Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-05-22

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| from the advocate part of the money de-
posted. The lawyer opened his eyes wide
at the demand he did not know the young
| gentleman, he said. Richard pulled the
acknowledgement out Of his pocket, and
! found it merely a blank sheet ofpapcr. The
advocate had written his receipt with a
/ kind Of ink which grew pale, and was
totally eillced in a few hours. So the
| young man had now only about thirty du-
cats in the world.
Such beng the case, Richard felt that he
must etarvo or do something to gain his
/ bread, and he determined to become ped
| der With his thirty duclts he bought
and fitted up box, and carried it through
those streets where few weeks before he
had been riding in wealth. However, his
wares were in favor, and he sold them of so
| quickly, that he hoped if this went on, to
become ere long a rich man again, and to
return to Germany, happy especially in his
escape from the accurscd bottle-Imp. With
such thoughts, he repaired in the evening
to tavern to rest himself, and put down
his box. a curious guest said to him -
| what strange creature have you got there,
fellow, in that phial, that tumbles about so
queerly - Alas he perceived that among
his other purchases he had unawares re-
taken the bottle-imp. lie offered it eagerly
to each Of the company for hree-peuce-he
himself had paid but iour-but none would
take SO ugly and useless a thing and as he
persisted in pressing his worthless wares on
them, they pushed him, box, bottle, and all
out at the door.
Richard in despair fed out of the city,
and did not rest till he had quilted the Ven
| otian territory, the scene where all his
woes had begun a horror seized him of
all great cities he knew not what to do, or
where to get rid of his inseparable compan-
ion At length he determined to become n
soldier, hoping easily to part with his
wretched bargain in the camp. lie heard
that two Italian States were at war with
each other, and prepared to attach himself
to either side. SO, having drawn again on
his incxhaustible bank, he arrayed himself
in rich gold-wrought cuirass, a splendid
plumed hat, two irstrate light guns, Il
bright polished sword, and two daggcrs, and
mounted on IA Spanish stecd, rode forth with
three weli-armed followers on good horses
Such combatant, and one too, who de-
sired no pay, was sure to be welcome in any
army and Richard soon found himself in
camp, where he lived very comfortably, and
in VINE and play seemed to have forgotten
lis anXleties. Sharpcned by former i'll sue
cess. he took care not to offer his bottlc-imp
too formally for sale, but saying nothing
about it, waited to make the bargain un-
pectedly, as il in jest,
One morning the call To arms was heard;
the whole forces were collected. and in u
little while the plain was seen full OF the
infantry Of both parties, engaged IN hot
action, while the cavalry were drawn up
apart. The horses Of the enemy, being in
tcrlOr in number, rctreated before the su
Perior lorce and for a while Richard ENJOY
ed himself wonderfully, caracoling on his
splendid horse, his weapons rafting, and
iflnscli IN safety. But presently, Infantry
and cavalry began to minglc in general ai-
Tray; muskct-balls hisScd around. horse
men fell, as, strengthened by large reinforce
ments, the enemy horse came down upon
them, Richard thought Nv hat a fool was
to come here, | am much nearer death than
! was on my sick-bel, and if one OF those
Kissing balls catches me. then | am the prey
OF the bOttle-imp and his master for cver.'
Just as he was thus thinking, his Spanish
horse was s-i7rh with panic and went
rearing and piunging backwards till they
reached Il wood not far off. lie spurred
him about under the lofty trees till lie be-
came exhausted, and stood still. Then he
dismountcj, took off cuirass and shoulder
belt, unsuddled the horse, and leebly stretch
ing himself in the grass said "Well | am
scarcely fit for II soldier, at least with a
bottle-imp in my pocket. lie tried to
think OF what next to do, but tell fast
asleep.
After some hours of quiet slumber, a
sound Of mems voices and footsteps struck
his ear nesting in his cool, comfortable
couch and resOlutely Indifferent to the
noise, he was sinking still deeper into deli
ciOus sleep, when Il laundering voice shout
ed to him Are you dead you scoundrel !
| Only speak il you are, that one may not
waste IA chargeof powder. Thus unpleasantly
awakened, he looked up, and saw a musket
cooked at his breast. held by grim-looking
iOot-soldier, while others were rifing his pro-
perty. lie begged for mercy crying in the
utmost anguish, if they tcould shoot him
dead that at least they would first buy the
little phial in his right-hand doubet pock-
et.'
Stupid fellow laughed one of them,
| won't buy it from you, but take it from
you, certainly : and so he drew out the
imp, and put it in his breast.
And welcome = cried Richard, if you
can only keep it but unpaid for, it won't
stay by you The soldiers laughed, and
went off with the plunder, not troubling
themsove further about the man, whom
they took to be half crazy. Richard felt in
his pocket, and found the phial there he
shouted and held it UP after them. The
man who had taken it in astonishment
clutched at his dress, and found it not, and
ran back for it.
i told you, said Richard, 'you couldn'
keep it SO. Only give me few pence fol
it.
The soldier now took fancy to the frol-
ic'ome thing, which now, too, as was its
custom when handled, showed itself very
| lively in the expectation OF the approaching
close OF its services. But the throcpenct
| charged for it seemed to the soldier toe
much so Richard said impaticntly We'll
sklnllint, as you will ; give me a penny, anl
take your proprrty,' Thus was the bargain
concluded, the money Iaid, and the httl,
| Satan handed over.
Richard now bcthought himself what t.
do. lie stood there with light heart, buI
/ with light pocket too, and no means o.
filing it, for he dared not return to the
corps Of cavalry from which he had shame
fully fled SO he proposed to these foot sol
diers to join their company. lie soon dis
covered that they belonged to the opposlt,
side, where he would not be known an,
now, that he was rid Of the bottle-lmp anl
all his cash he felt not indisposel to risl
his life for the chance of booty. lie wen
then with his new comrades to the camp
aud the captain willingly received into In
company an active and strongly made youn.
fellow like him.
His life, however, was not very cheerful
There was at present Il suspension of pro
ceedinGs IN the field and nothing to do bu
to live quietly in the camp, without dangc
and without plunder, Richard had there
fore nothing but his scanty pay and on
day it occurred to him, as he weighed tn
petty sum in his hands, to try bis iortun
with the dice.
The game took its usual checkered cOurst
and he went on gambling and drinking fla
into the night At length the intoxicate
Richard had played away whole month
pay, and no one would lend him a farthing
RummaGing in all his pockets, he foun
| nothing there but his clrtridge-box hu