Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-07-09
The Devil and Tom Walker-A Story Of
the last Century.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

t4o AhSb V0ubuVys
by WASHINGTON IRVING.
AS Tom waxed old however he grew
thoughtful. Having secured the good things
Of this world, he began to feel anxious about
the next. lie thought with regret on the bar
gain he had made with black friend, and put
his wits to work, to cheat him out of his con-
ditiOn. lie became therefore, oil Of sudden
violent church-goer. lie prayed loudly and
strcnuously, as if Heaven were to be carried
by force Of lungs. Indeed, one might always
tel when he sinncd most during the week by
the clamor Of his Sunday devotion. The qui-
ct Christians who had been modestly and qui-
city travelling Non-ward were struck with self.
rcproach at seeing themselves 80 suddenly
outstripped in their career by this new made
convert. Tom was as rigid in religion as in
money matters. IIe was stern supervisor
and censurcr of his ncighbors, and seemed to
think every sin entered up to their account
became credit on his page. lie even talked
Of the cxpcdcncy Of reviVing the persecution
Of the Qua!;ers and AnabaptistS. In word,
Toms zeal became MS his riches.
Still, in spite Of his strenuous attention
to forms, Tom had lurking dread that the
devil after all would have his due That he
might not be taken unawarcs, therefore, it is
said he always carried a small Bible in his
pocket lie also had great folio Bible in his
counting house desk, and would be frequently
found reading when people called on business !;
on such occasions he would lay his green
spectaclcs on the book to mark the place,
while he turned around to drive some usurOus
bargain.
Some say Tom grew little crack Drained
in his older days, and that fancying his end
approaching, he had his horse newly shod,
saddled and bridled, and buried with his feet
uppermOst, because that at the last day, the
world would be turned upside down, in which
case he would find his horse ready for mount
ing, and he was determined at the worst to
give his friend run for it. This, however,
is probably mere old wife's fable. II he
really did take that precaution, it was totally
! superfuous-at least, SO says, the authentic
old legend which closes his story in the follow
ing manner:
One hot afternoon in the dog-days, Just as a
terrible thunder-gust came up, Tom sat in his
counting house in his white linen cap and In.
dia silk morning gown. lie was on the point
Of fOreclosing mortgage, by which he would
complete the ruin Of an unhappy speculattf r
for whom he had professed the greatest friend
ship. The poor nd.jObbcr begged him 10
grant few months indulgence. Tom had
grown testy and irritatcd, and refused another
day..
MY family will be ruined and brought up
on the parish" said the land: :jobbcr.
"Charity begins at home" replied Tom, 81
must take care Of myself these hard times"
"You have made 80 much money out ol
me, said the speculator.
Tom lost his patience and his piety, "The
devil take me-" said he, "if l have made q
! farthing."
Just then there were three loud knocks al
the street door. lie stepped out to see who
was there. A black man with q black horse,
which neighed and stamped with impaticncc
Tom, you are come for, said tho black
fellow, grutIly. Tom shrunk back, but too
late. He had LEFT his Bible at the bottom oi
his coat pocket, and his big Bible on tho desk,
buried under the mortgage no was about to
toreclOse-never was poor sinner taken more
unawares. The black man whisked him like
. child astride of the horse, and away he gal
l0ped in the midst of q thunderstorm. The
clerks stuck their pens behind their ears and
stared after him from the windows. Away
went Tom Walker dashing down the streets,
his white cap bobbing up and down, his morn
ing gown auttering in the wind, and his steed
striking fire out Of the pavelnents at every
bound. When the clerks turned to look, the
black man had disappeared.
Tom Walker never returned to foreclosc the
mortgage. A countryman who lived near the
swamp reported that in the hight of the thun.
der-gust he had heard great Gathering OF
hoofs and bowling along the road, and that
when he ran to the window he just caught
sight Of figure such as have described, on
a horse that gallOped like mad across the fields,
over tho hills, and down into the black hem.
lock swamp toward the old Indian fort and
that shortly after thunder-bOlt fell in that
direction, which seemed to set the whole forest
in blaze.
The good people of Boston shook their
heads and shrugged their shoulders. They
had been so accustomed to witches and COB
lins, and tricks Of the Devil in ell kinds oil
shapes, from the first settlement Of the colony,
that they were not so much horrOr-stricken
As might have been expected. Trustees were
appointed to take charge Of Toms effects
There was nothing, however, to administer
upon. On searching his Golfers, all his bonds
and mortgages were found reduced to cindcrs.
In place Of gold and silver, his iron chest was
filled with chips and shavings; two skeletons
lay in his stable instead Of his halE.starved
horses, and the very next day his great house
took fire and burned to the ground.
Such was the end of Tom Walker and his
ill-gotten wealth. Let all gripping money bro
kcrs 10y the story well to heart. The truth is
not to be doubted. The very hole under the
oak tree, from whence he dug Kidd's money,
is to be seen to this day, and the neighboring
swamp and the old Indian fort is often haunt
ed in stormy nights by figure on horseback,
in morning gown and white cap, which is
doubtless the troubled spirit Of the usurcr.-
In fact, this story has resolved itself into a
proverb, and is the origin Of the popular say.
ing prevalent throughout New England Of
the Devil and Tom Walker"
A gentleman having horse that started and