Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-02-01

| lutO UHtbAo u1S 4tsSt EGScTt0 W play, t3
WI say ut cards, Ills ace of truinps. He
ordered the devil to pass one entire
month in company with Pan T~ardow-
ska-his wife. The devil knew her "a
we'll rs he did the wife of Socrates, fol
she was Que of those dame Honestas
who necessarily are the curse of their
husbands.
" At this magic name he instantly
cried out, 'Abrenss'stio j.! I gave it up Z
and, leaving Pan Twardowski, he run
to hide his shame and defeat in the far.
thest depth of hell. Let no one say,
after this, that a bad woman is good
for nothing"
My companion, laughing in his icy
beard, coughed that little dry cough Of
the orator who Pauses to give place to
the applause of the audience.
| This history" said I to him, ''like
the bad woman, is worth more than
nothing, and I am satisfied with it but
do not see the least connection be.
tween Pan Twardowski and light of the
moon." "Aht it is true," replied he.
Il forgot to tell you there were two
versions of the history of my Polish
sorcerer. The frst-tbat which have
just related to you--is that Of the scan
dal-loving tongues of persons who pre-
tend that the doctor was married. But
the serious and rational men who af-
firm that Pan Twardowski remained all
his life q bachelor, these relate his con.
test with the devil in another wav.--
They say that, instead of ordering the
malicious spirit to pass an entire month
with the wicked woman, living, like a
legitimate husband, under the same
roof, at the same table, in the same
bed, he proposed for last trial some
thing easier and more acceptable for
example, to swallowed hundredweight
OF melted lead, or to tear out his eyes
with hiS; elbows In short, this prince
Of devils-after the manner Of the
knights errant of former times, who
fulfilled in all the ordeals tho condi-
tions Of certain adventurers, which des-
tiny had reserved for them. oyaceom-
pish of conqueror. And poor
Pan Twardowski, like q true gentleman,
the slave of his. word; Of his ver6stns
Mobile, delivered himself With; good
grace to the enemy Of the human race.
Hung as soon as taken! Ozernebog
seized him by the collar of his doublet,
and, like an eagle holding q lamb III
his claws, he carried off his prey
through the air:
"Squeezed in his throat by the grip
ofthe devil, and suftocated by the rapid
ity of this @rial flight, Pan Twarlowski
lost his breath. Feeling himself ready
to expire, he cried aloud with stiaed
voice, like the dying man who recon-
mends his soul to God. tAve Maria
purissinsu. These sacred words, the
Joy of heaven and the terror of hell,
struck the Devil like the blow of thun.
derbolt. He let go his hold, was pre-.
cipitated downwards, and Pan Twar-
dowski remained suspended in space,
like an anatomical preparation in jar
of alcohol. And there he is yet preserv.
ed in ethereal vapor. And the people Of
my county; at the time ..of the full
moon, when they see tipon its lace a
little man, holding out his arms and
throwing out his legs, do not fail to say,
All there is Pan Twardowski ="
At this moment our sledge stopped
before the station of Tozna and while
changing horse we hurried into the hall
OF the post-h0use, that is open to all
travellers, to warm ourselves by drink
ing a cup of excellent caravan tea.
sThe Leches = sclavonic tribe who inhabited
this country in the seventh century, and toward the
end OF the tenth century were called Poles Il. e.,
Sc!avonians Of the plainsl. The Piasts were the
regnfng family In Poland, from go unt 1870. whom
with casimer tho male line became extinct: The
Jagallons were descendents OF the grand duke Of
Iithuans, Jagoilon, who obtained the Polish crown
by marriage and election in 1876. Hts dynasty be-
came eqtinct in 1612.-Translatof.