Beadle's Dime Novels No. 13 — page 11: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘ PATRIOTIC SENTIMENTS. | 18 “ Nathaniel,” said the widow, “you know that John is the main support of my old age; that he and Catherine are all that keeps me here. Were they gone, 1 would not wish for life. Is not the cause of freedom hopeless? Have not our countrymen been beaten at all points? Is there a chance of ~ success left to hang a single hope on? What good, then, will it do for John to risk his life for the sake of continuing a little - longer a struggle which must soon end disastrously ?” ““« While there is life there is hope,’ as the doctors say, Mrs. Vale. You speak truly, when you say the case is desperate ; but that it is hopeless, I deny. While there remains a thou- sand swords and a thousand stout arms to wield them—while there are a thousand braye hearts that’ pant for liberty, and liberty only, the cause of Ameri ican Independence will not be given up without a last grand struggle. We must be success- ful; and, though our lives are given to establislr the nationality of the colonies, the sacrifice must not be erudged.” “Nathaniel, Ernshaw, you, speak like a patriot, and you must feel like’ one. I but tried you when I spoke of our cause as hopeless. John is anxious to go to the fray; but his love for me has kept him at home. He shall be kept here no longer. Count on him as one of the company, and, if he falls fighting for liberty and his country, think not I will ever reproach you for having asked him to enter the paths of danger ?” “T thought you would feel so, and I believe John is as en thusiastic as yourself; but his love for you had kept him from joining the army, knowing that, at any moment, he might be ordered away from you. Now the case is different. The foe is in our midst. We can see them from our own door-steps, and we must battle for the defence of our firesides.” At this moment, Catherine, who had been in the other room, entered. . With a pleasant “Good evening,” she shook hands, and, eiktinig a seat, she resumed the knitting which she had relinquished to prepare supper. - From @ discussion of the state of the country, Nathaniel turned to talk of other matters, spoke of what was going on about them, and thus passed a pleasant halfhour. Finally, he rose from his seat, remarking: “To tell the truth, I must ‘leave now, although I should comicbooks.com