North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1867-06-05
A Devil.Caught Parson.

In one of the small interior towns oI
New England, where the superstitions oi
our ancestors still possess hold on the
people, the facts 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
fathers, in an adjacent town, were hurried
and confused extremely on the day pre-
ceding that festival, by the multiplicity
of things which must be done before they
could leave home with safety. The house
was to be "banked up," and the CLEAN
ings of the harvest-cabbage, turnips, and
SO forth--put into the cellar, that the ex.
ternal entrance thereto might be closed for
the season., Having carried in the veget.
ables, the boys were dispatched to the
barn for straw to fill the passage with,
while the good old man himself was busy
on the opposite side of the house.
An old ram, the horned patriarch of a
large flock of sheep kept on the farm, hav-
ing got taste of the scattered cabbage
leaves, unobserved entered the cellar and
continued his feast. The avenue through
which he had entered was Immediately
CAOSCo up, uIu lllC IIcCcSSuTy WOTk dUU
arrangements being completed, the larger
boys and girls set off on foot in high glee,
the big dog running and barking before
them.
Soon after them, the parents and their
little ones having put out the fire and fast.
ened the doors and windows to keep the
thieves out, started for the same destina.
ton.
On the afternoon of the day following
the festival the family returned home, ac-
companied by some young cousins. Some
of their youthful neighbors of both sexes
were invited in, and quite merry Thanks
giving carousal was in full tide Of success
full operation, when one Of the boys, who
had been cont into the cellar with little
tow-wick candle, which gave light enough
to make darkness visible, to draw cider,
ran back into the room, with eyes glaring
wildly, uttering the half suffocating exc.a.
nation
The devil is in the cellar :"
Pooh!" said the father; "you have
only been frightened by your own shadow.
just give me the light
Saying this he seized the candle-leav-
ing the candle-stick fast in the hand OF
the boy-and boldly rushed to the cellar
stairs; but before he had descended halt
the steps, the large saucer eyes and enor-
nous horns of the ram caused him to re-
treat, as much terrified as his son, ex-
claiming
"Sure enough; the devil is in the Gel
lar!"
The good man seized the great Bible
and attempted to read, but the candle
burnt blue and threw such feeble light
on the sacred pages, and the book trem-
bled SO much in the hands of the reader,
that he could not distinguish one word
from another. The little children cried
and clung to their mother; the girls nes-
tied close to their favorite swains, and the
whole house was shaken with the agita-
ton Of its half demented inhabitants
One bright thought, however, occurred
and a messenger was sent for the minister
to come and ''lay the devil!"
The parson. more celebrated for good
piety and credulity than for talent and he
roism, slipped small Bible into his pock-
ct, put on his bands and surplice, that he
might appear as formidable to his foe and
antagonist as possible, and hastened to
the relief of his greatly distressed parish
toner's.
On coming to the house the reverend
man was hailed as deliverer, and i'm
plored by at least a dozen voices at the
same moment to drive the devil away
But few moments were lost in asking
questions which no one could answer, be-
fore the parson pushed forward as lead
er, with the same penurious light, into the
cellar, the most courageous of the compa-
ny keeping close behind him. He reach
ed the foot Of the stairs. The eyes of fire,
the shadowy outline of the enormous
horns, magnified at least ten fold by the
terror of those that beheld them, removed
all doubt, if any existed in his mind, as to
the internal nature Of the being with
which he had to contend
The divine instantly fell upon his knees,
and, with uplifted hands, began to pray
in his most fervent manner. The ram,
not understanding the pious mans mo-
tives, but supposing by the motion Of his
hands that he was daring him to a buttng
contest, made pass with all his might at
his supposed adversary, but, deceived by
the swelling Dimensions of his drapery,
missed the slender body Of the priest, and,