Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-12-25
A GOOD STORY.

I'm one OF the small interior towns of New
England, where the superstition Of our an-
cestOrs still possess hold on the people, the
facts occurred few years since, OF which
the following is a true narrative
In honest farmer and his family prepar-
Ing To celebrate Thanksgiving at his wife $
father in an adjacent town. were hurried
and confused extremely on the day preced
ing that festival, by the multiplicity ofthings
winch must be done before they could leave
home with safety The house was to be
banked up, and the gleanings Of the har
Vest, cabbage, turnips, and so forth, put in
ihe c-Iar, that the external entrance there
70 mig ht be closed for the season. Having
carrie! in the vegetables, the boys were dis
patched TO the barn tor straw to fill the pas
sage with. while the good man himself was
busted OH the opposite side of the house.
An old ram the horned patriarch of the
flock of the sheep kept on he farm, having
got taste of the scattered cabbage leaves,
uunjserved entered the cellar and silently
continued the feast. The avenue through
winch he entered was immediately closed up,
and all the necessary works and arrange
lacnts being completed, the larger boys and
girls set off on foot in high glee, the dog run
nng aud barking before them.
Soon after, the parents and their little
ones. having put out the fires and fastened
The doors and windows to keep out thieves,
started for the same destination.
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 a merry Thanksgiving
carousal was in full tide OF successful opera
ton, when one OF the boys who had been
sent to the cellar with little two wick can
die, which gave just er ough light to make
darkness visible, to draw cider, ran back in
to the room, with eyes glaring wildly, utter
ing the half sutfocating exclamation,
The devil is in the celar!'
Pooh, said the father, you have only
been frightened by your own shadow give
he the light.
Saving this, he seized the. candle-leav-
ing the candlestick fast in the hands of the
boy, and boldly rushed to the cellar stairs,
but before he had descended half the steps
the large saucer eyes and enormous horns OF
the ram caused him 20 retreat as much ter
liied as his son, exclaiming:
Sure enough, the devil is in the cellar y
The gooG man siezed the great bible, at
tempted TO read, but the candle sputtered,
burned blue, and threw such feeble light Oh
the sacred pages, and the book trembled so
much in the hands OF the reader, that he
could not distinguish one word from anoth-
er The little children cried and cluBg to
the mother, the girls nestled close to the IA
vorite beaux, and the whole house was sha-
ken with the agitation of its half demented
inhabitants One bright thought, however,
occurred, and a message was sent Tor the
minister to come and ''lay the devil. "
The parson, a man more celebrated Tor
good nature, piety and fidelity, than tor tai
ent and heroism, slipped small bible into
his pocket. put on his band and surplice so
ne should appear as formidable as possible
70 his great antagonist, and fastened to
the relief Of his distressed pensioners;
On coming to the house the reverend was
hailed as deliverer, and impiored by at least
a dozen persons at the same moment to drlVe
the devil away But few moments were
lost IN asking that which no one knew, be-
lore the parson pushed forward as leader,
with the same penurious light, into the Gel
lar. the most courageous of the company,
keeping close behind him. He reached the
loot IF the stairs the eyes OF hire, ana the
shadowy outline of the enormous hornsi
magnifed tenfold, at least, by the terror OF
those who beheld them, removed all DOUBT
II any had existed in his mind as to the, IN,
iernal nature of the being with whom he had
TO contend.
The divine instantly fell on his knees and
with uplifted hands, began to pray In his
most fervent manner. The ram not under
standing the pious mans motives, but sup
posing by the motion of his hands that he
was daring him to butting contest,
made pass with all his might at his sup