Indefinite as are most of the details, there are some
unwritten points that may confidently be assumed.

That 22d of September was a Sabbath day, a
day associated in Nathan Hale's mind with religious
observances; prayers at the family altar,
readings of the Bible, and gatherings of his friends
within church walls. Whether or not his family
knew the dangerous quest on which he had ventured,
he knew that he was not absent from their
memories, and that the family were bearing him
in their thoughts that Sabbath morning. No
other day could have made that assurance so real
to him, and this thought was probably one of his
strongest earthly consolations and inspirations
while he was awaiting the slow but relentless preparations
for his death.

No wonder that he bore himself "calmly and
with dignity," as Captain Montressor said of him.
No wonder that he died bravely--seemingly without
a tremor of soul. In his last words Nathan
Hale, true and faithful in every relation and every
act of his brief life, gave to his country more than
his life, more than all the hopes he was relinquishing
so freely for her sake. In one short, indomita-able
breath of patriotism, he uttered words that
will be forgotten only when American history
ceases to be read.

[[87]]

p086 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p087w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p088

v?