Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-04-12

] bic fellow took possession of the other, toe
: But as Lily did not object, we suppose
9 was all right.
And that was the odd path by whicl
: Mark Thornbrooke diverged from the wal
of old bachelorhood, and stepped into th
respectable ranks of matrimony.
, The Devil and Tom walker.
= A STORY OF THE LAST CENTURY
By wAHINGros IRVING.
= =
As Ton wszed cid, however, be grew
thoughtful. Having secured the goo'
things of this world, be began 10 feel anx
ious about the next. He thought with re
gret on the bargain be had made with hi
black friend, and put his wits to work t.
cheat him out of his condition. He became
therefore, all of sudden, violent church
goer, as if Heaven were to be carried b.
force of lungs. Indeed, one might tel
, when be sinued most by the clamor of hi
Sunday devotion. The quiet Christians
who had been modestly and quietly travel
ing Zion-ward, were struck with self-re
proach at seeing themselves so suddenly
outstripped in their career by this newly
made convert. Tom was as rigid in religion
as in money matters. He was stern su
pervisor and censurer of his nsighbors, ant
seemed to think every sin entered upor
their account became credit on his page
He talked Of the expediency of revivine
the persecution of the Quakers and Ana.
babtists. In a. word, Toms zeal became as
his riches,
Still, in spite Of his strenuous attentions
to forms, Tom had lurking dread that
the Devil, after all, would have his due
Lest he should be taken unawares, it is
said that be always carried a small Bible
in his pocket. He also had a great folio
Bible in his counting-house desk, and
would frequently be found reading when
people called on business; on such occa-
sions, be would lay bis green spectacles on
the book to mark the place, while he turn.
ed around to divine some usurious busi-
ness.
Some say Tom grew little crack Drained
in his older days, and that fancying his
end approaching, be had his horse newly
shod, saddled and bridled, with his feet up
permost, because that, at the last, the
world would be turned upside down, in
which case he would find the horse ready
for mounting and he was determined at the
worst to give his friend run for it. This.
however, is probably mere old wife,s tale.
If he really did take that precaution, it was
totally superfouous-at least, so says the
authentic old legend, which closes, his
story in the following manner:
One hot afternoon in the dog days, just
as terrible thunder-gust came up, Tom
sat in his counting house, in his white linen
cap and India silk morning gown. He was
on the point of foreclosing mortgage by
which he would complete the ruin of an
unhappy specuiator for whom he had pro-
fessed the greatest friendship. The poor
landjobber begged him to grant a few
months service. Tom had grown testy
and irritated, and refused 10 give another
day.
"My family will be ruined and brought
upon the parish" said the land:jobber.
"Charity begings at home" replied Tom,
II must take care of myself these hard
times"
"You have made so much money out of
me-" said the speculator.
Tom lost his patience and his piety.-
The Devil take me-" said he, '.if I have
made a farthing."
just then there were three loud raps at
he street door. He stepped out to see
Who was there. A black man with black
horse which neighed with impatience.
"Tom, you are come for" said the black
elbow grufiy. Tom shrunk back, but too
ate. He had left bis Bible at the bottom
# his coat pocket, and his big Bible on
he desk, buried under the mortgage he
Fas about to foreclose-never was a poor
inner taken more unawares. The black
nan whisped him like child astride of
he horse, and away he gallopped in the
nidst of Q thunderstorm. The clerks
tuck their pens behind their ears, and stared
fter him from the windows. Away went
ON Walker dashing down the street, his
teed striking fire out of the payements at i,
very bound. When the clerks turned to =
'ok, the black man had disappeared. i
Tom Walker never returned TO foreclose o
ne mortgage. A courtrymen who lived :
ear the swamp reported that iii the height g
fathunder-gust be heard great clattering e
hoofs and bowling along the road. and
,at when he ran to the window be just Il
'ught sight of figure such as l have de- d
'ribed, on horse that galloped like mad ie
cross the fields over the hills, and down o
the black hemlock swamp toward the
d Indian fort, and that shortly after a
fell in that direction which @
emed to set the whole forest in blaze. :
The good people of Boston shook their :,
sads and shrugged their shoulders +
hey had been SO accustomed to witches ;.
I'd hobgoblins, and tricks of the Devil in -
l kinds of shapes, from the first settle :,
ent of the colony, that they were not so q
uch horror-stricken as might have been q
'pected. Trustees were appointed to O
Ike charge of Toms effects. There was e'
'thing, however, to administer upon W
n searching his Golfers, all his bonds and o.
ortgages were reduced to cinders. In a.
ace of gold and silver, his iron chest was b
lied with chips and shavings; two skele- o
ms lay in his stable instead of his half Z
arved horses, and the very next day his q
eat house took fire and burnt to the ct
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