Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-06-15
a Devil Caught Parson.

/ A'S" iIuSiauu, NucIo tue supeiSlitiubS
of our ancestors still possess hold on
the people, the facts occurred, a few
years since, of which the following is a
true narration
AD honest farmer and his family,
preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving at
his wife's fathers in 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 to be
"banked up and the eleanings of the
harvest-cabbage, turnips, aud SO forth
put into the cellar, that the external
entrance thereto mi ight he closed for
the season. Having carried in the
vegetables, the boys were dispatched to
the barn for straw to fill the passage
with, while the good old man him
self was busy on the opposite side Of the
house
An old ram, the horned patriarch of
large flock of sheep kept on the farm,
having got a taste Of the scattered cab
bage leaves, unobserved entered the
cellar and silently continued his feast
The avenue thro' which he entered
was immediately closed up, and all the
necessary work and arrangements being
completed, the large boys and girls set
off in high glee, the dog running aud
barking before them.
Soon after, the parents and their lit
tie ones having put out the fire and
fastened the doors and windows to keep
out thieves, started for the same des-
tination
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 quite a
merry thanksgiving carousal Was in full
tide successful operation when one OF
the boys, who had been sent into the
cellar with little tov-wick candle,
which gave light enough to make dark
ness invisible, to draw cider, ran back
into the room, with eyes garing wildly,
ultering the half suffocating exclama-
ton:
"The devil is in the cellar.'
"Pooh ~ said the father. "you have
only been frightened by your own
shadow. 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 de-
scended half the steps, the large saucer
eyes aud enormous horns of the ram
eau ed him to retreat, as much terrified
as his son, saying;
Sure enough; the devil is in the
cellar"
The good man seized the great Bible
and attempted to read, but the candle
burnt blue, and threw such a feeble
light on the 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
nestled close to their favorite swains,
and the whole house was shaking with
the agitation of its half demented in.
habitants. One bright thought, how.
ever occurred-and a messenger was
sent for the minister to come and clay
the devil
The parson, more celebrated for good
piety and credulity than for talent and
heroism, slipped small Bible iuto his
pocket, 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 distressed
Pensioners.
On coming to the house, the reverend
man was hailed as delverer, and im.
plored by at least dozen voices at the
same moment to drive the devil away
But few moments were lost in asking
questions which no one could answer,
before the par>on pushed forward as a
leader, with the same penurlous light,
into the cellar, the most courageous OF
the company keeping close behind bin.
He reached the foot Of the stairs The
eyes of fire, the shadowy outline of the
enormous horns, magniiied tenfold at
least by the terror Of those that be-
held them, removed all doubt, if any
existed in his mind, as to the Internal
nature of the being with which he was
10 contend
The divine instantly fell on his knees,
and. with uplifted hands, began to prey
in his most fervant manner. The ram
not understanding the pious man. &
motives, but supposing By the motion of
his hands that he was daring him to a
butting ntest, made pass with all
his might at his supposed adversary,
but, deceived by the swelling dipen-
sions of his drapery. issed the slender
body of the priest, and drawing hastily
back to renew the assault, hooked one
of his horns into the belt Of the suplicr,
ami pulled the priest back with him in
to the cellar
While thus in the power of his vic
torious foe, he lost hope as he regarded
himself, and the natural benevolence of
his disposition burst forth in the ex-
clamation
Brethren take care of yourselves the
devil has got me-"
This exhortation was letter obeyed
than any he had ever delivered from
the pnlpit-his friends all fed and left
him to bis fate.
Among the company was a shrewd
farmer, who bad rom the 6rstsupposed
The 6end to be some domestic animal.