The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-12-19
BILL sLIKE ACTING DEVIL.
By HAZEL GREEN, ESQ.

BILL sLIKE ACTING DEVIL.
BY HAZEL GREEN, ESQ.
When we were boys, Bill Slike and were
great cronies. With me there was nobody
ike Bill, and with Bill there was nobody like
Hazel. We were both what would be called
hard cases in this day and age Of the world.
II any mischief was done in the neighbor-
hood, Bill and were sure IN .ccraa IN fo4
our uha.. Of the blame.
About Christmas time we always had a
deal of fun, such as building rail pens, and
putting calves and pigs in the upper story,
hanging ploughs, sbig kettles or anything
We could lay hands on, high up in trees, to
perplex the owners, and all such tricks as
that. Now such acts would be looked upon
Us unwarrantable outrages, and the perpe-
traitors would be hauled up and fined; then
they were only laughed at as "Christmas
tricks.'' F&
recollect one Christmas Eve, Bill and l
set out to have a rich time of it. Bill was
to fix up and act as devil, and We were to
go around and frighten the youngsters out
Of their wits. Accordingly, we arranged a
grum looking cap with horns on it, and
placed it upon his head, and then made .
false face for him out of red flannel, wrap
ped him in white sheet and started. There
was several boys with US, and BY them was
elected to 20 before and give the old folks
Of each house hint Of what was going ON,
SO that We would not get ourselves into u
scrape.
The first house on our route was Uncle
Jake Bonds. went in, made some errand,
and soon as possible, slipped the joke to the
old man aud old woman. was all right
with them, and SO went back and reported
to my companions. In short time, Bill
alias devil, poked his singular looking head
in ut the door and great scramption! such q
scattering as took place! Boys, girls, cats,
and everything except the old ones tumbled
up stairs like an earthquake. In we hustled,
and such laugh as we had; and how the
girls slapped us on our faces, for frightening
them so badly! This was glorious begin
ming and so we were almost erazed to get to
the next house. ai .7sa' ',if-, - ss' Z
After partaking Of some doughnuts, and
other little cakes that had been cut out with
thimble and which the girls called kisses,
we started for Major Aliens. Iweht on as
usual, and knocked at the door. & ss7&'a
ssCome in,' said a sweet voice. obeyed
the command and found Jane, the Majors
daughter, all alone. ..-......''s. ~. -.
"Where's the old folks 90 asked l.
"Gone over to grandfather - she replied
as sweet as sugar. Bass aag
every sorry,' said l, tsfor bad impor-
tant business with the old man." -
She assured me that they would be back
in q short time; and filing plate with
sshominy" from a large kettle, where it was
boiling on the fire, she invited me, with one
of her prettiest smiles, to set down and wait
till it cooled, and then eat some with her.
looked at the big, plump grains, all
bursting open on the plate, and inhaled the
delicious odor that arose from them, and
then looked at the sweet face and sunny
smiles Of my would be entertainer, aud you'd
better believe that wished Bill and the rest
Of the boys in Guinea. felt sure that all
we could see would be nothing to compare
with eating homony with Jane Allen, yet
had no time to spare, and bidding her good
tsBoys," said l, "Jane is all alone by her.
self. It wouldn't be right to scare her 50
bad. Let's 60 on to Browns"
sNo, by gum" said Bill, 81 wouldn't
miss that chance for hundred dollars. She
slighted me the other day at singing school,
and now l'll pay her back for it." .a.....
As we neared the house, Bill said---
s'Now boys, whatever you do don't say a
word, nor laugh nor nothing, and arter
have scared her, we will sly Of, and she will
never know who or what it was"
We all agreed and after we had all been
stationed around the chimney to hear her
scream, Bill walked in. 3.
"Good evening, Mr.. Devil, !" said the sweet
voice that few minutes before had bid me
to come in; s'good evening, l suppose that
you are used to warm fluids !" and forth
with we heard a a"splurge" as if gourd
had found its way into pot of boiling hom-
my, and then came splash and cry, not
such q one MS we had expected to hear, but one
OF Bill's real genuine squalls, on the highest
key. We all ran in, and saw the hot water
dripping down from Bills Uranium, while he
was stamping around like mad, tearing the
horned cap and false face from his head
Jane, the mischievous little elf, standing up
by the cupboard, Laughing as though she
would 20 into spasms. Fortunately, Bill
had received no lasting injury, but l assure
you that it put an end to our fun that night
The Joke had been turned upon us when We
least expected il, and 30 went home, feeling
rather done for. The story soon got out,
and for q long time Bill went BY the name
Of Mr.. Devil Porter's Spirit Of he Times
CO. In stump speech somewhere out
west-the usual locality-a windy orator
recently got up before an assemblage of hil
snfalii0cnt co,fntpvnaan and aaid