The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-04-20

"he strictly enjoined me never to sell it, for
dye see, no sooner is it emptied, than, al
the wish of the possessor, it is Immediately
retilled; but, harkee, as you seem a man o
spirit, it shall be left to chance to decide
who shall possess it." He took from his
bosom bale of dice: 81 will stake it against
guilder" .-.
Good" said Peter; 'but fear there is
some deviltry in the phial." .......
''Pshaw ~ said his companion, with bit
ter smile, "thosc who have Travelled un.
derstand these things better. Dcviltry, for
sooth!" ... -. ....
81 crave your pardon" said Peter; 81
will throw for it," and he placed guide,
on the tabe.
The farmer met with i'll luck, and lost
He took iraught Of his companion liquor
and determined to stake another guilder
but he lost that, alsol Much enraged al
his want Of success, he drew forth the can.
vass bag which contained the produce oi
the sale of his corn, and resolved either tc
win the phial, (the contents of which had
gone far to fuddle his senses,) or lose ALL
He threw again with better luck; but, Ella
ted at this, he played with less caution, ano
in few minutes was left penniless. The
stranger gathered up the money, and placed
it in his pocket
"You are unlucky tonight, mynheer,' y
said he, with provoking indifference, which
greatly increased the farmers chagrin
''but come, you have goodly ring on your
| finger; will you not venture that against my
phial ~
The farmer paused for moment-it was
the gift of an old friend; yet he could not
stomach the idea of being cleared Of his
money in such manner; what would Jar
Brewer, the host of the Van Tromp, and
little Kip Winkclaar, the schoolmaster, say
toit? 1t was the first time he had evel
been looscr in any game, for he was rcck
oned the best hand at ninepins in his village
he, therefore, took the ring from his finger
threw again, and lost it!
He sank back in his chair with sup
pressed groan, at which his companion smil
ed The loss of his money, together with
his ring, had nearly sobered him, and ht
gazed on the stranger with a countenanct
indicative of anything but good will; while
the latter drew from his bosom scroll O.
parchment.
You grieve," said he, ''for the loss of q
few paltry guilders; but know that | have
the power to make you amends for your il
luck-to make you rich-ay, richer than th'
Stadtholder!''
'Ha. the fiendr' thought Peter, growins
still soberer, while he drank in every word
and glanced at the legs of the stranger, ex
pecting, of course, to see them, as usual
terminate with clovcn foot; but he behelt
no such unsightly spectacle; the feet of tn
stranger were as perfect as his own, or ever
more so.
Here" said his companion, "read owe
this, and, if the terms suit you, subscrib
your name at the foot" The farmer tool
the parchment, which he perceived wa
closely written, and contained many sig
natures at the bottom His eye glance,
hastily over the first few lines, but they sui
feed. ......
4-"kx1. nowI know thee, fend - screamed
the affrightcd Peter, as he dashed the scroll
in the face of the stranger, and rushed wild
ly out of the ROOM He gained the street
down which he fed with the swiftness o
the wind, and turned quickly, thinking h
was safe from the vengeance of him who h
now supposed to be no other than the fou
fiend himself, when the stranger met hin
on the opposite side, his eyes dilated to
monstrous size, and glowing like red-ho
Goals. A deep groan burst from the sur
charged breast of the unfortunate farmer. a.
he staggered back several PAGES.
| "Avaunt! avaunt!' he cried, "Satan,
defy thee! have not signed that cursed
parchment! He turned and fled in the op
posite direction; but, though he cxerciset
mis- utmost speed, the stranger, without any
apparent exertion, kept by his side. 4
length he arrived at the bank of the canal
and leaped into boat which was mooret
alongside. Still his pursurer followed, ant
Peter felt the iron grasp of his hand on tn,
nape of his neck. He turned round ant
struggled hard to free himself from the grip,
of his companion, roaring out in agony
"Oh! Mynh,er Duyyel! have pity for tn,
sake of my wife and my boy Karl!" Bu
when was the devil ever known to pity p
The stranger held him tightly, and spite O
his struggles, dragged him ashore He fel
the grasp of his pursurer like the clutch o
| bird of prey, while his hot breath almos
scorched him; but disengaging himself
| with sudden bound, he sprang from hi.
enemy, and-pitched headlong from his
elbow chair on the floor of his own room a.
Voorbooch.
The noise occasioned by the fall of til,
burly Hollander aroused his affrightcd help
mate from the sound slumber she had beer
wrapped in for more than two hours, durins
which time her husband had been indulginl
| in potations deep and strong, until over
powered with the potency Of his beloved
liquor, he had sunk to sleep in his elbow
chair, and dreamed the hellish dream W,
have endcavored to relate The noise of hi
| fall aroused his rroc from her slumbers.-
Trembling in every limb on hearing the un
ruly sound below, she descended by q shor
| flight of steps, screaming aloud for help, int
the room where she had left her spouse wher
she retired to rest, and beheld Peter, he
dear husband, PROSTATE on the stone floor
the table overturned, his glass broken, ant
the remainder of the accursed liquor flowing
in a stream from the stone bottle which lay
upset on the floor. Peter had been dream
ing frightful dream!
Success IN LIrE-A mans best help il
in himself--his own heart, his own soul, hi
own resolute purpose. The battle canno
be fought by proxy. A mans mind may
be aroused by another-his desire 70 i'm
prove and advance himself be excited b,
another; but he must mould his own stuff
quarry his own nature, make his own char