Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-05-27
How the Parson was Caught.

How the Pars0n was Caught'
In one of the small interior towns of
New England, where the superstitions Of
our ancestors still possess hold on the
people, the facts occurred a few years
Since, of which the following is true
-narrative:,
An honest farmer and his family pre-
pairing to celebrate Thanksgiving at his
wife's fathers, in an ancient town, were
hurried and confused extremely on the
day preceding that festival, by the mul,y
tiplicity Of things which must be done.
before they could leave home with safety.
The house was to be banked up" and
the gleanings of the haryest-cabbages,
turnips, and SO forth-puts in the cellar,
that the external entrance thereto might
be closed up for the season. Having
carried in the vegetables, the boys were
dispatched to the barn for straw to fill
the passages with, while the good man
himself was busted on the opposite side
of the house. Ia ss- -
An old ram, the horned patriarch of
the flock of sheep kept on the farm, hav.
ing got taste of the Scattered cabbage
leaves, unobserved entered the cellar-and
and continued his feast. The avenue
through which he entered was immediate
ly closed up, and all the necessary works
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, having put out the fires, and fasten-
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 &C,
companied by some young cousins. Some
of their youthful neighbors Of both sexes
were invited in, and a merry 'rhanksgiv-
ing carousal was in full tide OF successful
operation, when one of the boys, who
had been sent into the cellar with a little
two wick candle, which gave just light
enough to make darkness visible, to draw
cider, ran back into the room, with eyes
glaring wildly, uttering the halfsuffocated
exclamation, "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 hands
of the boy, and boldly rushed to the
cellar steps, but before had descended
half the steps, the large saucer eyes and
enormous horns of the ram caused him
to retreat as much terrified as his son,
exclaiming, "Sure enough the devil is
in the cellarI"
The good man seized the great Bible,
and attempted to read, but the candle
sputtered, burned blue, and threw such
faint light on the sacred pages, and the
book trembled so much in the hands of
the reader, that he could not distinguish
one word from another. The little chill
dren cried and clung to their mother, the
girls nestled close to their favorite beaux,
and the whole house was shaken with
the agitation of its half demented inhabi-
tants. One bright thought, however, oc-
Cured and message was sent for the
minister to come and clay the devil"
The parson, man more celebrated for
good nature, piety, and credulity, than
for talent and heroism, slipped a small
Bible into his pocket, put on his band and
surplice, so he sho1ld appear as formida-
BILE as possible to his great antagonist, and
hastened to the relief of his distressed
parishioners. On coming to the house
The reverend gentleman was hailed as a
deliverer, and implored by at least
dozen persons, at the same moment, to
drive the devil away. But few moments
were lost in asking that which no one
knew, before the parson pushed forward
as leader, with the same penurious
light, into the cellar, the most courageous
of the company Keeping close behind
him. He reached The foot Of the stairs,
the eyes of fire, and the shadowy outline
Of the enormous horns, magniiied tenfold,
at least, by the terror of those who be-
held them, removed all doubt, if any had
existed in his mind, as to the Internal ma
ture of the being with whom he had to
contend. The divine instantly fell on his
knees, and with up!ifted hands, began to
pray in his most fcrvent manner. The
ram. not understanding the pious mans
motives, but supposng by the motion Of
his hands that he was daring him to 4
butting contest, made pass with all his
might at his supposed adversary, but, de;
ceived by the swelling dimensions of his
drapery, missed the slender bpdy of the
priest, and drawing hastily back to renew
the assault, hooked one Of his horns into
the belt of his surplice, and pulled the
priest with him into, the cellar. While
thus ip-the power of his victorious foe,
he lost hope, SO far as it regarded him
self, and the natural benevolence of bis
burst forth in exclamation,
" Brethren, take care of yourselves, the
devil has got me-"
The exhortation was better obeyed
than any be had ever delivered FROM the
pulpit, his friends all fed and left him to
MS fate.
Among the company was shrewd
young farmer, who had, from the first,
the fend to be some domestic
animal, but being a lover of fun and viii.
ing to see comedy, kept his thoughts,
o himself, and pretended to sympathize
in their fears. He thought
{ time to interfere, and, snatching pitch
pine knot from the blazing FIRE, expressed
lis determination to rescue the preacher
or perish in the attempt. -
{: Don't don't ~ shouted cayora1 l