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12 Patrick Henry Patrick Henry 13
herents of the clergy to squirm in their seats, and chimes. God, what was it? What was this trans-
then the attorney for the defen·se addressed the formation? And now his figure swayed, his mighty
jury. He was an excellent lawyer. Point after arms became as graceful as though they were of
point he met and piled up such a mass of evidence classic mould, his clenched h~nds accentuated his
in favor of his case that it seemed preposterous that words. And it was then and thus that the little
an appeal should ever have been taken. There was crowded courtroom of Jam es town, Virginia, heard
a hearty burst of applause as the learned and be- for the first time the greatest orator the world has
powdered gentleman took his seat, which was ever known.
quickly silenced by the rap, tap, tap of the judge's
gavel. And then came the real silence, a silence that When Henry finished speaking, he took his seat.
was an oppression, a silence which precedes a pain- A cheer went up, a cheer that shook the rafters. At
ful deed which must be gone through. Slowly the that moment the crowded courtroom had gone mad.
tall figure of Patrick Henry rose. He had in honor. They knew not why, but they had been moved as
of the court changed his clothes. In his usual buck- never before. There was a movement among the
skin, his bronzed skin blended with _his habiliments. jurists, and then the foreman informed the court
In his simple homespun square-cut and his cotton that they had agreed upon a verdict without leaving
shirt, open at the neck, it but accentuated their ill their seats, and the verdict was for the clergy. Again
fitting and made him look even ungainly. There· a mighty cheer. What was it? What was it? The
was one face in that courtroom that showed sorrow very air of that stuffy courtroom seemed charged
and sympathy. It was the face of the father, who, with magnetism. Two there were who did not
like Brutus of Tarquin, was there to see the death cheer, their emotions were too great-one an aged
of his son. Slowly Henry advanced to the front associate judge, whose head was bowed with tear-
of the jury. Slowly and in a low voice Henry be- filled eyes, and the other a tavernkeeper's daughter,
gan to speak. What was it? What was it? . What away at the back of the courtroom, whose tears
was he saying? What was it that was compelling came down like drops of rain, as the shaft of sun-
their attention? Those who came to jeer were lis- light from the window shone upon her bonny head.
tening, listening and they knew not why. Nor could
they define what it was that was holding them. The Again we go to the private tap room of the tavern.
same quiet voice continued, he was talking, just The rebellious spirit that was sweeping over the
talking. God, it se·emed like witchcraft. What was Colonies was commencing to become more notice-
it? What was it? And then suddenly the object able, and as the Tory subj_ects of King George
of their gaze straightened up to his full height, he talked it became apparent that it would go hard
seemed to tower above all the · world. His voice with those who were embroiled in any action of
that had been low and soft rang out like Christmas treason. Patrick Henry was not now discussed as
