An easy job certainly!
My heart grew light; I arose to go, thanking the judge cordially.
He said: “One moment, madam.”
I went back, and he handed me a pen, ink, and slip of paper, saying:
“Just sign this, please. It is of no consequence at all—a mere matter of form—only you can not see your friends without it.”
There spread out before me was the ironclad oath!
Without a moment’s hesitation I replied:
“The oath, Judge Turner! Am I to sign that? I can not! and never will!”
He smiled apologetically and said:
“It is of no consequence—only a little form that we have to insist on. Sign it, and you can go to your friends.”