The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1846-03-05

And llte's last shade be frightened by the ray :
Then shall my soul, now lost in clouds below,
Soar without bound, without consuming glow
ssd "A THANKSGIVING TALE. riaih
ie In one ofthe small interior towns of New
England, where the superstitions of our an
cestors still possess strong hold on the minds
Of the people, the facts occurred a few days
since on which the following tale is foun.
ded. . i9 ar9om si3 is8wtd e.da''
eaAn honest farmer and his family preparing
TO celebrate Thanksgiving at his wife's
fathers in an adjacent town, were hurried
and confused extremely on the day prece-
ding that festival, by the multiplicity Of
things which-must be done before they could
leave home with pefect safety. The house
wasto be banked up, and the gleanings Of
the harvest, cabbages, turnips, &C., put into
the cellar, that the external entrance thereto
might be closed for the season. Having
carried in the vegetables, the boys were
despatched 10 the barn for the istraw TO fill
the passnge-way, while the good man him
self was busted on the opposite side of the
house. An old ram, the horned patriarch of
a large flock of sheep kept on the farm, hav-
ing got taste of some scattered leaves of
the cabbage, unobserved entered the cellar
and silently continued his feast. The aven-
ues thro' which he entered was Immediately
closed up, and all the necessary work and
arrangements being completed, the larger
boys and girls set off on foot in high glee,
the dog running and barking before them,
apparently as well pleased with going 10
Grandpapa's as any Of the happy group.
Soon after the parent pair and their little
ones, having put out the fire and fastened
the door and windows, by means Of many
curious contrivances to keep out thieves,
started on the same destination.
On the afternoon Of the day following the
festival, which had been kept under the pa
ternal roof with many devout and jovial ex-
ercises, the. family returned home accompa-
MED by some of their young cousins. Some
oftheir youthful neighbors, of both sexes,
were invited in, and merry thanksgiving
carousal was in the full tide of successful
operation, when one of the boys, who had
been sent into the cellar, with little tow
wicked candle, which gave just enough light
tomake darkness visible, to draw cider, ran
back into the room with eyes glaring wildly,
uttering halesuffocated exciamation--s6e
devil is in the cellar!,-sPohl, /, said the father.
won have only been frightened bv vour own
sbadow--piye me the liobt, On which he
seized the candle. leoving The newter can
Jlestick clencbed fast ip tbe SHAKING hand
oftbe how, and boldly to tbe cellar stairs
bnt ere he had descended half the stems
the laroe SANGER ewes and -enormous horns
oi the 6east caused him to retreat as much
terrified as his son-eSnre eneuob The devil
is n the cellarp
The utmost confusion aud unroar now
nrevailed n he bouse, The oood man seiz.
ed the great Bible and, attempted TO read.
In, Tho candle snuttered burnt blne and
threw an feeble q ];gbt IN The sacred naoe-
and tbe hook trembled SO much in the hand
of tba reader that he copld not DISTINGUISH
one woyd fron, another Tbe little children
clung 70 0tbeir motber-tbe lasses nestled
oiose to the;r f,vor;te sw.;ns--and The whole
Lo,,se sbook with ,be aotat;on of its half
denentad ;nbab;tanfs One briobt tbouobt
Lowevor occ1rred--, nessenaer was Jes'
nstcbed - ,be minister 70 slav tbe devil
rS,Tbe ',,.rson man moro celebrated for
,ood nstnre nietv and credulitv tbsn for
Sis talents - baro;sm slinned the small R;ble
into b;s nocket mt On bis hand and surnl;ce
thst ba m;obt annaar as s,rrn;dahle tp bis