The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1865-07-13
lFrom tho McCregor (Iowa) News.1
The Devil 0DlsOyy M The m.

Y
The Devil DisOyvms Them.
As ! lay on my bed one night after a
hard days work in tho office, my
thoughts were involnn' arily turned to
the situation Of public affairs. How
long my thoughts continued 10 flow ]
know not before was led captive By
Morpheus. While under the control
Of the goddess Of sleep, dreamed tia,
| va. languisAing on bed of sickne
and that my attending physician had
pronounced me beyond the hope Of re
covery. Soon after this announcement,
was made friend Of mine came in and
said "Yon know, Van, that l have 4
note against, who died recently
Yes" replied. SWELL" said my
friend, "he left his property in such :
shape that | cant get my pay On thai
note. l want you to take it and pre-
sent it to him tor payment, wherever
you can find him." Without, waiting
for a reply he thrus: the note into my
vest pocket, bade me goodbye, and
left mo.
The next recollect Is that my wifi,
said, "lIe is dead" My little dangh
ter screamed and tainted. During this
time occupied position in the upper
part Of the room, trying to make my
wife and daughter recognize and =,
understand that I was not dead. I saw
them bend over what they supposed tc
be husband and father, bnt what
knew was nothing more nor less than :
mass Of inanin ,teImat,er with which
had been identified.
could see my wife and daughter
could hear them talk, but they could
not hear nor sec me. This was the frs,
thing that convinced me that had pas
sed into another state Ut existence. Yel
| c"nli realize my condition. If,l
as had always felt. My Thoughts and
affections had undergone no change
| saw and conve'sed with my father
and mother. | could move from place
to place with astonishing rapid;ty.
wandered over an,brOsial fields more
beautiful than ever imagined could
exist, drank drafts of pleasure that
had thought impossible. While wand
ering over these plains Of beauty
came to mansion more beautifn, thar
any had ever seen. Upon inqnirins
! found that it belonged TO ST. Pete,
| atepped up TO the door and gave tn.
alarm as | vas directed. The doc,
was opened; l was ushered INTO .
superb reception room and informed
the people that I wanted to see St
Peter. The Rev. St. soon made hi,
appearance; I was struck with his ap
pearance 80 different from what I had
expected, anil stood for some minute.
mOtinnless. Ny embarrassment was
not lessened BY his demanding my
business attempted TO make an ex.
cnse for my intrusion, but my efforts
only tended 10 make the matter worse
In despair | thrust my fingers into my
veet Iocket, felt something, dew it ont
and lO it was the note of -1. Nv
thoughts came rushing back with the
rap'dity Of lightning. I inquired Of ST.
Peter i he knew anything Of. lu
a few minutes he replied that he did
Moth his clerks had examined
the register and that no one Of tina,
name had been admitted into heaven.
Determined to collect the note, | in
Inired the way to hell, hade the good
old saint good bye. and left for the
regions Of the damned. Gradually tht
ambro>iai fields began to fade and ther
disappeared. My way lay through .
iesolate region where no living thing
met my extended gaze. l Istopped and
examined my guide book to see ii wa,
on the right track; I was startled b,
loud noise and upon raising my eye,
described in the far distance cloud.
Of darkness rising up to the zenith ant
fierce flames occasionally burat,ns
through them. A sulphnrous stencil
soon satisfied me that I was on the con
| fines Of he'll.
My 6rst thoughts were to return, bu
the obligation | was under to collcc
the note impelled me on. / still keu
on my conrec, till I came to the man
sion OF his Satanic Majesty. mad,
iha same inquiries Of The prince Of dark
ness that had made or st. Peter an.
received the same reply.
knew rot what to do. could ind
10 trace Of Determined not 1,
be friled, / returned 10 heaven and told
S.. Peter that there must be some mis-,