The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1860-06-23
A Good Story.


GKkNAs.
A long time ago in the western part Of
England there lived an aged couple, whose
life had passed away since early youth, in
the every day round of farm life, and
who was never known to have the least
i'll feeling towards each other since the day
when good old Parson Hcriot had united
them ia the holy bonds Of wedlock, twenty
five years before So well was the fact of
their conjugal happiness known that they
were spoken Of far aud near as the hap
piest pair i'll England. Now the Devil tex
cuso the abrupt mention OF his name, had
been trying for twenty years to create
what is called a fuss in the family, between
these old companions. But much TO his
modification, he had not been able to III
duce the old gentleman to grumble about
breakfast being late, or the old woman TO
give a single curtain lecture.
After repeated efforts the Devil became
DISCOURAGED and had he not been person
Of great determination he would doubtless
have given up the work in despair. One
day as he was walking along in very
ssnrly mood after another attempt to get
the old lady to quarrel about the pigs get
ting into the yard, he mot an Old woman,
near neighbor Of the aged couple. As
Mr.. Devil and the neigirbor s.arA v~,y
particular friends they must needs stop on
the way and chat little.
Good morning, sill" said she, "and
pray, what on earth makes you look 50
badly this beautiful morning, ism the con
troyersy between the church doing good
service
Yes
"Isl't Deacon W. making plenty ofbad
whiskeyy'
Yes"
Well wha. !. the matter ny highly
honored MASTER
Everything else IS goin On well enough,
answered the Devil. but and he looked
as sour as InCnkey OH a crab apple tree
"Old Blueford and his wife. over here
are injuriu. the cause terribly by their bad
example after trying for Years to induce
them to do better. l must say consider
them hopeless
The Lag stood q moment in deep
thought. Are YOU sure that yon have
,Vied every way
Every way that ! can think Of.
axe vvU certain:
Yes"
Well, said she. if you will promise
10 MAKE me present of.a new pair Of
shoes, il case succeed. / viii make the
attempt myself, and see 4 ! cant r~.:c
quarrel between them.
To this reasonable request the Devil
gladly assented The old hag went her
way 70 neighbor Biuefords house, and
found Mrs Blueford engaged in getting
things ready for her husband comfort on
his return froa work. After the usual
compliments had passed the following dla-
logue took place.
Well, friend B you and Mr., B. have
lived long time togetner.'
Five and twenty years come November
said Mn B.ueford
And in al that time you have never
had the least quarrel
Mt oue
Il am truly glad to hear it" continued
the old hag i consider it my duty TO
warn YOU Though this Is the case you
must not expect it - lie always.-Have
YOU not observed that of late Mr. B. has
grown peevish and sullen at times ?
A very little so observed Mrs. B.
u know il. continued the hag, and
let me warn you in time % be on your
guard.
Mrs. Blueford did think she had better
do so, and asked advice as TO how she
ought 10 manage the case.
Have vou not noticed that your hus
band has bunch of long harsh hairs
growing on q mole under his chm
Yes
These are the causes of the trouble,
and as long they remain you had better
look out Now. a. a friend would advise
YOU to cut it oft the first time vo- &c.
chance, and thus end the trouble
Soon after the nag s:2r.ed for home and
made it convenient TO meet Mr. Z on tire
way. Much the same talk in relation 10
his domestic happiness, passed between
him and the old woman.
But. friend Bluetord think it my
duty as a christian, In warn You 70 be on
your guard. for tell YOU your wife means
you ruin.
Old Mr. 3 was very much astonished,
yet he could not wholly discrccilt her
words When he reached home he
threw himself on the bed in perplexity,
and fleming sleep, studied the matter over
in his own mind His wife thinking this
good opportunity for cutting OFT the ob-
noxious hair, took Aer husband razor and
crept softly 10 hi, side Now the cid lady
was fri ghtencd at holding a razor SO close
10 her husbands neck, and her hand was
not so steady as il once was: SO. between
the two. she went to work very awkwardly.
p opened his eyes, and there stood his
wife with razor at his throat After
what had been told and seeing this he
could not doubt but that she intended 10
murder him He sprang from the bed in
horror, and no explanation and entreaiy
could convince him TO the contrary, SO
from that time forth there was jaw, jaw,
quarreIIng and wrangling bout all the time
With delight the Devil heard of the
success OF the fatal ecllssary, and sent her
word that if she would meet him at the
end of the lawn. at certain time, he
would pay her her shoes.
At the appointed time she repaired to
( the spot and found the Devil at the place
He put the shoes on the end of,.a long
pole. and standing on the other side Of the
! fence from her handed them over. She
was very much pleased with them, as they
We're exactly the article wanted.
But there is one thing, Mr. Devil, that
would like to have explained; that is,
why YOU hand them to me on stick 2
Very easy TO explain, replied he;
ANY one who has the.cunning and mean
ness TO do what you have done, don get
nearer than twenty feet OF me. So say
ing he took to his heels 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 would dethrone him, as she
was SO much his superior. SO that the
old woman is yet compelled to wander
over the world, creating quarrels and strife
to peaceful families and neighhorho1dS,
Would you know her name?
1t is Madam Scandal Wien she died
the young Scandalizers we've loit orphans,
but the Devil, in consido. alton Of past ser-
vices done by the moti.er. ao,op,ed ,hem,
and so you see he is the father OF the re-
spectacle class called acys.lksg 2.anJsrs.