The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-11-28

invited in, and merry Thanksgiving
,carousaI wassin the fun tide Of success
full operation, when one Of the boys.
who had been sent into the cell1r viii,
little tow ,cicket candle, which gave
Just light enough to make darkness vis-
ible, to draw cider. ran back INTO the
room with eyes glaring wildly, uttering
a half suffocated. exclamation-"TAe
deu7 is in Tie cellar!" "Pohr' said the
father, "you, have been frightened at
your own shadow-giye me the light"
On which he seized The candle, leaving
the pewter candlestick cienched fast in
the shaking hand of the boy, and boldly
rushed to the cellar stl irs; but ere he
had descended half the steps, the large
saucer eyes and enormous horns OF the
beast caused him TO retreat, as much
terrified as his son---"Surea enough tho
devil is in the celldrf1 The utmost
confusion and uproar now prevailed in
the house. The good man seized the
great Bible and attempted to read, bot
the candle sputtered, 2 burnt blue, and
threw SO feeble a. light on the sacred
page, and the book trembled so in the
hand of the reader, that he could not
Distinguish one word from another.-
The children cried and clung to their
mother the lasses nestled close to
their favorite swains-ane the whole
house shook with the agitation Of its
half demented inhabitants. One bright
thought, however, occurred--a messen.
ger was despatched to the minister,",o
lay the DEVIL. ssss II ra d ,go., gf ,r,.
e.a The parson, man more celebrated
for good nature, piety and crcdulity,
than for talents or heroism, slipped the
small Bible INTO his pocket, put on his
band and surplice, thathe might appear
as formidable to his great adversary az
possible, and fastened to the relief of
the distressed Pensioners. :. s''ls
On coming to the house, the revern-
ed man was hailed as deliverer, andim-
plored by at least dozen voices at
once to .'drive the devil away."-But
few moments were lost in asking ques-
tlons, which none could answer, before
the parson was pushed forward as
leader, lighted by the same penurious
candle into The cellar, the most cour-
ageous Of the company keeping close
behind him. When he reached the foot
Of the stairs, the eyes of fire aud the
shadowy outlines Of enormous horns,
magnifed ten fold at least by the ter
rors ofthose that beheld them, remoy-
ed all doubts, if any had previously ex-
listed in the mind, as TO the Internal ma
ture Of the being he had 10 contend
with. The divine instantly fell on his
knees, and with uplifted hands began
| to pray in his most fervent manner.
The ram not understanding the good
mans motives, but supposing BY the
motion Of his hands, that he was dar-
ing him to butting contest, made n
pass with all his might at his supposed
adversary, but deceived by the swelling
dimensions of his drapery, missed the
slender body of the priest, and draw
ing hastily back to renew the assault,
hooked one ofhis horns into the belt Of
his surplice, and pulled the parson into
the cellar! While thus in the power
of his victorious foe, lost to hope as it
regarded himself, the natural benevo.
llence Of his disposition burst forth in
The exclamation, "Brethren take care
of yourse' ves-the devil has got mel"
This cxhortation was better obeyed
than any that he had ever delivered
from the pulpit his friends all fled and
left him to his fate, .ev !of l.s s.;l.i 4aza
i. Among the companyswas a shrewd
young farmer, who had from the first
supposed the head1io be nothiny-more
than some. domestic animai,, but being
aloyer offun, and willing to see a com
edy, hekepthis thoughts to himselfand
pretended to sympatbize with the 9TH
ers in their fears, He now thought it
time to interfere, and esnatching pine
knot blazing from the fire, expressed
his determination to rescue the. priest
or perish IN the attempt, A lovely
young damsel laid hold Of the skirts Of
his coat, and the cry Of @don't, don't"
proceeded from every part OF the room.
Unheeding this kind concern for his
safety, he rushed into the cellar, seized
the ram BY one of his horns, and drag
gedthe struggling animal up stairs, cal
ling to the ustouished rparson. follow
ms''-Hthe horned devil was led in tri-
umph followed by the vanquished eccle-
siastlc, into the midst Of the company.
a momentary silence and hsnging down
ofheads ensued- The past scene, how
ever, was too lndicrous to admit Of so
Der reelection, and loud peals OF laugh
ter burst forth from, every side. during
which the rambwas turned out at the