The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-01-26
THE DEVIL.


T Of this thine old acquaintance: for why
should'st thou be frightened at the name oi
so familiar characteri Thou hast known
him from thy youth up; good looking and
courteous Parsonage, moves In the best soci,
ETY., Is rigidly scrupulous Of his outward ap.
praranee, and prides himself no little on his
knowledge Of the human heart. Polite to a
fault, with voice Of the richest tone, and an
eye of the brightest glance; bewithing by his
smile, and enhancing by his eloquence; with
a mind laden with knowledge and overflow.
ing with light, he has ever been one of the
most popular and influential characters Of the
day Full often has he taken thee by the
hand, and led the into green pastures, and by
the side Of still waters, whilst thou, poor de-
luded soul. imagined thyselfin the society Of
one OF "licaven's elect"
And yet thou tremblest at the mention OF
his name-nnd the very idea Of contact with
him, blanches thy warm cheek, and fills thee
with terror Mistaken soul! On the pages
Of the primer, and on the tablet Of the mind,
this gentlemanly and accomplished Devil is
pointed, perhaps, ns a poor, feshless body,
gaunt and grim, having eyes Of fire and feet
that are cloven; with horns growing from his
head, and barbcd arrows from his mouth;wth
a long tail Of many folds behind, and long
arm with many claws before; in short, ns
ia monster of such frightfnl mien,
As to be hated needs but to be seem"
tell thee, reader, such picture is gross
slander on the personal appearance Of the
Dark Prince. He is black, but comely, o.
ye daughters Of Jerusalem, rs the tents Of
Kedar, on the curtains Of Solomon"
Herein, thou shoud'st know, is tho Sc.
crct Of his power, the charm Of his life
Deformity has no attractions. Men are not
drawn into the snare by rcpulsive and sick.
ening leaders, They will not, unless barba.
rians indeed, worship at the shrine of any
monster.
No. He would lead them captive, must ar.
ray himself in purplc and fine linen. So, at
least, thinks the parsonage in question, and
he acts accordingly.
l.. He comes in the gilded habiiments of
pleasure. With smiling face and lightsome
steps, he trips along, followed by gay and
thoughtlcss host who sing and dance along
the road to ruin, unconscious of their danger,
and careful only of immediate and palatablc
enjoyment. s rlsrs 'la
Lured on, step by step, from innocent re-
creation 10 unlawful indulgence; from unlaw-
full indulgence to gross lcentiousness; from
gross liccntiousness 10 loss OF self respect |
and utter recklessness; with besotted mind,
and broken heart, and witherei body; their
polite and fascinating conduct leaves them at
the portals of tho grave, where press of
other business obligcs him to bid them 8 po
lite and afftctionate goodbye, promising
the only promise the deceitful wretch keeps
to meet them on the other side Of the
grave! leai f''"'''. -' ... .'' '.,'
2. He comes in the flowing dishabiHe of
the Idlcr. With ajaunty mir, a mind at peace
with all the storms and calms Of life, an un-
brow and spotless hand-he nllures
many sons and daughters Of industry from
their toll, aud soon teaches them to look upon
work as n burden, and industry as a disgrace.
Cunning and crafty art thou, indeed, oh Devil,
with thy oily tongue and bland address, and
hou dost truly erect thy busiest work in the
brain Of the idle man. .r4Iias
3. The Devil comes, also, in the sober
black Of hypocrisy. Gentlemanly, indeed, Is
,c in tho favorite character. In cowl and
,own, with smooth face and smother speech,
he walks cautiously before the people, and
gathers into his dark fold many wandering
'heep Sympathizing with all sorrow, sub
LUNG all passion, regular in attendance upon
,hurch, loudest in exhortation and longest in .
prayer, he soon wins upon tho heart Of the
,redu!ous, and ingra,iates him into his black
,rt. The nalae Of his followers is legion. 1t
reeds not, oil reader, that we describe them
% thee; for thou knowest them too well nj.
eady. Neither is it necessary that We
should show the too fascinating Devil in
my other suit from his many colored ward.
.obe. ,.t ..-,.t. Il ,
In conclusion, see 70 it, oh yc people, that .
70 look not for his Majesty as horned and
Dloated monster; but rather rs blooming
md accomplished courtezan. Not in rags,