The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-05-05
WHOLE NUMBER 11O.

looked as if it had been plucked from
the coa.se black shock Of the woods
man.
Tom knew his wife's prowess by ex-
perieuc'. He shrugged his shoulders,
as be looked at the signs of fierce clap
per clawing. " Egad," said he to him
self, " Old Scratch must have had u
tough time Of it "
Tom consoled himself for the loss Of
his wife, for he was little of philosopher
He even fit something like gratitude
towards the Back Woodsman, who he
considered had done him a kindness.
He sought, therefore to cultivate fur
th-r acquaintance with him, but for some
time without success the old black leg
played shy, for whatever people may
think, be is not always to be had for
calling for; he knows how TO play his
cards when pretty sure Of his game.
At length, it is said, when Ielay had
whetted Toms eagerness to the quick,
aud prepared him to agree to any thing
rather than again to lose the promised
treasure, he met the black man one eve-
ming in his usual woodman's dress, with
his axe on his shoulder, ,auntering along
the edge of the swamp, and humming
tune He affected to receive Toms
advances with great Indifference, made
brief replies, and went on humming his
tune.
BY degrees, however, Tom brough.
him to business, and they began to hag-
gle about the terms on which the former
was to have the pirates treasure. There
is one condition which need not be men
toned, being generally understood in
all cases where the devil grants favors;'
but there were others about which,
though OF less Importance, he was in
hexibly obstinate. He insisted that the
money found through his means should
be employed in his service. He pro-
posed, therefore, that he should employ
it in the black traffic that is to say,
that he should fit ont slave ship. This
however Tom absolutely refused and
he was bad enough in all conscience, but
the devil himself could not tempt him
to turn slave dealer.
Finding Tom so squeamish on this
point, he did not insist upon it he pro-
posed instead be should turn usuler, the
devil being extremely anxious for the
increase of usurers, looking upon them
as his peculiar people.
To this no objection was made, for it
was just to Toms taste.
" You shall open brokers' shop in
Boston next month, ;" said the blackman.
"I'll do it Tomorrow, if you wish,"
said Tom Walker.
" You shall lend money at two per
cent a month"
"Egad, pll charge four" replied
Tom
" You shall eItort bonds, foreclose
drive merchants to bank
"l'll drive him to the ID! !" cried
Tom Walker, eagerly.
" You are the usurer for my money |"
said blacklegs with delight. When
will you want the rhino :"
" This very night "
" Done :" said the devil
Done ~ said Tom Walker. So
they shook harrs' and struck bargain.
A few days saw Tom Walker seated
behind his desk in a counting house in
Boston His reputation for a ready
monied man, who would lend money out
for good consideration, soon spread
abroad Every body remembers tho
lays of Gov. Belcher, when money was
scarce. 1t was a time for
,aper credit. The country had been
lelugcd with government bills; the
amous Land Bank had been established;
he people had run mad with schemes
or new settlements, for building cities
n the wilderness land jobbers went
bout with maps of grants and town
hips and EldoradOs, lying nobody knew
where, but which everybody was ready
o purchase la word, the great
fever which breaks out now
nd then in the country, had ragged to
n alarming degree, and everybody was
lresmipg Of making sudden fortunes