The central gazette. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1820-1827, 1825-02-12

\ SOhNS4uSuSC " 50 many W huO".
| Ii Is one OF those facts that have become con.
founded by variety OF historians. Some as
serted that she losther way among the tangled
| mazes OF the swamp and sunk into some pit
or slough others more uncharitable, limited
| that she had eloped with the household booty,
and made off to some other province; while
| others assert that the tempter has deceived her
into dismal quagmire on top of which her
hat was found lying. In confirmation OF this,
it was said agreat black man with an axe on
hi, shoulder was seen late that very evening
coming out of the swamps, carrying bundle
tied in check apron, with an air OF surly tri-
umph
The most current and probable story, how
| ever, observes, that Tom Walker grew SO
anxious about the fate Of his vie and his pro-
Perty that he sat out at length To seek them
at the Indian fort During long summers
afternoon he searched about the gloomy place.
| but no wife was to be seen. lie called her
name repeatedly, but she no where to he
heard The bittern alone responded to his
voice. as he flew screaming by; or the bull
frog cruaked do!etully from neighbouring
pool A, length, it is said, just in the brown
| hour of twilight; when the owls began to
boot and the bats to fit about, his attention
was arrested by the Glamour of carbon CT ows
that were lowering about cypress tree. He
| look ed and behe6 bundle tied in d.
apron and hanging in the branches OF tn
with a great vuiture perched hard b
keeping watch upon it. Tie leaped witt
for he recognized his wice's apron. and
pos cd il TO contain the household valuables!1
| Let us get hold OF the property" said he,
| consolingly TO himself, "and we will endcavor,
to do without he woman
| AS he scrambled up the tree the vulture
spread his wide wings, and sailed off scream
| Ing into the deep shadows OF the forest. Tom
| seized the check apron, but. woIui sight
| found nothing but heart and liver tied up i'm
| it..
| Such according to the most authentic old
story, was all that was to be found of Toms
wife She had probably attempted to deal
| with the black man as she had been accustom-
| ed TO deal with her husband but although a
| female scold is considered match Tor the de-
vii, vet in this instance she appears to have
had the worst of it She must have died
game, however, from the part that remained
unconquered Indeed, it is said Tom noticed
many prints Of cloven ieet deeply stamped
about the tree, and several handfuls OF hair,
that looked a. if they had been plucked from
the coarse black shock OF the woodman.-
| Tom knew his we's proves by experience
| He shrugged his shoulders, as he looked at the
signs OF 4 fierce clapper clawing--' Egad."
SAID he TO himself, "Old Scratch must have
had tough time OF it."
| Tom ,onsoled himself for the loss of his
| property by the los, OF his wife for he was
little OF philosopher He even felt some
| thing like gratitude towards the black woods
man, who he considered had done him kind
ness. He sought, therefore, to cultivate
further acquaintance with him, but for some
tine without success; the old blpct legs PLACED
shy, for whatever people may think, he is not
always 10 be had Tor calling for: he knows
how TO play his cards when pretty sure oil his
game
AT length. 1t is said, when delay had whet-
ted Toms eagerneSo to the quiz X and pre-
pared him TO zee to any thing rather than
not gain the promised treasure, he met the
| lack man one evening Ia his usual woo5Inan
dress, with his axe on mis- shoulder, sauatering
! along the edge OF the swamp, and hummins
! tune He affected to receive Tom advances
| with great indifference, made brie. replies,
and went on humming his tune
By deg, ees, however, Tom brought him to
business, and they began to maggie about the
terms on which the former was to have the
pirates treasure There was one condition
which need not he mentioned, being genr;,.ly
understood Oh all cases where the devil grants
favours, but there were others about which,
though OF less Importance, he was nAexihly
obstinate. He insisted that the money found
through his means should DC employed in his
service. He proposed, therefore, that Tom
should employ it in the black traffic that is
to say, that he should fit out slave ship -
This, however, Tom resolutey refused he
vas bad enough in all conscience but the de-
vii himself could not tempt him to turn slave
dealer
Finding Tom so sgueamish on this point,
ne did not insist upon it, but proposed instead
that he should turn usurer; the devil being
Extremely anxious for the increase of usurers,
looking upon them as lis peculiar people.
To this no objections were made, for it was
lust to Toms taste
9. You shall open brokers' shop in Boston
lnext month"; said the black man.
"Ill 20 it tomorrow, ii you wish,'' said
Tom Walker
"You shall lend money at two per cent. a
month -
..Egad, III charge four Il" replied Tom
Walker
You shall extort bonds, forecIosc mort
+ cages, drive the merchant to bankruptcy y"
"IIl drive him to the d. said Tom
+ Walker, eagerly.
4" You ar the usurer for my money! said
the black legs, with delight, " When will you
want the rbinoi"
This very night"
g Done.' said the devil
sDonel" said Tom Walker.-So they
shook hands and struck bargain.
few days time saw Tom Walker seated
behind his desk in counting house in Bos-
ton. His reputation for ready nonied man,
who would lend money out for good cons
deration, soon spread abroad. Every body
remembers the days Of governor Belcher,
when money was particularly scarce. II was
| n time or paner credit The country had been