The Old Bell of Independence | Page 9

memory of galling wrongs be at
our hearts, knocking for admittance, that they may fill us with desires

for revenge, yet let us, oh, Lord, spare the vanquished, though they
never spared us in their hour of butchery and bloodshed. And, in the
hour of death, do thou guide us into the abode prepared for the blest; so
shall we return thanks unto thee, through Christ, our Redeemer.--GOD
PROSPER THE CAUSE.--_Amen_"
During the recital of this interesting and thrilling incident of the
Revolution, the veterans--even Higgins, too--laid down their knives and
forks, and listened as if carried back to the memorable eve of the battle
of Brandywine, and filled with the hopes and fears of the period. At its
conclusion, they expressed their approbation of the manner of the
recital, and the beauty of the sermon.
"That minister was one of the kind that I like," said Wilson. "He could
preach peace as long as peace was wise, and buckle on his armor and
fight when it became his duty."
"Mr. Harmer handles his pen well," remarked Morton, "but such an
incident would make any pen write well of itself. There's fire in it."
"Yes, a whole heap of fire," put in Mrs. Harmar, who thought she must
make a remark, as she had been quieting the children while the latter
part of the sermon and the remarks upon it were listened to by the
others.
"But the Lord didn't assist us much in that next day's battle," said old
Harmar. "We had hard fighting, and then were compelled to retreat."
"It was all for the best," said Wilson. "We shouldn't have known our
enemies nor ourselves without losing that battle. The harder the
struggle for liberty, the more we enjoy it when won."
"That's true," said young Harmar, "The freedom dearest bought is
highest prized, and Americans have learned the value of that
inestimable gem."
The dinner was, by this time, pretty well disposed of, and the party
adjourned to the large parlor, where they were soon comfortable seated.
Mrs. Harmar would make one of the company, and the children would
force their way in to see and hear the "sogers." The windows were up,
and the gentle breeze of summer blew softly through the parlor, thus
relieving the otherwise oppressive atmosphere.
But we must introduce the company to the reader. Old Hannar was
seated on one end of the sofa, with one of the small children on his
knee. He was a stout, hearty-looking man of about seventy, with silvery

hair, and a face much embrowned by exposure and furrowed by time.
The general expression of his features was a hearty good humor, as if
perfectly satisfied with things around. On the other end of the sofa sat
Mr. Higgins, a thin, small-featured, bald-headed man, looking much
older than old Mr. Harmar. On the opposite sofa sat Mr. Morton and
Mr. Wilson. The first was a large-bodied, full-faced man, slightly bald,
with a scar across his forehead, from the right eye to the left side of his
head. His appearance bespoke an active life, and a strong constitution;
and his eye yet beamed with intelligence. Mr. Wilson was evidently
about seventy-five, with a long, lank face, tall figure, and head scantily
covered with grey hair. Mr. Smith sat in an easy arm-chair. His
appearance was much the same as that of Mr. Higgins, though his face
expressed more intelligence. He had a troublesome cough, and was
evidently very weak. Mr. Jackson Harmar sat on a chair next to his
father. He was about thirty-five, rather short and thin, with long brown
hair, wild, blue eyes, in a "fine frenzy rolling," and a very literary
appearance generally. Mrs. Harraar sat near her husband, with two very
mischievous little boys, apparently about six and eight years of age, by
her side. She had a childish face, but might have been thought pretty by
a loving and indulgent husband.
STORY OF THE PRAYER.
"There is only one other scene during the struggle for our country's
right," said young Harmar, "which I would compare with the one I have
just narrated; and that is the scene in Congress--the old Continental
Congress--during the first prayer by the Rev. Mr. Duche."
"I've heard something of that prayer," said Morton, "since the
Revolution, but nothing that I could depend on."
"An account of the scene is given by John Adams, who was a chief
actor in it," said young Harmar.
"Old John Adams?" enquired Higgins. "He was the man! He was the
Washington of our politics during the war. He was the man!" and
Higgins rubbed his hands together.
"Thomas Jefferson, take your foot off your brother's, and quit pinching
him," interrupted Mrs. Harmar.
"I have Mr. Adams' account of that first prayer and its effects," said