Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-09-09

The Old Family Journal.
The peviI and ION Walker.

The Devil and Tom Walker.
Everybody has heard, and great many
make use Of tic expression, The Devil and
Tom Walker" and yet we presume very few
know who Ten W was, or what relation be
tween him and the Devil iusiifcs this fire.
quent association Of their names Asthe most
authentic account Of who Tom Walker was,
we give the following interesting story by the
best writer America hasever produeed-Wash-
jngtOn Irving;
STORY OF THE LAST CENTURY.
As Tom waxed old, however, he grew
thoughtful Having secured the COOL things
Of this world he began to feel anxious about
the next lie thought with regret on the bar
gain he had made with his black friend, and
put his wits to work to cheat lin out Of bis
conditions He became, therefore, all Of
sudden, a violent church-soer. He prayed
loudly and strenouSly, as if Heaven were TO be
carried by force Of lungs. Indeed, one mighs
always tell when lie had siRned most during
the week, by the clamor Of his Sunday devo-
ton. The quiet Christians who had been
modestly and quietly travelling Zonward were
struck with reproaeh at seeing themselves so
suddenly ouistripped in their career by this
newmado convert. Tom was as rigid in re-
ligion as in money matters; he was stern SUI
pervisor and censurer Of lis neighbors, and
seemed to think every sin entered up to their
account became a credit on his page. Hoeven
talked Of the expedicncy olreviving the psrse-
eution ofthe Quakers and Anabaptists.
Still, in spite Of bis strenuous attention to
forms, Tom had lurking dread that the devil.
after all, would have bis due. That he might
not be taken unawares therefore, it was said
he always carried Bible in his pocket. He
also had a great folio Bible in his counting
house desk, and would frequently be found
reading when people called on business. On
such occasions he would lay his green specta-
cles on the book to mark the place, while he
turned around to drive some usuriouS bargain.
Some say Tom grew little crack-brained
iu his older days, aud that, hncying his end
approaching, he had his horse newly shod,
saddled and buried with lis feet uppermost,
because that, at the last day, the world would
be turned upside down, in which case he
would find his horse ready for mounting, and
he was determined at worst to give his friend
run for it. This, however, is probably 4
mere old wife's fable. II he really did take
that precaution, it was totally superauous-at
least so says the authentic old legend, which
closes his story in the following manner;
One hot afternoon in the dog-days, just as a
terrible black thunder gust came up, Tom sat
at his counting house in bis white linen cap
and Indian silk morning gown. lie was on
the peint Of foreolosing mortgage, by which
be would complete the ruin Of an unhappy
Spectator for whom he had expressed the
greatest friendship. The poor land jobber
begged him to grant few months indulgence.
Tom had grown teSty and irri;ated and refused.
My family will be ruined and brought up
on the parish, said the land jobber.
Charity begins at home, replied Tom
u must take care of myself these hard
times"
"You have made so much money out Of me, -
said be, d" l have not made a farthing."
Just then there were three loud knocks at
the street door, lie stepped out to sec who
was there. A black man with black horse,
which stamped and neigbcd with impotence.
"Tom you are come for said tho black
fellow, grufly. Tom shrunk back, but too
late. lie had left his little Bible at the bot
tom of his coat pocket, and his big Bible on
the desk, buried under the mortgage he was
about to foreclose-neyer was poor Siuncr
taken more unaware. The black man vbisked
like a child astride the horse, and away
10 galloped in the midst Of thunder storm.
Such was the end Of Tom Walker and his
ill-gotten wealth.
The story has resolved itself into proyerb
and its origin Of the popular saying prevalent
throughout New England, &c The Devil aud
Tom Walker"