True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1846-06-03

corner courtln', or as they call it in them dig.
gins, 'snufin' ashes When daylight began
to show, ne went up the rope hand over head,
and ne hauled it up after him, closed the trap
door and made himself scarce
/ Well, all this went on as slick as could be
for awhile, but the old woman seed that her
darter looked pale as if she hadn't had sleep
enough, and there was no gettin' of her up in
the mornin' and when she did, she was yaw.
min and gapin', and so dull she had not word
to say
She got very uneasy about it at last, and
used to get up in the Righesomelimes and call
her dauer and make her gdbf TO bed and
once or twice she came very near catching
them. 30 what does Barney do but takes two
nlggars with him when he goes arter that, and
leaves them on the roof and fastens a large
basket TO the rope, and told them if they felt
the rope pulled, to hoist for dear life, but not to
speak a word for the world. Well, one night
the old woman came to the door as usual, and
says:
Jerusha,' says she, what on earth ails you
to make you sit up all night that way; do, oh
do come to bed that's dear
Presently marin, says she, I'm wrestling
with the evil one but L come presently
Dear, dear said she, you wresIed long
enough with him to have throwed him by this
time you can't throw him now, give it up,
he might throw you
well, presently, marin, says her daughter.
It's always the tune says her mother, 60
in off grumblin', what mas got into the girl TO
act 500 Oh dear what protracted time
she's had on it, She has been sorey cxcrcs-
ed, poor girlI'
Ass soon as she had gone, Barney hrfd so
be had to put his arm round her waist to stea-
dy himself on the bench, in a way that didn't
look on like on like rompin', and when he
went to whisper he larfed so he did nothin'
but touch her cheek with his lips, in a way
that looked plaguiIy like kissing, and felt like
it too, and she pulled to get away and they
had Almost reg lar wrestle as they sat 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 uppermosl?' said she; have you
throwed Satan, or has Satan throwed youF
have throwed him. said her darter and
hope I've broke his neck-he acted So
Come to bed then said she, darling, and
be thankful; say a prayer backwards, and
Jisl then the old woman was seized around
the waist hoisted through the trap door to the
roof and from there to the crane, where the
basket stopped, and The first thing she know'd.
she was away up ever so far in the air, swing
in in a large basket, aud no soul near her.
The old woman was then singn' out for her
dear life, kickin' and squcain' and cryin' and
prayin' all in one, properly frightened Down
came Barney as bard as he could clip, lookn'
as innocent as if he had heard nothing of it.
nd pretending to be horrid frightened, offers
bis services, climbs up releases the old wo-
man, and gets blessed aud thanked, and thank
ed and blessed until he was tired of it,
Oh says the old woman, Mr.. Oxman the
moment Jerusha throwed the evil one, the
house shook like an earthquake, and as | en-
cred the room he seized me- put me into his
basket, and flew off with me Oh, shall ne
'er forget his fiery eye balls and the horrid
NELL Of birthstone be had =
'tlld be cloyen foot and a long taiP said |
Barney
4 couldn't sec 10 the dark said she, but his
laws were awful slarp-oh, how they dug /
MO my ribs Il almost took the flesh of. /
ord base mercy on us hope he is laid in
he Red Sea now
] tell you what j. is, aunty,' said Barney,
that's an awful story keep il secret for your
lie, iolks might say the house. was haunted,
hat you was possessed, and that Jerusha was
n league with the evil one
The hint took the old woman had no
wish to be burned, drowned. or Stunned for n
witch, and the moment a leller has a womans
ecret, be is that woman's master. He was in
tied there STAYED there and married there. !
az the old woman never knew who the evil
ne was, and always thought ill her dying
ay it was Old Scratch himself
After her death they didn't keep il secret no
niger; and many a good laugh there has
cen at the story Of Barry Oxham and the e.
il one