Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-05-26
THE DAILY TIMES.
THE DEVILS WAGER.
BY THACKERA

none stirring save churctyard ghosts when all
doors are closed except The gates of graves, and
all eyes shut but the eyes of wicked men.
When there is no sound ON the earth except
the ticking of the grasshopper, or the croaking of
obscene frogs in the poole.
And no light except that of the blinking starres
and the wicked and devilish wills-o' the-wisps as
they gambol among the marshes, and lead good
men astraye.
When there is nothing moving in heaven ex-
cept the owle, as he fappeth along lazily; or the
magician, as he rides on his internal broomsticke,
Wh1stllng through the aire like the arrowes of
Yorkshire archere.
1t was at this hour (namely, at twelve o'clock
OF the night that two beings went wingng
through the black clouds, and holding converse
with each other.
Now the first was Mercurius the messenger,
not of gods las the heathens feigned,) but of
demons; and the second, with whom he held
company, was the soul of Sir Roger de Rollo,
the brave knight. Sir Roger was Count of
Chauchgny, in Champagne Seigneur of San
terre; Villacerf and aultre lieux But the great
die as well as the humble; and nothing remained
of brave Roger, now, but his coffin and his death
less soul.
And Mercurius, in order to keep fast the soul,
his companion, had bound him round the neck
with his tall which, when the soul was Stub
born, he would draw so tight as to strangle him
well nigh, sticking into him the barbed point
thereof; whereat the poor soul, Sir Rollo, would
groan and roar Justify.
Now they two had come, together, from the
gates of purgatorie, being bound to those regions
OF tire and flame where poor sinners fry and roast
in sfecula saculorum.
went gliding through the clouds, "that should
thus be condemned for ever, and all for want of
a single ave.
GLOW, Sir, Soul" said the d@mon, syou were
on earth so wicked, that not one, or million of
ayes, could suffice to keep from hell flame crea-
ture like thee; but, cheer up and be merry; thou
wilt be but subject of our lord the Devil, so
am l !; and, perhaps, thou will be advanced to
posts Of honor, as am also;' and to shew his au-
thorite, he dashed with his tail the ribbes of the
wretched Rollo.
Nevertheless, sinner as I am, one more ave
would have saved me for my sister, who was
abbess of st. Mary of Chauchigny, did so prevail
by her prayer and good works, for my lost and
wretched soul, that every day felt the pains of
purgatory decrease the pitch forks which, on
my first entry, had never ceased to vex and tor
ment my poor carcass, were not applied above
| once a-week; the roasting had ceased, the boil
ing had discontinued; only certain warmth was
kept up to remind me of my situation
"a gentle stewe,'' said the damon.
s1ea, truly, was but in stew, and all from
the effects of the prayers of my blessed sister,
But yesterday, he who watched me in purgatory
| told me, that yet another prayer from my sister,
and my bonds should be unloosed and l, who
| am now devil, should have been blessed
angel"
tsAnd the other ave 2" said the demon
t'She died, sir-my sister ded-death choked
her in the middle of the prayer" And hereat
the wretched spirit began to Weepe and whine
piteously; his salt tears falling over his beard,
and scalding the tail of Mercurius the DEVIL
cit is, in truth, a hard case" said the dsemon:
"but know OF no remedy save patience, and for
that you will have an excellent opportunity in
your lodgings below"
S'But l have relations" said the Earl "my
kinsman Randall, who has inherited my lands,
will he not say prayer for his uncle go
'Thou dldSt hate and Cypress him when liv-
ing"
''lt is true; but an ave is not much; his sister,
my niece, Matilda
'.You shut her in convent, and hanged her
lover"
clad I not reason besides, has she no 9TH
ers g"
GA dozen, without Doubt
''And my brother, the prior o.
ga liege subject of my lord the Devil; he never
opens his mouth, except to utter an oath, or to
swallow cup of wine."
"And yet, if but one of these would but say
an ave for me, I should be saved''
caves with them are rara aves," replied Mer-
GURUS, wagging his tail right waggishly; land,
what is more will lay thee any wager that not
one of these will say prayer to save thee
81 would wager willingly" responded he of
Jhauchigny; "but what has poor soul like me
to stake gu
every evening, after the days roasting, my
lord Satan gyeth cup of cold water to his SER
wants; will bet thee thy water for year, that
none of the three will pray for thee"
"Done 70 said Rollo.
ha nd baro T mic
take not, is thy castle of CLauchigny."
Indeed, it was true. The soul, on looking
down, perceived the tall towers, the courts, the
stables, and the fair gardens of the CASTLE AL
though 1t was past midnight, there was blaze of
light in the banquetng-hall, and lamp burning
in the open window of the Lady Matilda.
"With whom shall we begin 2" said the dse.
mon, s'with the Baron or the lady 2"
with the lady, if you will
'Be 1T so; her window is open let us enter"
So they descended, and entered silently into
Matilda's chamber.
The young lady's eyes were fixed 80 intently
on little clock, that it was no wonder that she
did not peceive the entrance of her two visitors.
Her fair cheek rested on her white arm, and her
white arm on the cushion of great chair, in
which she sat, pleasantly supported by sweet
thoughts and swans down; lutte was at her
side, and a book of prayers lay under the table
flor piety is always modest.) Like the amorous
Alexander, she sighed and looked lat the clock
and sighed for ten minutes or more, when she
softly breathed the word edward !"
At this the soul of the Baron was wroth. 'The
jade is at her old pranks," said he to the devil;
and then, addressing Matilda: Il pray thee,
sweet niece, turn thy thoughts for moment from
that villainous page, Edward, and give them to
thine atfectionate uncle.''
When she heard the voice, and saw the awful
apparition of her uncle flor years sojourn in
purgatory had not increased the comeiness of his
appearance she started, screamed and ofcourse
tainted.
But the devil NIercurius soon restored her to