The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1871-11-22
The Devil and Tom Walker.

Everybody has heard, and great many
make use of the expression, "the Devi! and
Tom Walker" and yet We presume very
few know who Tom w. was, or what rea
tion between him and the devil justifes this
frequent association of their names. As the
most authentic account of who Tom Walker
was. We give the best writer America has
ever produced. Washington Irving:
a STORY OF THE LAST CENTURY.
As Tom wnxed old, however, he grew
thoughtful. Having secured the good things
of this world he began to feel anxious
about the next.
He thought with regret on the bargain
he had made with his black friends. and put
his wits to work to cheat him out of his con-
dition. He became, therefore, a violent
churchgoar. He prayed loudly and siren
uously, as If Heaven were to be carried BY
force of lungs. Indeed, one might always $
tell when he sinnsd most during the week,
by the clamor of his Sundays devotion
The quiet Christians who had been modest
ly and quietly travelling Zionward were struck
with reproach at seeing themselves SO sud-
denly outstripped in their career by this
-~A.. a4i.- a1an,> -aa--i.sl;
stern supervisor aud censurer of his neigh
bors, and seemed to think that every ac-
count became credit on his page. He even
talked of the expedency of rev;ving the
prosecution of the Quakers and Ana bap-
lists.
Still. in spite of his strenuous attention 10
forms, he had a lurking dread that the devil
after all would have his due. That he might
not be taken unawares, therefore, he car
ricd Bible in his pocket. lie also had a
great folio Bible in bis counting house desk
aud 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 I'd
in his older days. and that, fancying his end
approaching, be had his horse newly shod.
saddled and buried, with his feet upper
most, because. that. at the last day, the
world would be turned upside down. in
which case, he would find his horse rea dy
for mounting, and he was determined, at the
worst, to give his friend run for it. ibis
however. is probably mere Old wlfe's fable.
If he really did take that precautlon 1t was
totally superhouous-at least, so says the
00tne0tlc OIO IeSeuUs ""'S" oi0~o ~" e'O-1
IN the following manner:
7 One hot afternoon in the dog days. just as
a terrible black thunder gust came up, Iom
sat at his countiug-hOuse. IN his white linen
cap, and Indian silk morning gown. He was
ON the point of foreclosing mortgage which
would complete the ruin of an unhappy
speculator for whom he had expressed the
greatest friendship. The poor land jobber
begged him to grant a few months indul-
gence. Tom had grown testy and irritated'
and refused. z-s
MY family will be ruined. and brought
upou the parish" said the land jobber.
"Charity begins at home." said Tom. 81
must take care Of myself these hard times. =
"You have made so much money out o.
me, ;" said the other, Il have not made a far
thing.
Just then there was three loud knocks al
the street door. He stepped out to see who
vas there. A black mao with black horse
which stamped and Ieighed with im2atience
fellow grufny. iv.ss-s.@.-r ~-;A thA-hlaai
late. He had lef. bis little Bible at the bot
tom of bis coat pocket. and his big Bible OF
the desk, buried under the mortgage he wal
about to foreclose-never vas q poor sinnel
taken more unaware. The black maj
wbisked bin like child astride the horse
and away he gailoped in the midst OF thun
der storm.
Such was the end of Tom Wolker and hi.
| i'll gotten wealth.
The story has resolved Itself into pro
verb, and is the origin Of the popular say inf
prevalent throughout New England, "Ih'
Devil and Tom Walker.
1T
A correspondent of NewYork paper re
lateo the following touching anecdote: .
found cockroach struggling in bowl
water. l took half peanut shell for boat
| I put him into it. aud gave him two woode'
toothpicks for oars. and left him. The mex
morning / visited him and he had put
piece Of white cotton thread on one OF th
toothpicks. and set the toothpick up on on
end as signal of distress. He had ha
on the other teothpick. and there that cock
roach sat fishing. fast asleep from e4hau;
ton. The sight melted mo to tears. too
that cockroach out. gave him spoonfui
Cruel. and left. The animal never forg(
THAT act Of kindness, and now the house
chuck full Of cockroacoes.
| A Hartford editor having twitted an &c
itor in neighboring city of being bald sut
sequently apologized and explained tha'' :; q
long az - can fold his ears over I'll
ton of his head, he doesn't need any ha