The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-06-26
A GOOD STORY.

OuI UHu dDCestUIS SliII pOsooSS hOIu Oh
the people, the fact occurred few years
since of which the following is a true
narration
An honest farmer and his family pre-
pairing to celebrate Thanksgiving at his
wifes fathers, in an adjacent town, were
hurried and confused extremely on the
day preceding that festival, by the multi.
plicity Of things which must be done be
fore they could leave home with safety.
The house was to be "banked up and
the gleanings of the harvest, cabbage, tur-
nips, and so forth, put into the cellar, that
the external entrance thereto might be
closed for the season. Having carried ID
the vegetables, the boys were dispatched
to the barn for straw to fill the passage
with, while the good man was busted on
the opposite side of the house.
An cid ram, tho horned patriarch of a
large flock OF sheep kept On the farm,
having got taste of the scattered cabbage
leaves, unobserved entered the cellar and
silently continued his feast. The avenue
through which he entered was immedi-
ately closed up,and all the necessary work
and arrangements being completed, the
larger boys and girls set off on foot in high
glee, the dog running and barking before
them.
Soon after, the parents and their little
ones, ,haeing put out the fire and fastened
the doors aud windows to keep out thieves
started on the same destination.
On the afternoon of the day following
the festival, the family returned home,
accompanied by some young cousins, Some
of their youthful neighbors of both sexes,
were invited in, ,and a merry Thanksgiving
carousal was in full tide of successful
operation, when one of the boys, who
had been cent into the cellar with little
TWO wick candle, which gave just enough
light to make darkness visible, to draw
cider, ran back into the room, with eyes
glariDg wildly, ,utterirg the half sufocating
exclamation:
"The devil is in the cellar ~
POOH" said the father, "you have only
been frightened by your own shadow j;
give me the light"
Saying this, he seized the candle
leaving the candlestick fast in the hand of
the boy, and boldly rushed to the cellar
stairs, but before he had descended half
the steps, the large saucer eyes and enor-
nous horns of the ram caused him to re-
treat as much terrified as his SOD, ,excIaiming
"Sure enough, the devil is in the celar!'
Tie good man seized the great li5le,
and attempted to read, but the candle
sputtered, burned blue, and threw such a
feeble light on the sacred pages, and the
book tremtled so much iu the hands of
the reader, that he could not distinguish
one word from another. The little chill
dren cried and cung to the mother the
girls nestled close to their favorite swains
aud the whole house was shaken with the
agitation of its half demented inhabitants
One bright thought, however, occurred,
and messenger was sent for the minister
to come and "lay the devil"
The parson, man more celebrated for
good nature, piety, and credulity, than for
talent aud heroism, slipped a small bible
into his pocket, put on his band and sur
plice, that he might appear as formidable
to his great antagonist as possible, and
FASTENED to the relief Of hia distressed
On coming to the house, the reverend
man was hailed as deliverer, ndimplored
by at least dozen voices at the same mo-
ment, to drive the devil away. But few
moments we're lost in asking questions
which no one could answer, before the
parson pushed forward as leader, with
the same penurious light, into the cellar,
the most courageous Of the company keep
ing close behind him. He reached the
foot of the stairs, the eyes of fire, the
,hadowy outline of the enormous horns,
nagnGed tenfold at least, by the terror
IF those that beheld them, removed all
loubt if any had existed in his mind as to
ne infernalnature ofthe being with whom
le had to contend. ....
The divine instantly fell oE his knees,
md, with uplifted hands, began to pray
n his most fervent manner. The ram
not understanding the pious mans motives
out suppoSing by the motion of his hands
hat he was daring him to butting con-
est, made pass with all his might, at
his supposed adversary, but, deceived by
he swelling dimensions of his drapery,
missed the slender body of the priest, ,and
drawing hastily back to renew the assault,
hooked one of his horns into the belt of
she surplice and pulled the priest with
him into the cellar.
While thus in the power of his victo-
rious foe, he lost hope as it regai ded him
self, and the natural benevocnce of his
disposition burst forth in the exclamation:
Brethren, take care of yourselves the
devil has got me-" ..-..........