The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-06-05

M couldn't move the old fellow,
wv Tom. He's as obstinate as n
mule"
81 didn't think you could get him.
He isn't that kind"
80 much the worse for him. We've
been up to his place twice to-day. We
offered him a good position and prom
ised him protection, but he never an
swered a word. I'm sorry for the old
man, but tomorrow he'll have to take
the oath or swing for it,"
Hell swing, then, for he'll never take
1t. l know Judge Williams--he's got
his mind made up, and that's the end
OF it,"
"Well, it's his own choice; he has no.
body to blame but himself"
The speaker turned and left the two
boys with whom he had been talking.
lie was a sergeant serving under Tarle-
ton, who had dispatched band of n
hundred men to scour that portion Of
South Carolina in the summer of 1850
and drive out the wings or compel them
to take the oath of allegiance to the
British king. They had encamped for
the night under the shelter of hill,
on the summit OF which was the home
of Judge Williams. n stalwart whig,
and their two visits to him that after
noon had not availed TO shake the old
mans resolution.
The two boys to whom the young ser
geant had been relating the story of
the fruitless attempts were Tom
Crowell and John Blake. Toms moth
er was widow, and when detachment
OF Tarleton's men had stopped at her
home on the preceding day and offered
him his choice between leaving the
country or joining their band, one lool,
at the children and one thought of the
suffering which his mother might be
compelled to undergo had decided him.
Forgetting loyalty to country for the
sake of his mother and the children, he
had yielded. A similar offer TO his
friend and neighbor, John Blake, had
made him yield also; and much against
their will the two boys found them
selves serving nnder the British Has.
They were not given much liberty,
however and soon saw that they were
regarded with suspicion in spite OF the
cath they had taken.
81 say. john" said Tom, soon after
the interview with the sergeant, when
both boys lay wrapped in their blan-
kets on the ground, II wish we'd done
as Judge williams has. That's what
my sister Nancy wanted me TO do all
the time"
1--WE couldn't help IT," replied John.
"What could two boys only is years old
do, I'd like to know"
"Oh, we had TO do it, I reckon. Still,
somehow, / wish we hadn't. wonder
what the Judge viii do now?"
SSH" whispered John. Here comes
the guard" And both became silent
aud were soon asleep.
Meanwhile Judge Williams was do
inc his utmost TO answer Toms ques.
tion. He fully realized that the NOR
rbw would sec the matter decided, aud
he knew too much about the suffcrings
OF his whig neighbors 10 be long In
doubt as 10 what would happen. The
energetic old man promptly decided
that Il would be better for him 20 net
than TO leave IL all with Tarleton's men
and accordingly, soon after sunset, hs
sent his faithful servants In every direc
ton to summon those OF his neighbori
upon whom he knew he could rely
Slowly the men began 10 gather at his
home. They came singly, or by twos OF
thrces, and every man had his flint
lock. A whispered word from the judg,
explained the purpose of the call. ans
A decided nod was the reply of eacl
as he took his seat and waited il
silence,