Great Story. Heard it on the radio. During the 1700′s one Michael Whitman owned a hotel in Ephrata, PA, and was an outspoken Tory during the American Revolution. Less than a mile from Whitman’s inn lived Peter Miller and his celibate followers of the famed Ephrata Cloister. Witman’s hatred of Peter Miller was well-known. Miller was berated, taunted, and severely persecuted by the Ephrata innkeeper, but the Cloister Prior chose to suffer in silence. One wintry evening, two men stopped at Whitman’s hotel for supper and lodging for the night. Unknown to Whitman, the two were American spies. As the outspoken innkeeper began to condemn the American Cause, the spies jumped up and told Witman he was under arrest. Whitman escaped, but was later captured and taken to Philadelphia to be tried for treason. When word reached Miller that Whitman was to be hanged, Miller set out on foot through the snow to visit General George Washington at Valley Forge to intercede for Whitman’s life. As he was admitted into Washington’s presence, Miller pleaded for the life of the traitor. But the General said, “No Peter, I can’t grant you the life of your friend.” “Friend?” said Miller, “why, Michael Whitman is my worst enemy!” Washington was astonished! “You mean you walked more than sixty miles through the snow to save the life of your worst enemy? Well, if that’s the case, that puts the matter in a different light. I’ll grant you Whitman’s pardon.” The pardon was signed and handed to Miller, who at once set out for West Chester (fifteen miles from Valley Forge) where the execution was to take place that same afternoon. He arrived just as Whitman was being escorted to the scaffold. Upon seeing the Cloister Prior, Whitman scoffed, “There’s ‘Old-Man Miller.’ He has walked all the way from Ephrata to have his revenge gratified today in seeing me hung.” But the words were scarcely spoken when Miller waved the pardon and commanded the executioners to halt. Whitman’s life was spared, and the man whom Peter Miller took with him back to Ephrata was no longer an enemy, but a friend!
Posted on: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 15:48:31 +0000
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