Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-07-28

the cause OF liberty. AT times the val
ley would fall into the hands of the
British and tories, and the boys of the
Mohawk were not permitted to make
known their sentiments. The allies
were both cruel and watchful, and woe
to the American household that gave
aid and encouragement to the patriots,
Not far from the Mason home stood
the house Of one of the bitterest Of all
the Mohawk tories.
The man was Jason Sargent, and
whenever his people held the valley he
would signify his approval Of their
atrocious deeds by raising a British flag
upon a staff near his dwelling.
The flag waving in the breeze became
an eyesore to the patriots, but they
dared not modest it for fear of tory ven
geance. They could only hope that the
fortunes of war would turn against
the enemy, and that another standard,
fairer in their eyes, would greet the
light of day from the top of the tory's
pole.
No one hated the flag more than
young Obed.
He could see it from the window Of
the attic where he slept, and it was the
first thing that greeted his eyes in the
morning after a night Ct sleep.
He watched it for months, and then
the return of the patriot army seemed
as far off as ever.
Jason Sargent will lose his flag one
of these nights" said the little rebel
of the Mohawk, one afternoon, to his
mother. "Some one will spirit it away,
and then the tory of Sargent house will
have to coax another from Sir John
Johnston"
Jason guards 1t well, my son." was
the answer HE will take good care of
his prize, and 1 fear it will float on the
breezes till our people come back and
take possession of the valley again."
But the boy had formed plan for the
capture Of the obnoxious banner, and
that night he retired to his little attic
with a good deal of excitement.
The last thing he saw, as he put out
the candle, was the flag waving against
the starry sky over Jason Sargent's
yard, but he did not throw himself
upon ms bed.
Obed's father was in the army with
Gen. Schuyler, the famous patriot, and
he thought that if he could capture the
flag waving SO defiantly from Jason's
staff, he would be doing the cause of
liberty an excellent service.
When the little household below
stairs became quiet, the patriot boy
slipped down the ladder which led from
the attic and thence from the house.
The night was quite dark, for but
few stars were seen in the sky, and
these at times We're lost to view be.
hind banks of clouds that drifted from
the west.
1t did not take Obed long to reacl,
the premises occupied by the tory, and
he stopped near the flagstaff and looked
up at the emblem which defied the
"rebels" OF the Mohawk.
The flag itself was little higher than
the roof of the Sargent house and foated
from the end of strong pole which
would bear the weight of person stout
er than Cbed.
He listened as he waited in the darl,
shadows of the house, for the tory WIS
in the large room, making merry with
u number Of neighbors Of his own faith,
and Obed's keen ears caught the sound
OF laughter mingled with the clink of
their glasses as they drank confusion
and defeat to Washington and his
brave men.
Above all arose the harsh voice of the
big tory, as he told how his flag had
waved defiance in the very faces of the
patriots, and how he intended to keep