Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-02-05
By w. D. WALLACE.
AN OLD STORY IN A NEW DRESS.
GO tell II as twas told me

Eugldnu, Iuere llNeu an dgeQ couple, whose
time had passed away since early youth, in the
every round Of farm life, and who had never
been known to have the least ill-feeling to-
wards each other since the time when good old
ParsOn Heriot had united them in the holy
bonds OF wedlock, twenty-five years before
So well was the fact Of their conjugal happi-
ness known, that they were spoken OF, far and
near, as the happiest pair known. Now, the
Devil excuse the abrupt mention of his name)
had been trying for twenty years to create
what is so commonly called "a fuss in the fam
lily, between those old companions But much
70 bis modification, he had not been able to
induce the old gentleman to grumble about
breakfast being late once, or the old lady 20
give single curtain lecture. After repeated
efforts the Devil became discouraged, and had
be not been person of great determination he
would doubtless have given up the work in
despair. One day as he walked along in a
very surly mood, after another attempt to get
the old lady to quarrel about the pigs getting
into the yard, he met an old woman, near
neighbor of the aged couple. As Mr.. Devil
and the neighbOr were very particular friends
they must needs stop on the way to chat little.
Good morning, sir, said she, " and pray
what on earth makes you look so badly this
beautiful morning, isn't the controversy be
tween the churches doing good service ?''
Yes, isn't Deacon W. making plenty of
"Wsll, what is the matter, my highly hon
ored master"
every thing else is going on well enough, !"
replied the Devil, "but," and here he look ed
as sour as a monkey on q crab apple tree, sold
Blueford and his wife, over here, are iBjuring
the cause terribly by their bad example, and
after trying for years to induce them to do
better, must say consider them hopeless. ;
The old hag stood for a moment in deep
thought. Are you sure that you have tried
every way"
Every one I can think Of"
Are you csrtain''
"wen," replied she, eff you will promise to
make me present Of a new pair of shoes, in
case succeed, will make the attempt nv
self, and see If can't raise a quarrel between
them"
To this reasonable request the Devil gladly
consented: The old hag went her way to
neighbor Blueford's house, and found old Mrs
BluefOrd very busily engaged in getting things
ready for her husbands comfort on his return
from work. After the usual compliment had
passed, the following dialogue took place
well, friend you and Mr.. B. have lived
long time together"
b. Five sn1i.d and twenty W years come next NOvsm
And in all this time you have never had
the least quarrel"
''Not one''
81 am truly glad to hear IT, continued the
bag, 81 consider it my duty to warn you,
that though this is the case, yet you must not
expect 1t to be always. Have you not observ-
ed Of late Mr.. b. has grown peevish and sullen
at times"
"a very little So" observed Mrs Blueford.
Il know 1t, continued the hag, "and let
me warn you in time to be on your guard"
Mrs. b. did think she had better do so, and
asked advice as to how she ought to manage
the case.
"Haye you not noticed said the hag. ssthat
your husband has bunch Of long, coarse hair
growing on q mole under his chin on the side
of his throat"
Yes -
These are the cause OF, trouble, and as long
as they remain You had better look out Now,
as q friend, would advise you to cut them Off
the hrSt time you get chance, and thus end
the trouble
If you say do so, will, replied the credu-
lOus old lady.
Soon after this the bag started for home, and
made 1t convenient TO meet Mr. b. on the way
Much the same talk, in relation to his domestic
happiness, passed between them as did between
the old woman.
But, friend BluefOrj," said she, 81 think
1t my duty, as christian, to warn you to be
on your guard, for tell you that your wife
intends your ruin
Old Mr.. b. was very much astonished; yet
ne could not wholly diseredit her words When
he reached home he threw himself upon a bed
IN great perplexity, and, fegning sleep, stud
led over the matter in his own mind His wife,
thinking this good opportunity for cutting off
the obnoxious hair, took her husbands razor
and crept softly to his side. Now the old lady
WAS very much frightened at holding a razor
50 close TO her husbands neck, and her hand
was not so steady As it once was; SO, between
the two, she went to work very awkwardly,
and pulled the hairs instead of cutting them
of. Mr.. Ii. opened his eyes, and there stood
his wife with a razor at his throat after
what bad been told him, and seeing this, he
could not doubt that she intended to murder
him. He sprang from the bed in horror; and
no explanation or entreaty could convince him
TO the contrary. SO, from that time forth there
was no more peace for that house. 1t wasiaw,
jaw, quarrel and wrangling all the time.
With delight the devil hoard Of the success
OF the faithful emissary, and sent her word that
II she would meet him at the end of the lawn
at a certain time, he would pay her the shoes
At the appointed time she repaired to the
spot, and found the devil at the place. lie put
the shoes on the end OF long pole, and, stand
ing on the opposite side of the fence, handed
them over to her. She was very much pleased
with them; they were exactly the article
- But there is one thing, Mr.. Devil, that
would like to have explained-that is, why you
hand them to me on that stick ?'' -
Very easy TO explain" replied he, "any
Nuo "no uas tno cunning anu mednness 10 DO
as you have done DOM get nearer than twenty
feet Of me" SO saying, he fed in terror
After awhile the old woman died; and when
she applied for admittance to the lower regions
the devil would not let her in for fear she
might dethrone him, as she was so much his
superior. So the old woman is yet compelled
to wander over the world, creating quarrels and
strife In peaceful families and neghborhoods
Would you know her name9
IL il Madame Scandal. When she died. her
children, the young Scandalizers, were left or
phans; but the devil, in consideration of past
service done by the mother, adopted them; and
So you see, he is the father Of that respecta ble
class called scandal mongers.-Chiekasa,g and
Ch0ctap Herald.
TIE SKETCH CLUB OF CINCINNATI The art
izL. .r.=;s;...x al. .I.L IL h.