St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-06-16
" Rchcrdff. ---Or, the Dedc0n s
Black Ram.

hiiiy years iSO, WIlcll UTMOST ever
person in New England was believe
in that nonscnsical bubble, witchcralt-
when old women, if they CHANGED to b.
Ill-tavorcd, were sure of ducking il
some convenient horse-pond, some scIiuu
scenes We're enacted, and some that veII
much s:tvored of the ludicrou=.
In The old town OF Woodstock, a towr
at that period famous for witches, thcr,
lived sturdy old farmer by the name o.
AbUah Lyon. lie was called Deacor
Lyon, for hc was deacon of the Pres
byterian church. The minister was Rev
Mr.. Styles; and as Mr.. Styles is dcstin
ed TO take prominent part in my story,
| may rs well describe him before l pro.
ceed any further He was little dried
up, wcazen-faced old gentleman Of sew
enty, who carried about the enormous
weight Of seventy-five pounds. 1t was
said that i'll his younger days lie weighed
one hundred and twenty pounds. Mr..
Styles was witch-hunter, and terror
to all the fraternity who dealt in that
business. He had often been called out
of his bed, after the lead hour OF mid
night, to lay the devil; ami up to the
time of my story had always been sue
ccSstul. lie Wore great gown or cloak
on bis nightly excursions, and when thus
clad hc looked formidable
We are now to 90 back TO Deacon
Lyon. lie was u sturdy old farmer, W lao
stood six and Il half feet in his boots. and
owned the best farm in the town. The
deacon had \ family OF SIX stalwart boys
and several blooming daughters. The
day before Thanksgiving came round,
(that old timc-honored festival Of New
England, and the great holiday in that
region. when every farmer expected all
| his relations TO dine with him. down 10
the fortrth consin,) Deacon Lyon said to
his boys, "Work with will, get the
garden stuff into the cellar, and We will
all 20 rs soon rs it is done 10 your grand
fathers, and Tomorrow, after dinner, we
will come home, and you may have 4
party in the parlor, and invite all the
young folks in the place"
The boys worked right smart, and
long before night the cellar was well fill
ed with garden vegetables, and the fam
lily on their way TO see the Dcacon's
father, who lived about four miles OFT.
But in their hurry they forgot TO shut
the outside cellar door, called the bulk
head or hatchway. Now the Deacon
had big old black ram that had nearly
bushel of horns ON his head, and he
went round the premises wherever he had
Il mind to- lie was cross, and if any
one made motion like 4 challenge, lie
would butt them over. He found the
open door and walked in without knock
ing, and RECALLED himself on the good
things stored there. A nciehbor passing
by shut the door, and shut in the old
sheep. l suppose all know that black
Sleeps eyes in the lark look like balls OF
fire, and magnify 10 twice the ordinary
size
The Deacon and his family arrived
safe home before night, and the old par
Ior long before dark was all fitted for the
coming party. At an early hour the
young folks assembled. The kitchen
door was left partly open, in order that
the Deacon's wife could peep in now and
then, and see that all the plays Were con-
Quoted with propricty. The fun grew
fast and furious till about eight o'clock,
when the Deacon told his son Abiah, his
oldest and namesake, to 90 down cellar
and get some apples and cider. The
young lad started on his mission, but
came back in great haste, every hair on
his head standing erect.
"What is the matter ," asked the Dca-
con.
"Oh, father, the devil is in the cellar
Oh, such eyes and such horns ~
"Give me the pitcher" said the old
Deacon you always were Il great cow
ard"
The old Deacon was brave. He start
cd down stairs, but not to the bottom
did he get before he was on the road back
making hasty strides for the old kitchen.
at is true, my young friends, the dew
il has at last come TO make Deacon Lyon
a visit. Abijah, 60 after Mr. Styles as
fast as you can run"
The young man obeyed. Mr.. Styles
was up, and soon ready TO 20 10 the
Deacon's; and that lie might appear for
midablc, he put On the great cloak that
the ladies had given their beloved minis
ter. When Mr.. Styles arrived ut the
house of the Deacon, the first thing pro-
posed was season of prayer. Very
proper was that, for the devil Is afraid
of praying man, so have always been
taught. When the time of devotion was
through, the little priest, with his pray
cr book under his arm, started for the
cellar. Close behind him marched the
Deacon and his sturdy sons, while the
rear was brought up by the weaker and
less resolute part of the party.
On descending the stairs, Il fearful sight
met their view an awful pair of blood
red eyes glared upon the priest and Iii.
followers, and from the tremendous size
of his horns he could not have been (;
young devil, but Lucifer himself, who i,
supposed TO be the king Of tie inierua
regions. 1t was Il moment of an awful
uncertainty; had the little priest power
to lay him, or would the devil rush up
on him and tear him to pieces in a mo
mcnt?
When the broad stair at the bottom
was reached, the priest raised his righ
arm, and in a voice husky with fear
cried, "Avaunt Satan" The monster
, came at him, knocked him heels owe