A small serious man enters, wearing a leather weskit, a bloused linsey-woolsey shirt, and old leather boots.

He goes up to the back wall and takes out a small tack-hammer and some tacks, and from inside his generous shirtfront, removes a heavy sheepskin scroll, whcih he proceeds to unroll. Holding the tacks in his thin, determined mouth, he tacks the scroll up by the corners, one at a time, tending to the level and plumb of it, and stands back when done to admire his handiwork.

It is an old and weathered notice, its edges work but its surface a clear pale shade of oak, and its letters strongly and clearly formed, the lines straight, but of varying widths on the verticals, horizontals and looped strokes, as if executed in a quill pen.

It reads:

 

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, in just Punishment of our manifold Transgressions, it hath
pleased the Supreme Disposer of all Events to visit these United States with a
calamitous War, through which his Divine Providence hath hitherto in a wonderful
Manner conducted us, so that we might acknowledge that the Race is not to the
Swift, nor the Battle to the Strong:

AND WHEREAS, notwithstanding the Chastisements received and Benefits
bestowed, too few have been sufficiently awakened to a Sense of their
Guilt, or warmed with Gratitude, or taught to amend their Lives and turn from
their Sins, that so he might turn his Wrath:

AND WHEREAS, from a Consciousness of what we have merited at his Hands,
and an Apprehension that the Malevolence of our disappointed Enemies,
like the Incredulity of Pharaoh, may be used as the Scourge of Omnipotence to
vindicate his slighted Majesty, there is Reason to fear that he may permit much of
our Land to become the Prey of the Spoiler, our Borders to be ravaged, and
our Habitations destroyed:

RESOLVED, THAT it be recommended to the several States to appoint the
First Thursday in May next to be a Day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer to
Almighty God, that he will be pleased to avert those impending Calamities which we
have but too well deserved:

That he will grant us his Grace to repent of our Sins, and amend our
Lives according to his Holy Word;

That he will continue that wonderful Protection which hath led us through the Paths of Danger and Distress: That he will
be a Husband to the Widow, and a Father to the fatherless Children, who weep
over the Barbarities of a Savage Enemy;

That he will grant us Patience in Suffering, and Fortitude in Adversity;

That he will inspire us with Humility, Moderation, and Gratitude in
prosperous Circumstances: That he will give Wisdom to our Councils, Firmness to our
Resolutions, and Victory to our Arms;

That he will bless the Labours of the Husbandman, and pour forth
Abundance, so that we may enjoy the Fruits of the Earth in due Season: That he will
cause Union, Harmony, and mutual Confidence to prevail throughout these
States;

That he will bestow on our great Ally all those Blessings which may
enable him to be gloriously instrumental in protecting the Rights of Mankind, and
promoting the Happiness of his Subjects;

That he will bountifully continue his paternal Care to the Commander in
Chief, and the Officers and Soldiers of the United States;

That he will grant the Blessings of Peace to all contending Nations, Freedom to
those who are in Bondage, and Comfort to the Afflicted;

That he will diffuse Useful Knowledge, extend the Influence of True
Religion, and give us that Peace of Mind which the World cannot give;

That he will be our Shield in the Day of Battle, our Comforter in the
Hour of Death, and our kind Parent and merciful Judge through Time and through
Eternity.

Done in CONGRESS,

this Twentieth Day of March, in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven
Hundred and Seventy-Nine, and in the Third Year of our Independence.

JOHN JAY, President.

Attest.

CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.

PHILADELPHIA: PRINTED BY HALL AND SELLERS.

The strange little man nods, content, and wanders back out into the cooling evening.