Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-01-13


claws, shaped like the claws hard.
ware men use to loosen nails in a
keg. His face, although black as
night, was far from repulsive his
features were regular and of rather
benevolent cast, in fact, he appear
ed as though he would make first.
class patent-right vender, or agent to
procure right.of.way for some new
Railroad Company. His head was
large and surmounted BY beautiful
pair of horns made for service, short,
stout and sharp as needles; nor was
the traditional caudal appendage
wanting. II was there, straight,
supple, and about eight feet long, aud
armed at the extremity with sharp
barded spear. Such was the appear.
anee of the old chap as he presented
himself 10 me. After little general
conversation, he Informed me that
his abode was close at haud, and de-
sired me to accompany him and visit
him at his palace. asked him TO
excuse me, as l was In great haste
that day, had a great deal to do.
wasn't prepared to go into company
and didn't feel very well, was very
thankful for the honor which he did
me, but couldn't accept his kind In
vitation at that time, would be
pleased to call the next time passed
that way, &c. 1t was no use, he was
determined that / should go then,
and, to make a sure thing of it, he
took me by the coat collar and gent
ly persuaded me to go with him. -
We soon came to q large hole on the
prairie, from the mouth of which
proceeded steam. When we reached
the edge of the pit, the old scoundrel
dropped me on the ground and talk
ing cord from his pocket, he tied it
around one of my ankles and then
lowered me down, down, into the
pit. After descending great dis
tance, found myself on the ground
In front of a large sheet iron boiler,
similar In shape to steam. boat
boiler, but of great size and length.
The hole in the center of the boiler
was just large enough for me to
crawl through on my hands and
knees. Tue old chap soon made his
appearance and told me to go In ut
one end and crawl through to the
other. AT a stamp of his hoof, a
myriad of little satans about foot
high, but all like the old chap in
general appearance, came swarming
In and mounted the boiler, each with
little sledge hammer i'm his hand.
AS l went In ut the hole In the boiler
each and every one of these imps
began to hammer on the boiler with
all their might. and before / had
progressed half way through, it
seemed as though my head would
burst, that l should die, but ut length
Iemerged from the boiler completely
exhausted. The devil than took me
up 10 the earth and permitted me TO
sleep. After short nap, was again
wakened, and again compelled to go
through the boiler, while the little
satans industriously beat their tattoo
on the outside. The old scoundrel
amused himself In this manner until
he tired, and then he took me up to
earth and told me that l might go
OH my way, as he had had fun
enough with me for one day. .
These and other fancies passed
through my mind In much less time
than have occup ed in tell them.
escaped from my misadventures
in much better plight than | had
reason to expect, aud can but feel
thankful that It was no worse; and
If the incidents have related have
served to interest my readers, aud
enabled them to while away few
idle moments, my object I'm writing
them has been accomplished.