Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1858-12-16
CHEATING THE DEVIL.

| CHEATING THE DEVIL.
Squire H., living in the town Of A., was
a man in easy circumstances, with every
thing enough, in doors and out. In his
yard was huge pile of wood, sawed and
split, and sufficient in bulk to keep dozen
families through the winter, with enough
more where that came from. J
Across the street from Squire H., lived
Mrs. W., poor widow woman in straight
ened circumstances, with four mouths to
feed and four little bodies to warm besides
her own.
Squire H. dotted on his big wood pile,
and was in the habit of taking peep at it
through the closed blinds Of his window be-
fore retiring at night One night he saw
female hanging around his pile, and OPEN
ing the door partially, to get better view,
saw her stoop, pick up large armful and
started off. She had not proceeded far,
however, when she stopped Short and he
overheard the following: Il cannot steal
the eye of God is upon me-" and down went
the wood and she walked off few steps and
stopped again. Il have not stick of wood
in the house; the weather is bitter cold, and
my poor children are freezing. The Squire
has enough, and will never miss it," So
saying, she filled her arms again with the
coveted fuel.
Again she started and again hesitated-
"What! steal? I never before did such
thing, and God forbid I should do it.now!''
and down went the wood upon the pile again
But the thought Of her suffering brood
brought her once more to the pile, and fill
Once more she started and again turned
back-s'I aoiW not steal-I will trust in
God, and if it is His will, we'll perish to-
gether" So saying, she threw the wood
upon the pile, and the Squire saw her enter
her dwelling and close the door. He re-
tired to bed, but slumber was slow in visit
ing his eyelids. He thought Of the poor
widow and her suffering children, and per-
haps when he slept he dreamed of them.
Early the next forenoon. widow W. was
surprised to see the Squire's four OK team,
loaded with wood, haul up in front of her
dwelling, and the Squire commence pitch
ing it off,
"What's this, Squire HIP said the as
tonished and half frightened woman; Il
didn't order that wood, and God knows I
can't pay for it."
''Its yours, and all paid for, madam
sung out the Squire, tugging away at a big
log. ''You cheated the devil last night"
The poor woman insisted that there must
be some mistake about it.
Il tell you it's yours, for cheating the
devil last night" said the Squire, ''and
there comes a man to saw and split it and
pack it away in your wood-house.'
The widow began to ''smell a rat," and
stammering her thanks to the Squire, re-
treated into the house. She wanted for no
more wood that winter
A LAWYER DoNE.-On the Norfolk cir
cult, England, Lee was retained for the
plaintiff in an action for breach of promise
of marriage: when the brief was brought
him, he inquired whether the lady for whose
injury he was to seek redress was good
looking. every handsome, indeed, sir ~
was the assurance Of Helen's attorney
''Then sir" replied Lee, Il beg you will
request her to be in court, and in place
where she can be seem" The attorney
promised compliance; and the lady, in ac-
cordance with Lees wishes, took her seat
in a conspicuous place.: Lee, in addressing
the jury, did not fail to insist with great
warmth on the ''abominable cruelty" which
had been exercised towards ''the lovely and
con6ding female'' before them, and did not
sit down until he had succeeded in working
up their feelings to the desired point. The
counsel on the other side, however, speedily
broke the spell with which Lee had enchant-
ed the jury, by observing that his learned
friend in describing the graces and beauty
of the plaintiff had not mentioned one fact,
namely, that the lady had ecooden zeg!-
The Court was convulsed with laug ghter,
while Lee, who was ignorant of this cir
cumstance, looked aghast; and the jury,
ashamed Of the influence that mere eloquence
had had upon them, returned a verdict for
the defendant.
It requires more magnanimity to give up
what is wrong than to maintain what is
right: for our pride is wounded bv the one