Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-01-16
Unclc Bob nn Expert In the Black Art-a.
HOW he Found his Fiddle.
[ From the Golden Era


How he Found his Fiddle.
[From the Golden Era
One day Uncle Bob and were out in Ce
dar River, trolling for pickeral, and our con
versation having taken a turn toward the
and of the tricks of conjurors,
he said: .'iea t" .sa
You may be surprised to hear it, but
once performed a miracle by the aid of the
black art, myself
Indeed, Uncle Bob? | should like much
to hear the story, if you have no objection
to telling it.' 3 .,.. u
g Not in the least. Turn the boat and pull
so as to pass to the right of yon 'towhead
Osland covered with small bushes,) and as
we float down. willtell you the story"
"Well, here we co. e ".. ...
"Well, and here geeS for the story. About
twenty five or thirty years ago-no, it was
all of forty years, since was working at tie
trade of carpenter and joiner in Pennsylva-
mia. was then a jour. and the boss was
then building dwelling house for rich old
Dutch farmer. Now these people were very
eligious-belonging to the German Luther
an church--and very superstitious. They
believed, first--in the devil; and secondly
thirdly and so on to tenthly, in ghosts, hob
goblins and goblins without the hob, witches,
spooks, and in short in every sort of spiit
YOU could name--black, blue, gray, green, or
brown
No ghost or goblin story was ever too big
for them to swallow at single gulp.
They had also seen things; their children
had seen things. Their children, their neigh
bors, and their cattle and horses had been
bewitchcd. Their dogs and cats had been
bewitched. Devils, imps, witches, and ghosts
were quite as plentiful in the neighborhood
AS rats ard mice-in their opinion. e..
Now, had violin and at night nsed tc
90 up to the new house and play for thu
other hands who would very often clear away
the shavings from the floor and dance-hoe
lag it down in good earnest. +r..
The old Dutchman and his frow didn'
like this They demonstrated, Talked tt
the boss and threatened. ....
1t was so much breath wasted. The boss
said that there was no harm in our enjoying
ourselves after our days work was done, anc
as the house was his until finished and pat
for, we might fiddle and dance as often ant
as much as we pleased
This sienced the old man-though he
growied about having Sich wicked dings ;
goin' on right under his nose and on his owr
blace' ..- .-.-. .
The old lacy, how ever, did not give it ny
so easy. She stormcd around good deal
" You all ctfcry one goes NIT der diiel, sc
you does. And you makes pad luck como
mt der farm, SO you does-cver ding will &C
rite Der difel will coome in der new house
if you don't quit dat you play dose all de,
dime viG you nasty ole fid lie and you wicked
dancin' so he does"
At last, when we were at dinner one day
the old woman skipped of to the new house
stole away the fiddle and hid it.
We missed il Immediately, and after hunt
ing awhile, one of the boys found it hidden
under trough in an Old hog stable. He left
it as he found it, and came and told me ol
it's whereabouts. a Ea.. .. .se
{" Now said | y" boys, just leave the fid-
die where it is and will show you some fun
this evening" | then explained to them
what would do and the part they were to
take in the perfornance. ... 81. sa
At the supper table mentioned that my
violin had been stolen, and asked if any one
present knew anything Of it; the old lady,
herself, religious as she was, denied all knOwl-
edge of it's whereabouts. ...
Now" said |, (" it is impossible to con
ceal that fiddle from me, will have it if |
have to raise the devil to assist me in finding
it-which 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 carried it off,
but | strongly suspected her. Therefore, saId
T." am not go ignorant but that know
whs carried away my fddle-there is -four
Oh the end of that PERSONS nose" #
"The old lady instantly drew the back of
her hand across the end of her nose and
looked to see If it was whitened with flour.
| was now certain of having found the cul
prit. a a'
After supper we commenced our prepara-
tions for raising the devil, and by the time
it was dark everything was ready.
built up a small fire IN front of the old
house, within ten feet Of the door. 1t had
hardly commenced to blaze before the old
Dutchman and his wife were at the door.
Vat now vat for you makes fire dare ?
You wants to purn down der house town,
hey p cried the old lady.
''No, no danger of burning the house l
am going to raise ghost, goblin or the
devil, and make him tell me where my fiddle
is hidden" 1r
"Yaas," said the old man, "you will play
der mischief. More dangers dat you purn
dom der house NIT yer tom foolishness, so
It is"
However, paid no attention to what he
said but went on with fixing my fire drew
A circle several feet in diameter around the
blazing faggots and placed just upon it a num-
Der Of skulls of oxen, horses and sheep which
we had gathered together. | now left two Of
the boys to walk around the outside Of the
circle in opposite directions, shaking hands
each time they met. and retired to dress for
the incantations was soon to engage in
The old couple began to look pretty serious
when they saw how soberly my two accom-
pliccs marched around the circle. and their
love Of the marvellous would have held them
to the spot, even though they were certain
ten devils would appear. In short time |
returned and lcaped within the circle with
my gun in my hand, my face painted in red
and white stripes, turban with two great OK
horns on my head and cows tail dragging
behind. The instant my feet touched the