Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1871-08-05
THE DEVIL In A POPULAR DE.
LUSlON.

On one occasion the Devil trans.
formed himself into a lawyer, q fic.
ton which one would suppose too i'm.
probable for the most credulOus age
The lawyers, however, 1t Is well
known, have always been his most
astute and uncompromising enemies,
The Devil, who still retains q place
In the modern romance as in tile an.
Gent mystery" is presented In q
certain story as having bargained
with q man for his soul, and been
prevented from enforcing his coli
tract by the ingenuity of q lawyer
who threatened ifhe did not relinquisll
his agreement to put the case In
Chancery. On another occasion
doubtless under legal advice, we have
q story of similar engagement,
which the earthly party, one Gam.
bouge, escaped from by an expedient
that We are sure no one but q lawyer
could have had the ingenuity to sug-
gest. In this narrative, by one ofthe
English writers, the Devil still pre-
serves his medieval costume; he has
still his hoofs and his tail, though he
manages sometimes to conceal these
appendages, and appears I'm comely
suit of black. The hero was troubled
with two great affiictjons; poverty and
. scolding wife. In fit Of despair
ne exclaimed: Let me dig or steal ;
let me sell myself as soldier, or sell
myself to the Devil, should not be
more wreched than / am now"
."Quite the contrary" cried a
small, CHEEKY voice. Whatl who's
there 2"
Talk Of me, you know, and am
always at hand.n Then something
appears about the size OF q tadpole I; It
grows to the size of mouse, u cat an
elephant, an alderman. We need
not rehearse the conversation. The
soul. which, like most souls that give
way to despair, was q very poor piece
OF property, engaged to become his In
fee simple at the end of seven years,
provided that In the meantime every
wish which he might form should be
granted. The usual scenes of wealth,
enjoyment and luxury followed, with
no drawbacks but the restless tongue
OF the virago wife.
AT last, however, as the seventh
year commenced, he became dlssatis-
fled with his bargain. He invented
various expedients; built churches
and colleges, and become extremity
pious and benevolent, butall In vain.
He made various reasonable PROPOSE.
tions to the Devil, but though court
eous and accommodating, he would
grant him any favor but his soul. At
last, sudden and desperate resolu-
ton, which none but q limb of the
law could have suggested, took pos
session Of Simon Gambouge. He
called his family and his friends to-
gether; he gave one Of the greatest
feasts that ever was known in the city
of Paris. He gaily presided at one
end of the table, while Mrs. Gam
bouge, splendidiy arrayed, gave her.
self airs at the other extremity. AZ
ter dinner, using the customary for
mula, he called upon Diabolus to APP
pear. The old ladies screamed, aud
hoped he would not appear naked !;
the young ones Uttered, and- ~iongrd
to see tile monster, every body was
pale with expectation and alright.
A very quiet, gentlemanly man,
neatly dressed in black, made his APP
pearance, to the surprise of all pses-
ent, and bowed all round to the COM
pany. II will not show my creden-
tidis," he said, blushing, and point.
ing to his hoofs, which were cleverly
hidden by his pumps and shoe buck
les, "unless the ladies absolutely
wish it; but am the person you
want, Mr.. Gambouge; pray tell me
what is your will" "You know"
said that gentleman, in stately and
determined voice, "that you are
bound to me, according to our agree
ment, for six months to come"
Il am" replied the new conner.
"You are to do all that ask, what
soever it may be, or you forfeit tile
bond which gave YOU"
at Is true.u
"You declare this before the pres
ent company"
"Upon my honor, as a gentleman"
said DiabOlus, bowling, and laying his
hand upon his waist-coat.
A whisper of applause ran round
the room; all We're charmed with the
bland manners Of the fascinating
stranger.
"My love-" continued Gamb0uge,
mildly addressing his lady, "will you
he so polite as to step this way? You
know / must go soon, and am anXi-
Gus, before this noble company, to
make a provision for one who, in sick
ness as In health, in poverty rs In
riches, has been my truest and fond
est companion"
Gambouge mopped his eyes with
his handkerchief all the company
did likewise. Diabolus sobbed audi
bly,, and Mrs. Gambouge sidled up to
her husbands side, and took him ten
Derby by the hand. "Simon,n said
she, lis it true !? aud do you really
love your Griskinissa ?'
Simon continued solemnly "Come
hither, Diabolus; you are bound to |
obey me in all things for the six
during which our contract I
has to run. Take, then, Griskini-sa
live alone with her for
half year; never leave her from
till night; obey all her ca
prices; follow all her whims, and list
IN to all the abuse which falls from
her Internal tongue. Do this, and i
ask no more Of you; I will deliver
at the appointed time.u
Not Lord c., when logged by
Lord B. In the house not Mr..
OF Astley's amphitheatre,
n his most pathetic passages, could
ook more crest-fallen, and howl
more hideously, than Diabolus did
low. "Take another year, Gam
screamed he; "tto0 more
FEN more-a CENTURY! Roast me
m Laurence's gridiron, boil me in
ioly water, but don't ask that; don't,
iont ask me to live with Mrs. Gam
Simon smiled stcrnly. "I have
aid it, he cried do this, or our con-
ract IL at an end" {
The devil, at this, grinned so horri-
'ly that every drop Of beer in the