“Certainly, but patriotism, like patience, ceases to be a virtue when one’s family must suffer ignominiously as a consequence,” was the rejoinder of the Commander of Philadelphia.
“But, my dear General,” said Miss Greydon, “what would our cause do if it were not for the sacrifices of our noble mothers, who say to their sons: ‘Take this Bible and keep it in your breast as your guide; care not for me. God will care for the brave and true; pursue your destiny and return not till the tyrant is driven from our shores,’—like the Spartan mother who said: ‘Come back with your shield or upon it.’”
“Ah, Miss Greydon,” said Arnold, “such sentiment is very fine, but very poor business.”
“Ha, ha! that’s it, that’s it. There’s far too much sentiment in our ideas of government,” said the lawyer, Wilson. “Sentiment can never overcome Britain’s power and wealth.”
Now that the dinner was well along, and Miss Greydon saw that if any one was to show loyalty to the cause of the Colonies at this gathering of choice aristocratic spirits, she must assume the task, thus she essayed to reply to the lawyer:
“But, Mr. Wilson, the day will be a very sad one for our government and for our countrymen when we can surrender our cardinal virtues of patriotism and self-denial in order to let personal gain shape the destiny of our government. If mere arms and money are more powerful than the ideas of freedom, of equality and of justice, then wealth and brute force will rule the world. But if every true American stands firmly for self-government and an independent system of finance and our own social relations, Britain can never conquer us. Our nation will prosper and put Britons to shame for the selfishness and audacity of their claims. Were I possessed of the powers of an orator, I would not rest until our Colonies were free to govern themselves in behalf of human rights—not wealth.”
Everybody looked toward Mrs. Arnold, and those who knew her well expected an outburst of her fiery nature, but the hostess, feeling it was now time for the ladies to retire, arose and interposed very gracefully:
“I think we had better retire in favor of the gentlemen, who can settle those questions of state by means of wine and song.”
No sooner had the ladies gone, than the host said to the butler at his side:
“James, you will now bring in the ‘jolly mariner.’”