Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-04-12

her daughter looked pale, and as if she
hadn't had sleep enough, and there was nc
gettin' Of her up in the mornin'; and wher
she did, she was yawnin' and gapin', anc
so dull she hadn't word TO say.
She got very uneasy about it at last and
used to get up in the night sometimes, and
call her darter. and make her 90 off TO bed
and once or twice came plaguy near catch
ing of them. So what does Barney do
but takes two niggers with him when he
goes arter that, and leaves them on the
roof, and fastensa large basket to the rope
and tells them if they feel the rope pulled to
hoist away for dear life, but not to speak
word for the world. Well one night the
old woman came TO the door as usual, and
sails:
"Jerusha," says she, "what on airth ais
you, to make you sit up all night that way;
do come to bed, that's dear"
presently, marm," sails she, II am wrast.
ling with the evil one now; III come pres.
emily"
Dear, DEAR" sails she, "you have wrastled
long enough with him TO have throwed
him by this time. If you can't throw him
now. give it up, or he may throw you"
"Prestently, marm," sails her darter.
otis always the same tune sails her
mother, going off grumbling; otis always
presently, presently; what has got into the
gal to act so. Oh, dear! what pertracted
time she has on it. She has been sorely
exercised, poor girl"
AS soon as she had gone, Barney larfed
so he had to put his arm round her waist
to steady him on the bench, in a way that
didn't look onlike rompn', and when he
went TO whisper, he larfcd 80 he did nothin'
but touch her cheek with his lips, in way
that looked plaguily like kissing, and felt
like it too, and she pulled TO get away, and
they had Almost regular wrastle as they
set on the bench, when, as luck would have
it, over went the bench and down went
both on 'em on the floor, with an awful
smash, and in bounced the old woman.
(Which is uppermost!' sails she; shave
have you throw'd Satan, or has Satan
throw'd you7 Speak, Rusty; speak, dear;
who's throw'd!"
81 have throw'd him." sails her darter;
"and | hope l have broke his neck, he
acted So"
"Come to bed, them" sails she, darling,
and be thankful; say prayer backward,
and'-
Jist then the old woman was seized round
the waist, hoisted through the trap door to
the roof and from there to the top of the
crane, where the basket stopped, and the
first thing she know'd, she was away up
ever 80 far in the air, swingin' in large
basket, and no soul near her.
Barney and his niggers cut stick double
quick, crept into the bushes. and went all
round to the road in front of the house.
just as day was breakin'. The old woman
was then singin' out for dear life. kickin'.
and squealin', and cryin', and prayin', a II
in one, properly frightened. Down runs
Barney as hard as he could clip, lookin as
innocent as if he'd never heerd nothin' Of
it. and pretendn' to be horrid frightened,
offers his services. climbs up, releases the
old woman, and gets blessed and thanked.
and thanked and blessed, till he was tired of
il.
"Oh!" says the old woman. "Mr. Oxman,
the moment Jerusha throwed the evil one.
the house shook like an earthquake, and as
entered the room he seized me, put me
into his basket, and flew off with me. Oh.
shall never forget his fiery eye-balls, and
the horrid smell of birthstone he had"
Had he a cIoven foot and a long tail!'
sails Barney.
II couldn't see in the dark" sails she, "but
his claws were awful sharp; oh. how they
dug into my ribs!-It cen Almost took the
flesh off-oh, dear!-Lord have mercy on
us hope he is laid in the Red Sea- now.
II tell you what it is, Aunty," says Bar
ney, "that's an awful story; keep it secret,
for your life;-foks might say the house
was harnted--that you was possessed, and
that Jerushy was in league with the evil
one. Don't so much as lisp syllable OF
it to Twin sinner breathen'; keep the Sc.
cret and will help you
The hint took; the old woman had nc
wish to be burnt or drown'd for a witch
and the moment a felier has a ,coman'ssecret
he is that ,Uoman'S master He was invited
there, stayed there, and married there; bu
the old woman never know'd who The
Evil One" was, and always thought till heT
dyin' day it was Old Scratch himself
AFTER her death they didn't keep it secre
no longer; and many a good laugh ha,
there been at the story of Barney Oxmar
and the Evil One.
an n