Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-01-23

l t"'S~ u.s. ""~oss6 60s"6 ~oSSosSOus
by q venerable black, an object 10 most
Of the village of curiosity and awe, as
there were few of the color at the time
in the country. Old Mungo was the ter
FOR Of all the village urchIns, whom their
mothers wished to frightcn into good
behaviour, and it was only when his
kindness had won my young heart, that
| lost the dread his Satanic color excit-
ed.
The village had heard ofthe incoming
Of Satan with power IN the guise Of
witches, in the neighborlng towns, but
as tho munster sal his face against the
whole matter, and the Squire laughed
at it outright, the whole affair was more
s~peculatcd upon, than dreaded or be-
lIeved. We had amongst us, a young
s%niIor, whose irregularities on all occa-
sions, had excited many a groan from
the elders; whose greatest pleasure
seemed to be, to rouse the terrors Of
the credulous black by telling him the
awful instances Of Satanic power he had
seen. Mungo's only answer to his tor
mentor was, Don't believe it, while
his eye and lip told a different story. -
But il you should see him you'd believe
them 'Yes-ycs.' well, there's no
knowing but You may see him n OF
these day. Don't believe it,. Now
Mungo rang the 0 o'clock bell, but ev-
identity with reluctance, since the awful
stories he had heard from the sailor. -
Ono moonlight night, he was pacing his
way with u beating heart to the house,
and found to his great establishment the
doors wide open. The stories he had
heard crossed his mind, and he looked
in anguish a! the open doors, expecting
tho next moment, to see the cloven foot
stalking out. However, be mustered
courage e%noughto venture one look into
the house, and his gaze was mot by two
glazing l%ack-lus.rc eyes, that seemed
like moons; his power Of motion was
gone, and his sight fixed as by a spell,
on the unearthly balls before him. The
bell now began to peal in a most irregu-
lar manner, now ringing, now toiling,
stopping a moment, then striking as be-
fore. The sound brought him to his
senses, and he ran with a vigor he would
have been incapable ola any other time
making directly for the minister's. Now
the good parson was thinking Of nothing
less, than this u%ncourteous intrusion of
the prince Of darkness into his parish, on |
the principle Of forced exchanges. He
was just solacing his cares with the
fumes of that heretical weed, I, bacco,
proposing to mediate on his nineteenth
ly and to conclude, for the next Sab
bath, when the strange chime Of the bell
caught his ear. He thought old Mum
60 possessed. When, a few minutes
after, the black himself burst into the
room without memory, his eyes jutting
out beyond his nose, his jaws quiyoring
as If he had the ague, while his colour
was something between yellow and
green. what is the matter!' inquired
the wondering priest. fThe deble,' an
swered Mungo. How often have told
you that speaking in that manner of Sa-
tan, was swearing TO all intents and pur-
poses; what is the matter, l ask" The
matter was soon told, ant the minister
tried to do away his fears; but no, he
could not be reasoned out Of the evil
dences of his eyes. Mungo was dismiss
cd with a slight reproof for his hasty in
trusion. But the bell still continued its
strange chimings, and the neighbours,
as the story got wind, equally super
stitlous, dropt into the parsonage to see
what was to be done in the emergency.
After a short consultation with the dea-
cons, it was resolved to proceed in a
body to dislodge the enemy. The min
lister felt the fears of those around him,
creeping into his W heart; and to guard
against all emergencies, thrust his bible
into one pocket Of his coat, while the
other was filled by the Westminster cat
echism, and a manuscript sermon or two
of his own. Thus doubly armed he
marched at the head Of the parishioners,
to the meeting house, whore he found a
motley group Of all ages and sexes, at "a
respectable distance however, whose Gu
riosity had brought them thus far, but
whose fears prevented from gong far
Their. sGrace be with us! A veteran in
the Indian vars hustled forward, with a
rustic sword which, had in its day done
wonders for the church militant, and Of
fered TO lead the van in the attack, but
was gravely rebuked by the minister
Put up thy sword, this matter is not to
be wrought out by carnal skill or weap-
ons.' He took the centre, lanked on
either side by his deacons-grace be
with us-the Squire and another worthy
forming a second line, while the multi
tude who were no wise desious Of show
ing their courage in an attack on an un.