, raising
n huge walking staff he held In his
/ hand "rhou minions of tyrannical
! king! will smte thee hip and thigh!
Down came the staff on the back OF
one OF the men. Then It was raised
and fell again on the head of another.
! They had left their muskets outside.
| Intending TO use both hands I'm drag
| ging the girl to the pond, ana were
| consequently without weapons. Pru-
! dances sister. Mercy. seized rolling
min and brought IL down on the skull
of one of the soldiers, who had stoop-
od TO avoid a blow from her father.
| The man. stunned, lay on the hoor.
Then the old man finished the other
soldier with blow Of his staff on the
stomach. and Prudence, Selling
clothcsline coiled on a nail driven into
the wall. assisted her father ana her
sister to bind both the intruders.
"You old villain roarcd one OF the
rcdcoats. II thought you were
Quaker and wouldn't fight.
81 have sinned in resisting thy I'M
portunlties." replied the old man. nut
| have been sorcly tempted. would
have turned my other cheek TO thee,
but could not see thee constitute tiny
self a Judge in the ease OF my uaugh-
fer nor permit thee to smite her
The door was darkcned, and Brit
ish officer stood looking nc his men
hound and guarded by an old man and
two girls. He asked what 1t meant ana
was told. lie directed them to unbind
the men, promising that they should
not be further annoyed.
81 am obliged to report this case TO
headquarters, he said. please give
me your names.
"My name is Jonathan Sutphen,'
said the old man meekly.
"And vours!" to one of the girls.
"prudcnce." The officer could not
rpprcSS n smile.