Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-08-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE DRAT.

GOBLIN STORY OF PRHEoH PROVINCIAL
yasl uIil LIFE. .-isd go o.
DRAr Is the name OF country demon
still believed in by many French provir
Cials, a 'ttricksy spirit . sort OF Puck
minus Puck's good qualities.
Within what geographical liaits belief
in tho Dr0t is confined, ana Unable 10 say.
There are no traces or q in Goorae sand
Breton legends. or iethc German myths
OF Alssce and Lorraine on the other side
OF France; 1doubt if any can be found
in Marseilt es literature The local super
stltlon Is probably confined to the South
west, VLat territory which was once Ma
varre orgwhich formed debaeahle land
6etV<een the Kings OF France and Navarro.
1t rs said to be very strong in what Ia now
'ehe DEPARTMENT Of Lot, and was formerly
the district Of Quercy in Guienne, the
chief town Of which 10 Cahors
The Drat 10 q mischiefmaker Old
people use him a. kind Of bogey, to
frighten truant boys and giddy girls. He
plays his pranks chiefly BY night, and the
especial objects of his malice are those who
disbelieVe in his existence or deny his
When the following events are supposed
to have occurred, it is not very easy 70 say
Olu NbiHdh, WIN VIZ my Inform an 4 IA
authority, not being particularly accurate
in her chronology. Internal evidencr
however, seems TO 1efer them to the third
quarter Of the 1t century, The hero of
the tale Is just she sort of man, in small
way, 10 nav. boeD q precursor of the first
great .-,ch Revolution.
10 wa tnQ, sunshiny afternoon in Au-
gust Ramounet, butcher Of the town of
fltseas, having closed his shop at the usual
Ilour, saunterod out apparently for his
usual evening stroll Short and stout yet
well built, with an active, healthy, good
humored look, he was Just the stuff to
make village beaux or bully, or both. It
was not, however his physical qualities
that had rendered him the wonder and
scandal Of ofathesneighborhood. Having 70
ceived the rpdiments of liberal education
from his uncle, the canon, he was proud of
his intellectual superiority over most Of
his fellow-toYnsmen. His learning Qor
so it might be called, considering his time,
place and condition) had made him skepti-
cal, sophistical and disputatious. Not dar-
ing openly to deny the existence Of God,
he did the next thing to it, by deny
ing the existence of the Drat He
sti%matized the popular belief as an
old womans superstition, and declared that
he, for his part, would believe in the Drat
when nc saw haIn, anu not before. And
if do see him, he would add, al prom
Use you he shan't get away in hurry"
Unfortunately, our learned and skeptioal
butcher had not the reputation Of being
proportionately honest his customers had
more than once complained OF short weight,
and there were several dubious reports
ABOUT him. Still, he had not as yet come
to grief in any way; on the contrary, his
business was as hourishing as his health /;
1t seemed as II the Drat had forgotten him
or was afraid Of him. But as he walked
along at his case that afternoon, the old
women, sitting on their doorstepS, shook
their heads and muttered, "Wo shall see,
we i've long enough" From an indi-
Vlonal OF the other sex he received diff
ierent greeting. hf- ~,
Hullo, Raymounet! you're just the man
WANT t-
What's wanted, brother Ivernets"
lvernet and Ramounet composed the
guild or corporation of master butchers in
the town OF Ftgeac 1t was not so big q
place MS to need larger allowance of
them. lyernet seemed very anxious TO
speak with Ramouneti and the latter, who
neo ais own reasons az viii be seen, for
desiring an interview with his fellow
tradesman, did not require TO be asked in
twice. 1.. "a
am rignt curious 10 know what you
Will say this time, began lVcrnet
Whats in the wind nows"
Somebody who will do you q bad
turn, if you don't look out depend upon
it" -N' 4 y it.-tt 49, :. u
"The DratS" ....l
"Hushi Just So"
"What you're not cured Of that yet ?
thought rrfT7 rfs Tn-
Just listen to what happened this
morning in the village"
Bah some story invented TO deceivs
those stupid peasants" 3
nut an tno vIiasS5s VINO came 70 my
snop tnls Iaor ning .oiu nae 'he story, ana
III ~ ~ she sanle WoIuS.
Wqrl, IL. Lear II.
~ Lou must NOV 1naI TINS morning al
9aySreS 49, rnsn tmS PiscS Sd~ Mnere '9e women
PeAre9 NO one coulo tell where he came
HON
Nooul nc CANT OUT Oh tne nu1 oI tne
pool snas ieloW ulu' ~ they Say thAS tne
STTcootes SHc .s sae da, DOln ., the Slns Oh 'ne
Tbs Nile, what's that!
IN Seii YOU another time. but ABOUT
AZ norse; hsnosoas, wSs ne
superb; Anu SoA n.1ie uIchln' seeing
SnIs sPIehuiu morse, Wnich uiun' look
Dit VICIOUS, Juunpeu e On niIn
=, anu anu tnen-I
,is W. snSu, = ny uosi ~. , ieno", 'Ne o1her
Doys Msheeu tsI.'l 70 6s' oh loo, anu, tney
SllhpSa up one al.eI anosher, al, sne nersy >
oncN len Seileneu ous' Si oy-1nu-py " neiu
'"eH,y-IouI "a 'nem ..,