Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-05-31
NO. a

tuorh, MUCH given totntemperance. Ills ha-
hiiuai drunkenness had made way with all
add sundry OF his goods and chatteh, and
likewise destroyed his credit Ono morpipr
after a debauch over night. he was greatly
! perplexed how TO come at "a drop Of COM
fori;' said he, If ] pawn any ofmy tools I
shall be unable TO pursue my calling, and I
have nothing besides While deeply enga.
ged in cogitauon, the Devil entered the
shop, and demanded the cause Of his being
dIsheartened and downcast. Jack shortly
made him acquainted with his troubles, and
his inability 10 disengagc himself from them.
The Devil then offered 60 furnish him
with money for seven years, IL, at the end OF
the term, he would give himsclfinto his own
power. Upon these terms they shortly con-
Guided a bargain, and the Devil left him. Be-
fore the expiration Of the seven years, how
ever, the holy st. Patrick having OCCASION
TO travel in that region, called on Jack TO
have his horse shod. After shoelng the horse.
he refused TO receive any thing in payment
and the saint, 10 reward him, offered to
grant him any three requests which he might
make. The first request was, that whoever
took bold Of his sledge handle might be O.
bliged TO use the siedge until relieved by him;
and The reason was, that persons called in
trequently to assist him, and tired themselves
cut before be bad finished his work. Tho
chair which he was accustomed to use.
sometimes would not contain him; therefore.
his second request was. that whoever sac
down in ipst chair should be deprived OF tho
ability to rise without his leave. He then
observed that be often lost small change
can the pocket of the brecches which Re
usually wore. and desired that whatever IA
might put IN that pocket could not get out
until taken out by him After granting these
reanaa,e f,. aa,nf tack his faay. A
of The term agreed on. the Devil appeared
and claimed the faiflment Of the CONTRACTS
Jack protested his readiness 10 accompany
him. But said he, Il am forging some trama
mels for a nesghbouring woman, and she
! will scold like beidam il | leave them unfi-
nished, take the sledgc and strike a fw
blows for me- The Devil complied, and
Jack went off TO the House. After a time ho
returned and found the old fellow still smit>
ing the anvil. blow after blow, without pow
er TO slack or discontinue his labours. lie
then offered to lengthen the lease Of his lifu
seven years more, on condition of being dis.
charged; and upon these terms Jack ibcrat-
ed him.
AT the expiration Of the second term ho
again returned FOE his victim. Jack desired
him 10 sit down, and he would be ready in =
few moments. He sat down, and consc.
quentiy finding himself again c~ntrappod, ho
heightened the term yet another seven yea. o.
and being dismissed, departed.
"When he called for BIN the third time.
Jack begged the privilege Of changing his
clothes, which was granted by his majesty.
Getting on his old ~breeches, they started III
in company. They had not travelled far be-
fore Jack said TO his companion; 81 am dry.
and here is an old woman Of my acquaint-
ance who keeps whiskey: now you change
4 .....nt ..xA .zx., .rl ...lI .-a - - n
20 my pocket, and we will 60 in and have
some sport with the old woman Being me-
tamorphosed, Jack pocketed him and went
along where sosne tnip-hammcrs were at
work, and desired the workmen to give his
old breeches q hammering, as they were
hard and stiff, They, willing to enjoy a lit
tic sport, clapped the breeches under a ham
mer. which risking the poor Devils situa-
ton rather unpleasant, caused him to stir
himself within the pocket, which, OF course.
gave to the breeches a strange and myste-
rious movement Some Of the workmen OBJ
served that the Devil was in the brooches.
and placed them under the heaviest hammer.
This soon caused the old fellow to roar out:
Gel his claim ON Jack, and relieve him for
ever, without any condition. Upon these
terms he was suffered to depart
although able to gull and cheat the De-
vii, Death would not be denied Afcr a
fine he died. Having made his way to tho
gates of heaven he requested admittancc.
Ills name being demanded, he responded
Jack OLanthorn.' He was then informed
that he must go where he had sold himself.
lie then started for another place, not ex-
sctly SO agreeable; after cropping his way
through darkness, thick fogs and mists, and
overcoming many other obstacles, he reach
ed the gate, and stormed away sharply to
gain amil.ance. The Devil after obtaining
his identity, and telling him that he had
found it TO be for his interest TO have az lit.
lie TO do with him as possible, ordered him
off; but be refused TO depart, unless they
weuId furnish him with a torch TO enable
him to see his way. To get lid Of his impor-
t%unities, they gave him one, with which ho
has been roaming about ever since. Being
a spirit, of course there is nothing yissble,
saving the torch; and this Is the true origin
of Jack OsLanthorn, so often seen and won-
dered at" -
Too children, a brother and sister, har'ag
got into n ,crongle about a plaything, the ,dlfs
girl, toho ros about 4 years cid, pushee her
brother, and Ia turn ths brother struck his SIS
ter. TIE father after rebuking them, aud tel
ling them ho,o scicked il tcas for brothers and
sisters 10 quarrel, asked them If they sSere not
sorry. They readily a~nstsered in the q6irma-
tire. The father then told them that they muse
tel each other that theu tce1e sorry. This was