The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-07-14
" Well, what is the matter, my highly
honored master ?"

sraD apple tree, - old Bluetord, and his
wife, over here, are injuring the cause
terribly by their bad example, and after
trying for years to induce them to bo bet
ter, | must say consider them hopeless. +"
The old hag stood for moment in deep
thought.
Are you sure that you have tried every
way z" she asked.
"Every one | can think Of"
"Are you certain 2"
eyes"
"Well,' replied she, eff you will prom
ise to make me present of new pair of
shoes, in case [ succeed, I will make the
attempt myself and see if I can't raise a
quarrel between them"
70 this reasonable request the Devil
gladly assented. The old hag went her
way to neighbor Blueford's house and
found old Mrs. Blueford very busily en-
gagged in getting things ready for her hus
bands comfort on his return from the
work After the usual compliments had
passed, the following Dialogue took place !:
Well, friend b., you and Mr. b. have
lived long time together"
Five and twenty gears come next No
Yember."
"And in all this time you have never
had a quarrel"
Not one"
81 am truly glad to hear it, continued
the hag, i consider it my duty to warn
you, though this is the case you must not
expect it to last always Have you not
observed that of late Mr.. B. has grown
pecvish and sulIen at times ?"
"a very little So" observed Mrs. Blue
ford
Il know it" continued the hag, "and
let me warn you in time to DE on your
guard" ...f
Mrs, 3. did think she had better do so,
and asked advice as to how she ought to
manage the case.
Have you not noticed" said the hag
"that your husband has bunch of long
coarse, gray hair growing on mole under
his chin, on the the right side of his
throat?'
Yes"
"These are the cause of the trouble,
and as long as they remain you had bet
ter look out. Now as a friend, I would
advise you to cut them off the first time
you get a chance and thus end the trouble" :"
." If you say so, | will" replied the old
lady.
Soon after this the hag started for home,
and made it convenient to meet Mr.. b.,
on the way. Much the same talk in re-
lation to his domestic happiness, passed
between him and the old hag.
But, friend b. said she. g. think it
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 he could not wholly discredit her
words. When he reached nome he threw
himself on his bed in great perplexity,
and telgning sleep studied over the mat
ter 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 so close to her husbands neck
and her hand was not steady as 1t was
once, so between the two she went to work
very awkwardly and pulled the hairs in
stead of cutting them off. Mr.. Blueford
opened his eyes, and there stood his wife
with razor at his throat. After what
had been told him, and seeing this, he
could not doubt that she intended to MUIR
der him. He sprang from the bed in hor-
ror, 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 was jaw; jaw, quarrel
and wranghng all the time.
With delight the Devil heard of the
success of his faithful emissary, and sent
her word that if 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 aud found the Devil at the place.
He put the shoes on the end of a very
long pole and standing 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 was one thing, Mr.. Devil,
that | would like to have explained that
is, why you hand them to me on that
stick z"
"Very easy to explain" replied he,
"any one who has the cunning and mean
ness to do as you have done, don't get
nearer than twenty feet ofme 2" so saying,
he fed in terror.
After while 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