Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1871-03-31
HOW THE DEVIL ssFORECLOsED'
ON TOM WALKER.

HOW THE DEVIL fEFORECLOSED"
ON TOM WALKER.
z-ss fs-g.-.F st --1
= As Tom waxed old, however, he grew
thoughtful. Having secured the good
things of this world, he began tc feel
anxious 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 condi-
tions. He became, therefore, all of
sudden, a violent church-goer- He
prayed loudly and strenuously, as if
heaven were aboutto be carried. by force
of lungs. Indeed, one might always
tell when he had sinhed most during the
week by the clamor of his Sunday de-
votion! The quiet Christians who had
been modestlys and quietly travelling
Zlonward were struck with self-reproach
at seeing themselves so suddenly out
stripped in their career by this new-made
convert. Tom was as rigid. in religion
as in money matters; he was stern -su-
pervisor and censurer Of his neighbOrs.
and seemed to think every Sin entered
up 10 their account became a credit on
his page. He even talked of the expe-
diency of reviving the prosecutions of
the Ouakers and the AnabaPtists. In a
word Tom S zeal became as his riches.
Still, in spite of shisa strenuous atten-
ton to forms, Tom had a lurking dread
that the devil after all would have his
due Lest he might be taken .uhawares,
therefore, it Is. said that he always car
ried a small Bible in hisspeelze6 He al
so had a folio Bible IN his counting
desk, and would quite frequently be
found reading when people called on
business on such occasions he would
lay his green asPectacles. on the book to
mark the place, while he turned round
|. to drive some usurious bargain. aod
Some say Tom grew a little. crack
Drained in his older days and that, fan
cying his end approaching, he had his
horse new shod. saddled1 and bridled
and buried with his feet uppermost. be-
cause that. at the last day, the world
would be turned upside deWn.5in which
case he would find his horse sready to
mount, and he was determined at the
worst to give his Satanic friend arun tor
it. This is probably however an old
wife's fable. If he really did take that
precaution, it was totally. supefAuous ( at
least, so says the authentic old legend
which closes his story in the following
manner; ol
One hot afternoon in the dog DAYS,
Just as a terrible black thundeTgust came
up. Tom sat in his white linen cap and
India silk morning gown. He was on
the point of forecIosing a mortgage, by
which he would complete the rum of an
unhappy speculator for whom he had
professed the greatest friendship. The
poor land=jobber begged him to grant a
few month indulgence Tom had
grown testy and irritatedg and refused
another day.
MY family viii beruined and brought
upon the parish, said the land jobber.
"Charity begins at home, cried Tom;
II must take care of myself these hard
times
"You have made so much money out
of me, said the speculator.
Tom lost his patience and his piety.
The devil take me, said be, IF have
made a farthing.
lust then there were three loud knocks
/ ut the street door.
! He stepped out to see who was there.
1 A black man with a black horse, which
I Fneiehed and stamped with iInpatience
/ 'fTom, YOU are come for" said the
black man, gruffly. Tom shrunk back
but too late. He had left his little Bible
at the bottom of his coat pocket, anc
his big Bible on the desk, buried under
the mortgage he was about to foreclosC
never was a sinner talseh more una
wares. The black man whisked him
like a child astride the horse, and away
.tbe galtoped in the midst Of a tfiuu,der
storm. The clerks stuck their pens be
hind their ears and started after hin
from the windows. Away went Ton