Year: 1870




have they sent him back this answer -


1--WE respect the King, but we will
never submit to tyranny"


Night wore on. Still the hirelng judge
sat on the bench and administered the
laws of his master, and still the loud
murmurs Of the excited crowd rang in
his ears. Suddenly all grew still with
out-the crowd swayed back like awave
of the sea, and a score of armed men
advanced al ang the atreet. There was
moments pause.-Then with heavy
crash the door gave way and they filed
in at the lower end of the courtroom.


The little column of men presented
strange and startling appearance. Old
hunters were there in their rude hunting
shirts, with their long knives and deadly
rifes-old men who seemed scarcely able
to bear their own weight, and some were
but mere boys who had caught the terri
bly, catching rebellion, the determination
to maintain their rights even at the per-
il ofstheir lives. They were armed with
guns, swords, pistols, knives, and any
thing and everything they could seize in
their wild excitement as they hurried
away from their homes to maintain their
rights. At the head of this little col
umn stood tall and delicate looking
youth. He was their leader. His face
was white as the driven snow and he was
! pale, very pale, but not with fear. Had
you seen him anywhere else but there
| and marked the calm and almost timid
expression of his large blue eyes, and
his peaceful demeanor, you might not
have thought him one who would brave
danger and death with an undaunted
heart. Yet in such an hour as this he
knew no fear, and was the foremost in
danger and daring, and the first to strike
the long expected blow that was destined
to tear asunder the chains of whole
nation.


There was pause. For moment


all was silent within. Nothing was heard


but the low and half-smothered breath


ing of the terrified tories and Britons a;


they gazed on the terrible array of arm


ed men that had burst upon them so sud


denly. But this silence was of short du


ration, for that pale youth stepped bold
\ ly out from among his companions, ad


vanced into the middle of the room, and


casting look of most whitening con


tempt on the terror stricken Judge, hi


waved his hand towards the door ano


Kissed three words between his clenchec


teeth" Begone, dogs, begone!"
In an instant all was uproar and con


fusion. The venerable judge in his fea
forgot his authority, and with the clerl


and other officers of the law, he rushed
out of the room in terror and dismay
followed by half a score of no less fright
ened tories.


The first victory was one The Brit
ons were gone and the Americans stoo'
| there in triumph. while the crowd with
out sent up shout of exultation tha
shook the old building to its very centre
, But before the echoes of that shout 0
triumph had died away among the dis
tant hills, while the brave band of mel
were still gathered at the lower end 0
| the court room, and while that nobl
r youth still stood in the middle of th
; floor, gazing at the door where the Brit
f ons had but just disappeared, there wa
, hurried tramping without, a confuse'
: struggle and the crowd shrank back
' while company Of soldiers rushed u
E in front of the court house windows
D They were commanded by tall, dark
and fierce looking tory, who raising him
: self on his feet and gazing in at the win
e dow, shouted in thunder tones:
}. In the name of the King ] comman
4 you to surrender"


t The bold youth whose tall form still
e lowered in the middle Of the court room
. sent back but one word in answer
4 I" Never Z"


n Again the blood-thirsty tory command
e ed them to surrender, and again tina
I stern word nerer rang out loud and clea
n on the still air.


There was moments pause and the
. red, fierce glare lit up the atmospher


without and score of balls crashe
Il through the windows.


4 Look now, as the heavy roar dies ava
among the distant hills, and the smok
rises up in broad wreath from the tor
and blackened windows. look and behol


the first blood of the Revolution Th
e brave youth that but one moment ag
n stood up in defiance of his countrv's foe
: now lies stretched on his back with th
d red blood bursting from his foreheas
t. pouring over bis cheek, dyeing his nee
is and bosom and gathering in pool o
,fl the floor at his side, while his brave con
% rades stand around his body.
v 1t was fearful sight For few m
re ments the fallen youth lay motionles
h Suddenly his death-glazing eyes opene