Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-04-04
The Devil i'm the Diamond
Market.

of other gentlemen who have by some
means or other acquired the reputation
OF having an Intimate acquaintance
with "the gentleman in black :" but
after the performance which took
place in the Pittsburgh Market on
Friday and Tuesday evening last. we
came to the conclusion that the "Fakir
OF Ava" was touch ahead of both the
Devil and DIR. Faustus. !"
On Friday evening we visited the
Market to lay in, as usual, our stock
of "provender," as Dugald Dalgetty
says. While looking around at the
piles Of good things with which our
friends from the country delight to
supply us smoke dried citizens, pro-
vlded we have the ready cash to pay
them, our attention was excited by an
unusual movement to and from par
ticular point. Expecting to pick up a
subject Tor paragraph, we, as faithful
chroniclers of events, FASTENED to the
spot and inquired Of friend the cause
OF all this commotion. lie replied that
he believed "the Devil must be in that
box of eggs" pointing to large box
which stood close by, & for" says he,
"a gentleman was just making some
inquiries as to their soundness, when
of sudden the eggs seemed endowed
with life, and commenced chirping like
a thousand crickets, and then, as if
veritable chickens were struggling out
Of them, the eggs commenced capering
and dancing about in the strangest
manner. This has caused the owners
fright, as well as the by-standers, all of
whom are wondering at the cause of the
strange phenomenon"
On inquiring after the person who
had priced the eggs, stout gentleman
in a cloth cloak was pointed out, in
whom we at once recognized the Cen
uine Fakir.1 There he stood looking
as unconcerneh as you please but we
observed smile playing about the
corners of his mouth, and a look of
devilment in his eye told us to look
out for sport. We were not mistaken
He walked up very sedately to an Irish
woman, the possessor of basket Of
Plucked poultry, and took up large
turkey, "a very old gobler, blythe
by.)
"Good woman" said he, very de-
mure!y, " as ! am no very great Judge
of poultry, tell me, is this a young
turkey ?"
The woman eyed him a moment,
as if to ascertain if he was quizzing
her.
Yes, sir, it's only yearling,' she
said, at the same time turning her head
to answer another customer.
otis very heavy" continued the
Fakir pray what's the price Of it Z"
"One dollar" replied the lady of
the poultry"
"Pm afraid it's too heavy to be
young" says the Fakir.
Pom me conscience" says she,
!" it's only year and a quarter ould.-
If ye're a judge, the cratur will speak
for ITSELF"
At the instant she pronounced these
words, the turkey raised its head, some
what after the fashion of a shake, and
with open mouth said, or seemed to
say, " You lie, you jade I'm five
years old past" To this all the poul-
try in the basket responded by an
unusual cackling, growing and COB
bling.
The poultry woman turned up her
eyes, clasped her hands over her head.
aud calculating, "Holy Mother !"
bolted up Diamond alley as if the
gentleman with the :. cloven foot"
was after her, never stopping to look
behind until she was fairly in Wood
street.
The Fakir walked on, and stopped
to make room for countryman who
was in the act Of cuttingl of a calf's
head. "B-a-a," went the head. "0h,"
says the eountryman, looking over his
shoulder, thinking that some one had
been trucking him. He was evidently
surprised. At this moment the Fakir
addressed him with, What will you
take for the veal's head ?" "Ba-a-a :
Help! help" cried the head. A hogs
carcass hanging close by gave one Of
those alto grunts, accompanied by a
squeal on 6 sharp, so loud, so long, SO
piercing, that we can only compare it
to the steam whistle Of locomotive
The countryman dropped his knife, and
with, Lord bless u.s." turned around
and made tracks as fast as bis legs could
carry him. Ia his course he upset