The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-12-22

r~ti1.'i'~ -. ~ eio uaPpy group.
rrSaNn. .a-e.A
curious contrivances to keep out thieves,
started on the same destination.
! On the afternoon of the day following the
festival, which had been kept under the pat
ernal roof with many devout and joyful ex
ercises, the family returned home accompa
MED by some Of their young cousins. Some
of their youthful neishbors of both sexes
were invited in, and a merry Thanksgiving
carousal was in full tide Of Successful opera
ton. when one ofthe boys, aho had been
sent iiito the cellar with little towIwicked
candle, which gave just light enousl'to make
darkness visible,,to draw cider, ran back in
to the room With eyes, glaring willy, utter
ing hall sulfocated exclamation the dew
il II in the cellar T. 'Poh : said the father
you have only been frightened by your own
shadow; give, me the light On which hS
seized the candle, leaving the candleseca
c!inched fast il the shaking hand of the boy
and boldly rushed to the cellar stairs r -bn
ere he had descended half the stepsthe larg
saucer eyes and enormous horns of the beas
caused him to retreat as much terrified /.
his son4snre1enoug the devil Is in the
, CELLAR! The good man selzed the great Bi
|ble and attempted 10 READ, but the candle
spnttered, burn. blue, and threw so feeble
light on the sacred page. and the book trem
bled so nugchin the hsnd ofthe reader sha
+. he conld not distinguish one word from an
!, other. The little children cried and clun
!. to their mother. the iassies fnestied dose
: their hvorits swainssS and thr whole hous
i shook with the agitation of its half demen
] ed Inhabitants. One bright thought hows'
4 er occarreds edsramessenger was nov dispatch
ed for the minister, to lay the devil
), The parson, 4 man moro celebrated {
!: good nature, pisty, and credulity, than {
= talents or heroism. slipped the small Bib
!, into his pocket. put on his bandand surplt
Il that he might appear as formidable to
= = great adversary as possible, and;hastened
% the relief of bis distressed parshioners, Il,
Is On coming to the house the reverend mi
4 was hailed As sdsliyeret, and implored by
= least dozen voices, at once, TO drive q
hss devil away But few momentsiwere lost
be asking questions, which no one could
ul- sEer; before the patson pushed forward !
~ leader, lighted by the same penurious q
W. die into the cellar, the most courageous
tn. company keeping close behind j ]hip
er, he reached the foot Of the stairs, the eyes
'GS ,,c fire and the shadewy. outline Of enormt
a ich horns. ufagnifed fold atTeast, by the
Irora of those thst izshs,d them, removed
is doubt Il any had, previously existed in
s.SS ~ mind as to the internal nature of the be
Z ss'SSSS WITH whom ne had, to contend. The div
$50 instantly fell on his knees, and with uplii
ia5 iS hands began to pray in his most ferv
,.a manner. The ram not understanding
! good mans motives, but sapposing, by
= motion Of bis ,hahds. thst he vas daring
q Ito bhtting contest, made pass with all
might at bis supposed adversary; but
r. ceived by the swelling dimensions ofhis
: |, ! psry, missed the slender body of the pr
4 u and drawing hastily back to renew TIE
aon oss sauIt, hooked one Of his horns into tho
=, Of his suspiicc, and pulled the. parson
him iI,t into the cellar While thus IN the
eroi his si0loBjogs foe, lost TO hope -
garded hilpsclf. the natural tepeyolene
1T his disposition burst forth in the excl