Mifflin.-What happens to me I will bear with calmness and

courage.

General H.-And the source of this courage?

Mifflin. My faith-my conscience.

General H.-But suppose I were to place soldiers before your meeting-houses, and forbid your entrance therein, on pain of death?

Mifflin.-If the spirit moved me I would go in, nevertheless.
General H.-To meet death?
Mifflin.-Yes.

General H.-You believe yourselves inspired?

Mifflin. Why not, friend Howe? All good thoughts come from God. Even the heathens knew that,-Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus were aware of that.

General H.-You are no farmer.

Mifflin.-I am a farmer from Chester county.

General H.-You are a spy.

Mifflin.-I am not.

General H.-Swear it.

Mifflin.-We never swear.

General H.-Shall I believe you on your simple word?

Mifflin.-Yes; for we never lie.

General H.-Under the shade of your trees, such principles may make a little family of men happy; but, for a state, they would be ruinous.

Mifflin.-I am not come, friend, to dispute with thee; we leave every one to his own belief. But if thou must wield the sword in thy right hand, carry, at least, the olive-branch of pity in thy left. It will do honor to thee, if thy warriors are not permitted to be robbers.

General H.-You speak very boldly.

Mifflin.-I speak the truth, only.

General H.-Has fate often tried your faith through affliction ? Mifflin.-God has not yet shown me that mercy.

General H.-And yet, you believe yourself able to bear up under the trial, if it should come?

Mifflin.-I do.

General H.-Spiritual pride!

Mifflin.-May that be far from me!

(Enter Adjutant Jones.)

Adjutant.-General, I bring you melancholy intelligence.
General H.-(Hastily.) My son—

Adjutant.—Alas! yes, it concerns him. Recover yourself.
General H.-Adjutant, I am a soldier-no preface.
Adjutant.-The detachment has returned, but your son-
General H.-Well?

Adjutant. He is left behind.

General H.-Ha!-my William !(He endeavors to restrain his feelings.) Where? How?

Adjutant.-The Quakers have murdered him.

General H.-The Quakers!

Mifflin.-Friend, thou errest; the Friends shed no blood.

Adjutant. The soldiers attest, unanimously, to the fact. Yet more, they have taken prisoner the man who committed the deed. General H.-The murderer of my son in my power!

Mifflin. But he is no member of our community.

General H.-That we shall soon ascertain. You see, Walter Mifflin, that this is an unfavorable moment for your mission-the next shall determine what I am to think of you and your community, and how I am to treat you. In the meantime, you remain my prisoner.

Mifflin.-I am a free man.

General H.-No opposition-go into that room, and await your fate. Wo be to you!-wo be to you all-if my son's blood calls for my vengeance!

Mifflin.-Friend, be not hasty.

General H.-Go: you remain in my power.

Mifflin.—In God's power, only. (Exit.)

General H.-Now, bring in the murderer.

Adjutant.—Why will you afflict yourself by seeing him? General H.—I must see him-I must know whether my son is worthy of my tears. (Exit Adjutant.) A hard struggle is before me; but I must separate the father from the judge. Oh William! thy bloody shade shall see these hypocrites unmasked!

(Enter Adjutant Jones, with a sword under his arm—with him Edward Mifflin.)

General H.-Are you the murderer of my son?

Edward.-I am no murderer.

General H.-Relate what has happened; and speak truly, at the peril of your life.

Edward. I have never yet lied. In a quiet valley stand a few humble cottages, inhabited by industrious country people. Yesterday morning, as the day broke, I was awakened by a scream. I started up-I rushed out-the cry of distress came from the house inhabited by my betrothed. I ran thither, several, awakened like myself, followed; soldiers were engaged in plundering the house. From a locked chamber, I heard the shrieks of my betrothed. I burst open the door-I saw a young officer attempting to misuse her defenceless innocence. Rage seized me-I tore the sword from his side-he drew a pistol-but, at the moment when he was in the act of firing upon me, I struck him down. I am no murderer.

General H.-(After a melancholy pause, to the adjutant.) Is that true?

(The adjutant shrugs his shoulders.) General H.-(Buries his face in his hands, and after a pause, speaks with shame and sadness.) Where is my son's sword? Adjutant.-Here.

General H.-(Takes the sword, lays it upon the table, and then turns to Edward.) Go on.

Edward. My brethren had, in the mean time, armed them

selves with whatever came to hand. I joined them. We were fewer in number than the plunderers; but robbers are ever cowards. They fled-we pursued them. I was the foremostmy ardor carried me too far, and I was taken prisoner. Now thou knowest all.

General H.-Suppose, young man, that what you did, when you hastened to the assistance of your bride were pardonable? Edward.-Well?

General H.-What excuse can you find, for pursuing, weapon in hand, the troops of my king, when she was no longer in danger?

Edward. I did unrighteously before God.

General H.-Are you a Quaker?

Edward.-Yes.

General H.-Have you, in this matter, followed the teachings of your community?

Edward.-I have not.

General H.-Then are you doubly culpable. As a rebel, you are accountable to me: you have borne arms against your king. You must die.

Edward. I have merited death, not as a rebel, but as a transgressor of God's laws. Thou art an instrument, only, of His

justice. Execute it.

General H.-What is your name.

Edward.-Edward Mifflin.

General H.-What?-Mifflin?-I know a Walter Mifflin-Edward. He is my father.

General H.-Ha! I have not brought about this vengeance by my own means; but it is sweet! Do you know where your father is, at this moment.

Edward. He went to Philadelphia, in order to commune with the brethren.

General H.-He is here.

Edward.-Here!

General H.-In the next room. Edward.-Ah! for the first time, in upon my father's countenance. But no! go out of the world with his blessing. embrace my father's knees before I die.

my life, I fear to look he will pity me! I will Friend, permit me to

General H.-Yes, you shall see him. I will no longer bear a father's sufferings alone. Eye for eye, is your teaching-son for son! I will hear his lamentations, I will see his tears-his grief will soften mine. (He opens the door of the room.) Walter Mifflin, come forth! (Enter Mifflin.) Now call, for assistance, upon thy strong faith-misfortune knocks at thy door.

Mifflin.-(Without seeing his son.) I do not say, come in! but, if the door open, I shall not be terrified.

General H.-Thy son is my son's murderer.
Mifflin.-No!

General H.-There he stands-ask him.

Mifflin.-(Starting with surprise.) Edward! thou here?
Edward.-Yes, my father.

Mifflin.-How cam'st thou hither?

Edward. I was taken prisoner.

General H.-With arms in his hands.

Mifflin.-Is that true?

Edward.-Yes, my father.

Mifflin.-Tell me all.

Edward. The dwelling of my betrothed was being plundered,

and herself insulted.

Mifflin. And you took up arms?

Edward.-Yes.

Mifflin.-Have you shed blood?

Edward.-I struck the officer to the floor-the soldiers fled.

Mifflin.-How happened it that you were taken prisoner?

Edward. I pursued the fugitives too hotly.

General H.-Well, Walter Mifflin ?

Mifflin.-Poor erring one! Thou hast drawn the sword-thou