North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1870-03-23

1
the material Of their tales. 1t partake
Of course, of medieval quaintness:
At Sens, in the department Of the Yos
ne. France, once lived a minstrel the mo,
harmless creature on earth, and who ia
the worlds treasure would not QUAR-,
with a child; but a man OF ill-condut
and disorderly life if ever man was. II
passed his life at the gaming-house, o
the tarven, unles. when he was in wors
place. If he had any money he carried
there, if he hid none he gave his violi
in pawn. Always in rags, always withou
a sou, often barefoot and stripped to hi
shirt in wind or in rain, you would hav
pity on him. All this, Notwithstanding
gay, content, his head adorned with I
chaplet of green leaves, he sang and play
ed, and his entire prayers and wishes were
that Sunday would last oil the weel
round.
At last he died. A young devil, still
only a novice. who had been prowling
about for a whole month in search of q
stray sinner, without securing the shadow
of one, came in by chance as soul and
body were separating, joyfully took the
prize on his back, and went down stairs
with him. 1t was just at the moment of
the devils return from grand bunting.
Lucifer himself was seated on his th."oe,
and watching the booty brought in by
each. Here it was robber, here cham.
pion slain in the ..ists, here monk who
had neglected his duty-all called away,
seized at a moment when they expected it
least. After the black fellow had exam
ined his prizes one by one, he badE them
be cast into the cauldron, and the doors be
closed if all had returned.
"All are here" said the porter, "but
one young idiot, who is out now month
without securing single soul. He is too
much ashamed to return empty handed"
lie had hardly done speaking when in
came the little imp painting under his
load, which he laid down at Luciter's feet
with much self-complacency.
"Who are you," said the king to the
ragged minstrel "thief, spy, robber?"
"No, sire, | was minstrel, and possess
sed all the knowledge which man could
attain. With all that lived above in the
utmost misery but since you have under
taken to feed and lodge me, shall sing
and play for you all the day long"
"Ventrebleu! you fosl, what do want
with songs or music? See that cauldron!
Your duty shall be to keep roaring FIRE
under it day and night"
"Well, at all events need fear the cold
no morc," said the minstrel and for some
time he acquitted himself of his duty like
a man of conscience.
One day, as the whole troop were pre-
pairing for battue on a large scale, Luci-
fer spoke to the fireman.
I'VE are all going abroad, and you will
be left in charge Of the prisoners. Take
care. If q single one is missiag on my
return, I'll have you eaten alive"
Don't fear, my lord said he, you
will find me a faithful guardian" and the
whole evil company departed.
But just as all had cleared away, good
spirit on the watch to rescue all he could
from Lucife,, presented himself with a
long benrd and well carried mustaches, and
said-'Come, friend, let US have game.
Here are berleae and dice, an here is
good money to be won," and at the same
time he showed him a long purse filled
with esterlngs.
"Sire," said the other, sin vain you
throw temptation in my way. l possess
nothing but this torn shirt
"Weil, we'll, for good felowships sake
Ill lay some money against few Of these
poor souls.i
"Ah, ha, and have the master down on
me when he returns. No, no, not such
fool
"a fool you are, indeed, to think hid
miss few out of such multitude. Well,
don't care. If l go, you won't see me
in hurry. Here are twenty bright sous
against any single prisoner"
The minstrel was bewtcbed. He took
the silver in his hand, balanced the pieces,
devoured them with his eyes, laid them
down, picked them up again and at last
went and took out few prisoners, saying
he'd only play one at time. They took
their seats by the side of the furnace, and
began to play. The minstrel lost one SOU,
lost another, lost third, got uneasy,
doubled the bet, lost, trebled it, lost that
too, played for as many as were lost, lost
them too, got angry, swore his antagonist
was cheating him, called him swindler,
seized him by the collar, but found he was
only a child in the hands Of giant.
So he cooled down, asked pardon, and
to it they went again. His ill-luck still
followed him; he staked souls by hun
dreds, by thousands, lost all, and then sat
down and tore his hair. The good spirit
approached the cauldron to select his
prizes. All stretched out their poor hands,
every one begged n.t to be left behind,
and great confusion was prevailing, when
the minstrel, now in state of dispair,
said. he'd have one throw to win all back
or lose the rest. The spirit wanted moth
ing better. The dice were thrown anil all
were ransomed. They made small delay,
you may be sure, till all were outside the
gates with their delverer.
Some hours later. Lucifer and his folks