Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-07-16
The Devil and the PsrSOn.
A TALE OF NEW ENGLAND.

'-ff'--N-f''
few years before the Revolution, an honest
farmer aud his family, preparing celebrate Thanks
giving at his wile's fathers in an adjacent town,
were hurried and confused on the day preceding
the festival by the multiplicity Of things which must
be done before they could leave home with perfect
safety. The house was to be banked up, and the
gleanings of the harvest, cabbages turnips, &c,
put into the cellar, that the external entrance might
be closed for the season Having carried 10 the
vegetables the boys were dispatched TO the barn
for straw to ill the passage-way while the good
himself was busted on the opposite side Of the house
An old ram, the horned patriarch Of large flock
of sheep kept on the farm, having got taste Of
some OF the scattered leaves Of the cabbage, had
silently continued his feast. The avenue through
which he entered was Immediately closed up, and
all necessary work and arrangements being COM
pIeied, the larger boys and girls Sc, of on foot in
high gee, the dog running and barking before them
apparently well pleased with going TO Grand
papa's any ofthe happy group.
Soon after, the parents and their little ones,
having put out the fire and fastened doors and win
dows to keep out thieves, started on the same desti
nation.
On the afternoon fthe day following the festival,
which had been kept under the parental roof with
many devont and joval exercises, the family re-
turned home, accompanied by some Of their young
cousins Some OF the youthful neighbors Of both
sexes we're invited in, and a merry Thanksgiving
carousal was in the full tide Of successful operation,
when one OF the boys, who had been sent into the
cellar with two wicked candle, which gave Just
light enough 10 make darkness visible, TO draw
cider, ran back into the with eyes glaring
wildly uuering half suffocaed exclamaton-
"fhe deuil is in The cellar =! "Poh :" said the faith
err, "you have been frightened at your own shadow
give me the light I" On which he seized the
candle, leaving the pewter candlestlck clenched
fast in the shaking hand Of the boy, and boldly
rushed 10 the cellar stairs but he had descend
ed half the steps, the large saucer eyes and enor-
nous horns Of the beast caused him 10 retreat as
much terrified his son-"sure enough the deuiPs
in the cellar :" The utmost confusion and uproaI
now prevailed in the house The good man seiz-
ed the great Bible and attempted TO read, but the
candle spattered, burnt blue. and threw feeble
light on the sacred page, and the book irembed so
in the hand of the reader that he could not dlstn-
guish one word from another. The little children
cried and chung TO their moher-ihe lasses nestled
close to their fayorite swains-and the whole house
shook with the agitation Of its half demented in
habanis One bright thought however, occurred
"a messenger was despatched to the minister, ito
lay the Devil
The parson, more celebrated for good
nature pety and credulity than for talents hero.
ISM slipped the small Bible into his pocket. put on
band and surpce, that he might appear as formida-
bic as possible his great adversary and fastened
to the relief Of his distressed parishioners.
On coming to the house, the reverend man was
hailed as a deIiyerer, and nplored by at least a
dozen voices a, once, 10 'drye the devil away"
/ But few moments were lost in asking questions,
which none could answer, the parson pushed
forward as leader, lighted by the same penurious
candle, into the cellar, the most courageous of the
company keeping close behind him When he
reached the foot Of the stairs, the eyes Of FIRE and
IL u
ten fold leas, by the errors Of those that beheld
them, removed all doubt, il any had previously ex-
listed in his mind, TO the internal nature of the
being with whom he had TO contend. The divine
instantly fell his knees, and with upliled hands
began 10 pray in the most fervent manner. The
ram not understanding the good mans motives, but
supposng by the motion Of his hands that he was
daring him to a buling contest, made pass at his
supposed adversary, but, deceived by the swelling
dimensions Of his drapery, missed the slender body
OF the priest, and drawing hastily back to renew
the assault hooked one OF his horns into the belt
OF his surpce, and pulled the parson with him into
| the cellar While thus in the power Of his victo
rous foe, lost to hope it regarded himself, the
natural benevolence Of his disposition burst out in
the exclamation, Brethren take care of yourselves
the devil has got me- This exhortation was better
obeyed than any that he had delivered from his
pulpit his friends all fled and left him 10 his fate
Among the company was shrewd young farmer
who had from the first supposed the fend TO bt
nothing more than some domestic animal, but be
ing lover of fun, and willing to see comedy, ht
kept his tho'ts to himself, aud pretended 10 sympa
thise with others in their fears. He now though
it time to interfere and snatching pitch knot baz
ing from the FIRE, expressed his determinations L
rescue the priest perish in the attempt lowell
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 concerI
for his safety he rushed into the cellar, seized tn
ram by one Of his horns, and dragged the struggling
animal up stairs calling to the asionished paTson
follow me-" The horned devil was led in triumph
followed by the vanqulshcd Ecclesiastic, in tn
midst of the company. momentary silence an
hanging down OF heads ensued The past scene
however, was too ludcrous admit Of sober renec
ton, and loud peals OF laughter burst forth froT
I every side, during which the ram was turned out
: the door, the parson absented himself without Gel
emory, and the sports Of the evening resum
, ed with better spirits than
4 The following extracts from the correspondent
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