Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1871-09-01
The Devil and Tom Walker.

Every body has heard, and great many
make use of the expression, 1.-The Devil
and Tom Walker" and yet we presume
very few knoYsWho Tom w. was, or what
relation between him and the Devil justi-
fies this frequent association of their
names. AS the most authentic account
Of who Tom Walker was. we give the fol-
lowing interesting story by the best writer
America has ever produced Washington
Irving:
STORY OF THE LAST CENTURY.
As Tom waxed old, however. be grew
thoughtful. Having secured the good
things Of this world. he began to feel an
xious about the next He thought with
regret on the bargain he had made with
his black friend, and put his wits to work
to cheat him out of his conditions. He
became. therefore, all Of sudden, vio-
lent church-goer He prayed leudly and
strcnuously, as If Heaven were to be car
ried by force of lungs. Indeed. one
might always tell when he had sinned
most during the week, by the clamor of
his Sunday devotion. The quiet Christi
aHs who had been modestly and quietly
travelling Zionward were struck with re-
proach at seeing themselves so suddenly
outssripped in their career by this new
made convert. Tom was as rigid in re-
ligion as in money matters he was stern
supervisor and censurer of his neighbors.
and seemed to think every sin entered up
to their account became credit on his
page. He even talked Of the expediency
Of reviving the persecution Of the Quakers
and Anabaptists.
Still, in spite of his 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 is said he always carried q
Bible in his pocket. He also had 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 spectacles
on. the book to mark the place. while he
turned around to drive some usurious bar
gain. si.f
Some say Tom grew a little crack
Drained il, his other days, and that, fancy
| ing his end approaching. be had his horse
fn6mfy sfod. szaied ana his
feet uppcrmost. because that, at tho last
day, the world wonld be turned upside
down, in which case be would find his
horse ready for mounting. and he was de-
terpined at worst to give his friend run
for it, This. however, is probably mere
old wife's fable IF he really did take
that precaution. it was totally superduous
-at least SO says the authentic old legend,
which closes his story in the following
manner:
One hot afternoon in the dog-days jdk
as a terrible black thunder gust came up.
Tom sat at his counting house in his white
linen cap and Indian silk morning gown.
He was on the point Of foreclosing mort
gage. by which he would complete the
ruin of an unhappy Speculation for whom
he had expressed the greatest friendship.
The poor land jobber begged him to grant
a few months indulgence. Tom had
grown testy and irritated and refused
My family will be ruined and brought
upon the PARISH" said the land jobber.
Charity begins at home" replied Tom.
Il must take care Of myself these hard
times"
..You have made SO much money out
Of me" said he, Il have not made a far
thing"
Just. then there were three loud knocks
at the street door. He stepped out to see
who was there. A black man with a
black horse. which stamped and neighed
with impatience.
"Tom. you are come for. said the
black fellow. grufay. Tom shrunk back,
but too late. He had left his little Bible
at the bottom of his coat pocket. and his
big Bible on the desk. buried under the
mortgage he was about to foreclose-
never was poor sinner taken more una
ware. The black man whisked him like
a child astride the horse. and away he
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 pro-
verb, and is the origin of the popular say
ing prevalent throughout New England,
"The Devil aud Tom Walker"
EBA quaint old gentleman. Of an ac-
.:. ..:..;,,,.s J:,,.oe;+ +,ov, boJ y mon Of