Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-10-14
A NoUVELL ETTEE,



A long, long while ago, In the good old days
when witches had legal existence, and old Mex,
by the wilfuness Of mans belief was allowed
converse with the human race, lived old Bena-
min Peasblossom, He had houses and lands aud
bonds and mortgages, and horses and cattle and
moreover, certain old chests, which, despite their
iron ribs, were bursting with the gold aud
silver-he lOrs aud hali-joes, the pistOes ana the
pistareens he had claInnIed into their capacous
mouths. Now, rs the story goes, Benjamin had
not come as honestly and fairly by his money as
he might have done; but it was saId, that once
as the clock struck IL at night, in the damp vault
of the church-yard, aud on the lid OF coffin,
with blood out of his veins, and with pen made
of dead mems nails Benjamin had given and
granted, released. enteotfed conveyed and con-
firned, his soul unto the devil, in consideration
that he, the devil aforesaid, would prosper the
said Benjamin in all his undertakings; with pro-
yisO, nevertheless, that if the SAID Benjamin the
day of forfeiture should give the devil task
which he could not perform in twcvemontf,
then the said Benjamin should stand free and alb
sol ed.
Now, after this, Benjamin waxed richer and
richer and richer; he became the most important
man III the village; he WAS appointed overseer of
the poor, and one of the select men of the own ;
and at the time when old Nick called OH him for
payment, he was actually an elder o! the village
church.
The manner of this visit was this. One cold
winters evening, Benjamin was sitting alone by
his fire, the wind moaning around his house like
the cries OF the widowed and atheress ailer their
dowry rights and patrimones and he thinking a.
bout forclosing mortgage when he heard geI-
tie tap at the door, and tall Werter faced sort
of man. melancholy and conference.-the, en-
tered aud took Il seat opposite to Peasblossoin.
Ha already = exclaimed Benjamin, reaching
out his arm for a small pocket bible which lay on
the table.
i have been patient enough mehinks,' said
his Vsiier; and although it be naughty night
to SWIM in, as my friend Will has it, | hope the
honor of your company
4 cannot go YET said Benjamin, removing his
chair little ways. Next week comes a quar-
ter, and then there is Deacon Gray's interest to
come in, and old Thompson's mortgage to be fore.
closed indeed, my friend, it is quite inconvenient
to go just now
u .ancy,' replied the other with courteous
smile, thou wilt find it announcement always $50
thou must cen away 10 night
Il cannot follow thee,' said Benjamin, stering
wildly around and gasring for breath.
But thou must. unless thou wilt give me a task
that cannot perform, and that fancy thou canst
scarcely do
Beujanlin's head sunk upon his hands; to puz
zle old Scratch he thought was no easy matter.--
His vsiter, who felt secure OF his prey, leisurey
drew cigar from his pocket, lighted it and com
menced putting. 1t emitted blush flame and
indeed in itself much resembed haIf-grown roll
of birthstone. When the ume reached the nos
trls of Benjamin, he wigged upeasily in his chair,
ard fell into great perturbation OF spirit bethnk
ing h'tse" oi deN''ieh turkey 'egs' poacheh eggs,
roasted potatoes, ana peel steaks ana grid-lrohs
meahtlthe me mo'gagee OF Benjamin sonl,sousht
W ahuse m''hsei "un DOCK or TWO ying on me
mantel' tie passed i9stlnc'ively by The Chris
tian Soldier and Holy Living and Dying yawn-
ell a moment over Shakespeare; but espying To-
eol9co newspaper, inc i"iner OF lies ie'' that lie
bau re"ui's Cohgeh'a' 10 MS 'aste
AT leng'h benJamIn's face frightened, and he
eNv,a',nen' ! nave H. nave 1t "e'y "'es 10
MAKE my me'ghbor Lazy Jake rich
, "" Nv q"olli 'hG ue'n Gus 'le w'hu III
til"l quarter! 'eA''e 'oo was 'r'ie W 'na' ou'
since 'hou hasI sci me !ask' II would oe UNSEEN
III 'l'o W ioti'" my P''Ae "''"ou' I'LL e"uea'ot
pteoo''o IT, -,
suppose we cancel 'he oohu III once s"'a oeh-
J"'n''' anu 4 w'l e.Ve you III ac'i',''"lo1'
w" ,'oInle loigol MS ncc"slot,e e g"ou nrefo
ny "a, 'ne Propos"ioh' ana u"qna"neey er'''hed
NO. sa'u nc, 10 now Po'n' Vi hoior WIN
me- "," ny '''en"s' ms lawyers ga" "e'P ms at
p'hch' lheY nave such all ingenious way OF
transferring estates ,ha' II can se' JAKE aunt
te" u me pai' sha nave ING p'easuie vi youi
company very soon
h,er ut'e!i"S 'h's Pieasuntry' "'e heh" vi .he
iega' profession looked cautiously round Tearing
INA, soh1 Vi 'l'e 'n.e'n''y ,"u oVe'he"'u nun
pu, inc o"iy anu''oh 10 me company was Den
Jai'ii!s uuusn'er susan me oonnc'i,s n'anen
oI IoHr'eeh' WIN neart as lrfe OF guhe as
New i",N uaIyu,d' ' 'h,N ~ c,e ,,,. 81 ...
La, pa, Nlu '1"Ney' o'u" N"o" Vi your
hay,'g company
he uoVi' noweuT me- are always so pohe,-
hllsS cni'eeeyeu' iho ue'" has saeh '"h'ns
why WIN mum
wen 'f,tnu is q"o,ll ne OF me iap
uIous laa' 'n'S ''''e an"'r VIII soon oe se't'ed
ana olea ,,--,......,., c.,,
la, pa interrupted ouNey' what shle'i
pril.slohe' .,,c,
nnu .n'''' 'o"''""'u o'u 00o''o ~ benjamin
you must -
BenJamln conghed very loudly looked mpor
ingy at Satan, Inl!'hatiHg mat lie would dispense
with The percora''"h' .
"a has got such bad colo'' sa'd susan.
w ell, as extremes meet, replied Clooup, 1T