Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-11-21
THE DEVIL AND TOM WALKER

As Tom waxed old, however, he grew
thoughtful. Having secured the good
things Of this world, he began to feel
anxious about those Of the next. He
thought with regret on the bargain he
had made with his black friend, and puts
his wits to work to cheat him out of his
conditions. lie became, therefore, all Of
sudden, violent church-goer. He
prayed loudly and strenuously, as il
heaven were to be carried by force OF
lungs. Indeed, one might always tell
when he had sinned most during the week
by the clamor of his Sunday devotion
The quiet Christians who have been
modes.ly and steadily travelling Zion
ward, were struck with self reproach at
seeing themselves so suddenly outstripped
in their care. by this new made convert.
Tom was as rigid in religion as in money
matters: he was a stern supervisor and
censurer of his neighbors, and seemed to
think every sin entered up to their ac-
count became a credit on his page. He
even talked Of the eXpediency of rcyiving
the persecution Of he Quakers and the
Anabaptists. In a word, Toms zeal be-
came as his riches.
Still in spite Of his strenuous attention
to forms, Tom had lurking dread that
the devil after all would have his ,lue.
That he might not he taken unawares,
therefore, it is said he always had small
bible in his pocket. He also had great
folio bible in his counting g-house desk,
and would frequently be found reading
when people called OH business; on such
occasions he would lay his green specta-
cles on the book, to mark the place,
while he turned around to drive some
usurious bargain.
Some say Tom grew a little crack
Drained in his older days, and that, fan
cying his end approaching, he had his
horse new shod, saddled and bridled, and
buried with his feet uppermost because
that, at the last day the world would be
turned upside down, in which case he
would find his horse ready for mounting,
and he was determined at the worst to
give his old friend Il run for it. This,
however, is probably mere old wife's
fable. If he really did not take precau.
ton, it was totally superhuous-at least
so says the authentic old legend, which
closes his story in the following manner
One hot afternoon in the dog days, Just
as a terrible black thunder gust came up,
Tom sat in his counting house in his white
linen cap and India silk morning gown.
He was on the point of forecosing a mort
gage, by which he would complete the
ruin of an unhappy speculator for whom
he had professed the greatest friendship.
The poor land jobber begged him to grant
a few months indulgence. Tom had
grown testy and irritated, and refused
another day.
My family will be ruined and brought
upon the parish" said the land jobber.
"Charity begins at home,' replied
Tom g must take care of myself these
hard times"
.'You have made so much money out
of me-" said the speculator.
Tom lost his patience and his piety.
d" The devil take me, said he, {" if have
made a farthingn'
Just then there were three loud knocks
at the street door. He stepped out to
see what was there. A black man was
holding black horse, which neighed and
stamped with impatience.
g Tom, you are come for" said the
black fellow grutHy. Tom shrunk back,
but too late. lie had left his little Bible
at the bottom Of his coat-pochet, and his
big Bible on the desk buried under the
mortgage he was about to foreclose never
was sinner taken more unawares. The
black man whisked him like a child
astride the horse, and away he galloped
in the midst of thunder storm. The
clerks stuck their pens behind their cars
and stared after him from the windows.
Away went Tom Walker, dashing down
the street; his white cap bobbing up and
down, his morning gown fiuttering in the
wind, and his steed striking fire out of
the pavements at every bound. When
the clerks turned to look to the black
man he had disappeared. .
Tom Walker never returned to foreclose
the mortgage. A countryman who lived
near the swamp reported that, in the
height of the thunder gust, he had heard
great Gathering of hoofs and bowling
along the road, and that when he ran to
the window he just caught sight of o
figure such as | have described, on
horse that galloped like mad across the
fields, over the hills, and down into the
black hemlock swamps towards the old
Indian fort, and shortly after thunder
bolt fell in that direction, which seemed
to set the whole forest in blaze.
The good people of Boston shook their
heads and shrugged their shoulders.
They had been so accustomed to witches,
and goblins, and tricks of the devil in all
kinds of shapes, from the first settlement
of the colony, that they were not so much
horror-struck as might have been expect
ed. Trustees were appointed to take
charge of TOMS effects. There was noth-
ing, however, to administer upon. On
searching his Golfers all his bonds and
mortgages We're found reduced to cinders.
In place of gold and silver, his iron chest
was filled with chips and shavings two
skeletons lay in his stable instead of his
half-starved horses, and the very next
day his great house took fire and was
burned to the ground. sllsf. iss
Such was the end of Tom Walker and
his il-gotten wealth. Let all gripping