The Baltimore County union., 1867-09-21

Ia one ui the small interior town. Of NrN Eur
land where the suISTsliions of our ancrsots siill
possess hold on the people, the facts occurred
Few years since Of which the following is n
true narrative:
An honest farmer and his family preparing 10
celebrate Thanksgiving at his wiie's fathers ia
an adjacent town, were hurried and confused
extremely on the day preceding that festival. by
the multiplicity OF things which must be done
before they could leave home with safety The
house was 10 he "bankc,l up, and the gicanings
ofshe harvest cabbage, iurnips. aud so FORTH
put In tie cellar that the external entrance there.
10 might lie closed up tor the season. Having
carried In the vegetables, the boys were dSpalchcd
TO the barn for straw TO ill the passage with,
while the good man himself was busic,i On the
opposite side Of ttc house.
An old ram, the horned patriarch of the foCk
Of sheep kept ON the farm, having got u taste of
the scat,ere'l cabbage leaves unobscrvc,, entered
the cellar and silently continued his fast. The
avenue through " uhirh hc entered was imme1i aiely
closed up, and all the necessary works aud ar
rangrmcnis being completed, the larger bays and
girl SET uif ON foot ia high glrc the Dog running
aud barking beiorc them.
soon offer, tue parents aud their liillr unr..
having put out the fires and fastened ihr .l"uf.
aud windows 10 keep cut thic,ts. .iati,-l i"t 'hr
same destination.
tn the afternoon 0i tie ,av following ihr
festival, the famil, returned home accompanied
by some t0uug r1usins. S1Br ~ their youihiui
uriglibOts nf both SEXES were invited u aud a
merry Thanksgiving carousal WAS ~ iull tide "i
successful oIrIa'iun when Onc 81 the huys whO
had been s-ut in ~" cellar with lttl' tWu wick
candle. which gave just enough light In make
daTk ness visible Ia draw cider ran har. iuio the
room. with eyes glaring wildlt altering the halt
sunvcHiiug exclamation
THE devil Is IL ~" cellar?
Pooh, said the father, you have only l'.."n
frightened by your own shadow give mr ihr
light.
Saving this he s.ir.'l the cnndlr--lrayin, ,hc
cande.iic. fast in the hand. al the hry. aud
boldly rushed To- the cellar .laif. hat i-lor lee
had descended hall tlt" step. the la - -
cyes and -nurmous h,su. 81 ~" r,u ,.u.,l hin,
to rrireai ns much terrified 'shi s'u. "'r. ,imus
''Surr enough. the devil J. ~ the ''iiii
TIE good man .'.,Erh lhr ..t'4,i hihl" attempted
To rad, Lui the ctnd" sj'nii''"l hHfu'i ilu'
and threw such fe'i,lc light ut the shrt.ri i''.'-
aud the bouk urinbl'ri ~ much ~ lh' hands e.
the reader. that h" could u"t Il, .lihgu.h uhr ilui,
another. The liii, children 'r.l aud 'lluy Il,
the mother the giii u".-l r.'..- ~ iii'r av"iiir
beaux aud ihr whole house was shaken with H."
agitation uf it, d.inrntri iuhdi,ianis ''nr
bright ih"ugh huwrvri o'cgrf"d ind & h,...,st.
vas ."ni '"r ~" mini.i" {" r'tn. ,ni ln IT,
devil
The Ia,t .a,u uiei air,l iHuir iui g.+,! nti,.tr
pi.iy Ani .r-.iuliis than ter talent st,.l rr.t-iu
slipped a small bible inio IL. packet pot "u lii
band and surpli'e, b." shnnli arlrfti %. i'.'ni-
liable rs Ir,>-ibl- io hi gt-,t aniag"u,-' aUd
FASTENED io ihrrli'i"l las di-it' 81 ui.lr.i.'i
TN coming I" ihr hnn.r ih'. i.,'t.ni ~ i,i'''i
as u lrlivrrer. and im,'uf'i T., ~ lrs,-' d,s'n
persons ai the mnn-ut tu iiy'' ilr ,i' d
away. Eut lew moments Httr lost "a .tsh4hs
that which no one knew iic!nfc The patsou pushed
forward ~ leader. with ih" stin" rrnui i"Gs
light into the cellar the uiu. co'ir.g.uusui ~ the
the Too, of the stairs the rt', uf ire and the sis.
dowy outline Of the enormous horns magmiiic'l
icnfuli, at least, hy the terror uf ihu>r whu Lee
held them. removed all l"ub, II any cNis,cl in
his mimi as 10 the Internal nature of the h-ing
with whom he had To contend.
The divine instantly i,ll ON his hne,s. AID nth
uplificl hands hegan TO pray in his mosticrvcu,
manner. The ram not understanding tie pioUs
man : motives. hut supposing by the mnion of
his hands that be- was daring him Ia a huIiing
contest, made pass with all his migl, NJ his
supposed adversary, but, deceived b.. the swelling
dimensions Of his drapery, missed tie slender
body OF the priest. ard drawing hastily back TO
renew,the assault as usual hooked one oi his horns
into the bel, the surpicr pulled the ptc,, with
him into the cellar.
While thus in the power Of his victorious toe,
hc lost hope far ~ Il regarded himself nni the
natural benevolence Of his disposition burst forth
in the exclamation
brethren, take care Vi Nouisc4teS, Tue dcVil
has got me.
The cXhoriaiion was better oboioi than any
he had ever delivered from the pulpi'-hi; fricnds
all fed and len him 10 his fate Among tie COM
pany was a shrewd young farmer, who had, from
the FIRST, supposed the iiend 70 be some domestic
animal, but being lover Of fun and willing TO
see a comedy, kept his thoughts 10 himself and
pretended 10 sympaihsc with others in their fears
lie thought 1t time 20 interfere and sna,chng a
pitch pine knot from the blazing ire rApr"sscd
his determination 20 rescue III, pracli, Orpvrisb
in the attempt
Don't don, 80 shouted several
What does the devil care for ire said
another.
Take along the Bible il you will so sug-
gesied another
But unhecding the suggesiion, and the mani
irs,aiions of concern for hs safety he pushed into
the cellar. scizing the animal by ofiis horns,
and dragged the struggling ram up stairs, cal
liu., 80 the as,unishci parson, follow mc The
h.fn, devil was led in triumph followed by the
cccl,-ii siic into the midst Of the company \
ui"inrniary silence aud hanging down Of heads
rnsucd, but the past scene was too ludicrous 10
admit Of sober reflection, and loud pcals oflaugh.
icf burst forth from every side, during which
the ram was turned on, Mt the door, the ptrson
abscnted himself without ceremony, aud tho
sports of the evening were resumed with better
spirits than before.