The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-02-24

hNdIO hICIC IL buu l. hIii 4bS" ~
some fun this evening"" I then explain
ed TO them what | would do and The
part they were to take in the perform
ance.
AT the supper table mentioned tha
my violin had been stolen, and asked i
any one present knew anything of it the
old lady, herself, religious as she was,
denied all knowledge of its Whereabouts
"Now," said !, ait is impossible 10
conceal that fiddle from me, | will have
it if l have TO raise the devil to assist me
in finding (which l can easily do by
means Of my knowledge of the black
art"
AT that time | was not certain that the
old woman was the person who had car
ried it off, but strongly suspected her,
Therefore, said l. am not 50 ignor.
ant but that | know who carried away
my fddle-there is -four on the end of
that persons nose"
"The old woman Instantly drew The
back Of her hand across the end of her
nose and looked to see if 1t was whiten-
ed with flour. was not certain of hav-
ing found the culprit
After supper we commenced our prep
| a ra ions f,r ~, loy;l !, I, n
time it was dark everything was ready.
built up small fire in front of the
old house, within ten feet Of the door
1t had hardly commenced 10 blaze be,
fore the old Dutehman and his wife were
at the door.
Vat now vat for you makes fire
dare You wants to purn down der
house town, hey ?" cried the old lady.
No, no danger Of burning the house !;
| am going to raise a ghost, goblin or
the devil, and make him tell me where
my fiddle is hidden"
Yaas," said the old man, you viii
play der mischief More dangers dat
you purn down der hou nit yer tom
foolishness, SO it is"
Howsoever, | paid no attention to
what he said but went on with fixing my
fire drew a circle several feet in di-
ameter around the blazing faggots and
placed upon it number Of skulls Of OK
en-, horses and sheep which We had gath
cred together now left two Of the
boys TO walk around the outside of the
circle in opposite directions, shaking
hands each time they met, an retired to
dress for the ineantations | was soon 10
engage in, The old couple began to
look pretty serious when they saw how
soberly my two accomplices marched
around the circle, and the love of the
marvellous would have held them TO the
spot, even though they were certain ten
devils would appear. In a short time
returned and leaped within the circle
with my gun in my hand, my face amt
ed in red and white stripes. a turban
with two great OK horns on my head and
and cows tail dragging behind The
instant my feet touched the ground ut
tered most unearthly yell, and com
menced sort Of measured dance
around the fire, at the same time rolling
my eyes aud making the most horrible
faces as | chanted something like this
Hakama. abracada ha kma horen-
ski mi mino fddel. fddelum-O devil
um hocus poeus quickly come !"
could see that all this was beginning
to tell on the old couple they had ap-
preached quite near the circle but now
shrank back liule, their eyes widely
expanded and the old woman clinging
tightly to her fat lord | next threw a
quantity Of hair and wool upon the FIRE,
aud danced and sung more vigorously
than ever, and my chums who were do
ing the work outside the ring redoub
led their Efforts next stopped down
and went round the fire on my knees.
and while dong 50 managed to set fire to
small ball ottow and get il into my
mouth unseen. when Immediately com
menced 10 vomit fire flames aud smoke
from my mouth and throwing handful
of sulphur upon the fire | danced across
/ il in such n manner as TO bring the cow 5
tail within the flame. when a quantity OF
wet and dry gun powder with which i
was charged. took fire. Round and
round the circle flew with fire blazing
+ in streams al both ends and tho atmcs-
phere thick with fumes oisulphur. burn.
ing gunpowder, and hair.
The old Dutchman aud his frow be
came as pale rs death and seemed 70 have
neither power TO move or speak They
were all eyes and seemed chained TO the
spot and fascinated by these diabolical