Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1872-09-05
RAISING THE DEVIL
An incident in the Life of Peter
Cartwright. ~

IiS uts q nag hs w tA'A 'N 49,
fright; the lightning flashed, til
wild beasts squalled, when a poo
preacher of the gospel wendell hi
way through the dismal intrica
cies of a western forest man.
years ago.
The poor man felt anything bu
comfortable for he was wet through
to the skin, and almost tired t.
death. He had been trampine
around since morning, besides be
had lost his way, SO the reader
C IN imagine what state of MIND
he was in, and also appreciate the
sudden transition from despair tc
hope, which he experienced or
seeing the glimmer of light ahead
He quickened bis tagging foot
steps and soon came up to the
light. which issued from the. only
window OF a solitary log cabin in
the forest. s..ea ..3.. -.
Remembering the scriptural in.
junction, "Knock, and it shall be
opened unto you," be did sol 6nt
without any response. He rap.
ped again, louder than before, and
this time a gruff female voice
asked :--...-...-.- - = -. Z.
"Who's there p ggyNa
cit is ], twas the Indefinite re-
ply of the rain.soaked parson.
swell, who are you,r and what
do YOU want ?'' asked the voice
gruffer than BEFORE. goo
ga poor benighted preacher of
the gospel who has lost his way,
and who wishes to stay here all
night" answered the preacher in
a dolorous voice. .
"Well, stay there--I don't see
what's to hinder you"
"But I am almost starved, and
I will pay you literally for some
SUPPER" he responded, his teeth
chattering with cold, and not in
the least approaching the joke.
The words "liberal pay" acted
like charm, and after a few mo-
ments' delay, caused by the un-
fastening of the door, it was O.
pened and our pastor entered.
He found himself in rough a.
partment with a large FIRE place at
one end, on which large log was
blazing; rough deal table and
three chairs, besides a box filled
with dry fax, composing the fur
niture.
But allminor deficiencies seemed
to be made up by the landlady OF
the house, for she was fully Elk
feet in height. and weighed nigh
unto three hundred pounds. =" !
After having placed some food
on the table, she turned to the
parson, who stood shi7ering be-
fore the fire, making futile at.
tempts to dry himself alternately
turning one side and then the 9th
er to the fire. e,,o-f.ss
Nov, / want you to eat this
grub as quick as you know how.
and then tramp, for it is utterly
impossible for me to keep you
Over night" 1eq Z
"But, my good woman," said
the palsOn anxiously, 81 shall per.
ish in this Indictment weather.
have been wandering in this fear.
full storm since morning, and if
you have any compassion or pity
at all, you will try and give me 9
place where l can be sheltered
from this storm for the night" and
he offered a five dollar bill. as !
"Well," said the woman, ava.
rieiously clutching the money, elf
you think you can stay. in the
gaTret, mavbe you can stay but
hurry up, for l expect my hus-
band home every minute, and its
as much as your life is worth if
he should catch you here, for he
is a perfect devil incarnate would
think no more of numbering you
than he would of shooting a griz.
ely bear"
The woman produced a ladder,
as she spoke, and babe the parson
go up in the garnet.
There was a small Fsdrop," or
trap door in the ceiling, which
raised of its own accord on the
parsons head pressing it upward,
and not without some, difficulty
he managed to squeeze himself
through the aperture. After he
was up the woman told him TO
shut the trap and not to make any
noise for his life, and then taking
the ladder away, the preacher
was left to his own reflections.
Wet and uncomfortable as he
was his fatigue was such he had
almost fallen asleep when he was