Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-08-29

entered was not the woman's husband !,
but her paramour, who had taken advan
sage Of her husbands absence to pay her
nocturnal visit. A fter whispering to-
gether for awhile, the woman went to
the cupboard aud produced b6ttle of
whiskey and a plate of ham and bread
which she sat on the table, and the twain
were soon engaged in loving repast.
While the parsoa was watching the gull
ty couple, there came laundering knock
at the door, which caused them both to
jumr to their feet with the greatest con,
sternatiou. Without moments lass of
time the woman ran to the boz of fax
and empfied it on the floor. Then she
babe the man, who was almost scared to
death, to get into the box. which be was
only too glad to do, aud when he was in
she rapidly covered him with the fax.
The woman then ran to the door aud un-
bo,ted 1T, ell the while rubbing her eyes
as if just awaking out of sleep.
81 was asleey and didu't hear you be-
FORE" whiIapered the woman. "And
don't for Gods sake, curse so much. for
there is Methodist minister up in the
garnet p
"Who cares for Methodist minister,
I'd like to know? But III soon have him
out of his hole.- Here, you old canting
hypocrit, come out of this and show your
self, Or III make you," he exclaimed
'sith many imprecations, as he sat the
ladder before the trap door. The poor
parson, almost dead with fright, slowly
descended the ladder. boxing as white as
ghost, for, from the ruflian's manner,
he expected be would be ghost soon.
Don't hurt the poor man. See low
sleepy he looks p exclsimed the woman,
plying the poor creatur's distress.
You shut up and mind your own bus
mess, CIR it will bs worse for you," was
the gracious reply OF her lord; then turn
ing to the trembling parson, he asked:
Are you Methodist IL mister, and do
you believe in a aell and the devil"
The parson replied in the affirmative.
We'll, by the Eternal, don't, aod, if
you believe in the devil, you'll either
have TO make him appear or III cut your
lying throat and make you appear before
him - and drew lis bowie knife in
threatening manner. The poor preacher,
was in anything but al envable aitua ton
and thoughts Of another world began to
I'll his mind with anxious forebodings;
for it is a remarkable fact that however
much clergymen may preach and talk of
the future world, they prefer to have
others 60 and enjoy it. This may be self
abnegatloI or pure selfshness heaven
kueWS. r..
Are you most ready" asked the ruff
fan, raising his knife as he saw the other
hesi:ated. "Pll give you just three
minutes. and if the devil is not here you'll
be with the devil
"My friend,'' said the pastor, into
whose head brilliant idea popped, that
there is hell is a well established fact,
as can prove by hundreds of writer's,
and that the devil exists allows of no CON
trsdieton; and that have the power to
make hlm appear is also true; but dread
ful to you will be the consequences if he
does ! Bette: for you had you never been
bora than to see Satan facs to face il the
wicked state whicb.yoa are in/
''D-n you, stop your preaching and
call tho old boy 'Pll sjau} the. conse-
quences. aud be quick, or the time is up.
The parson went to the fire place and
took brand, which he applied to the box
Of fax. It hlazsd up almost like gun
powder and the unearthly yell that issued
from the poor devil in the box vas truly
appalling. ef
With an acrobaiie power, Of tue posses
sion Of which he himself vas unaw are. he
leaped out of the box, covered from head
to foot with burning fax. With roars
and howls of agony he made straight for
the door, but he WAS not SO qaick as the
owner of the prsAiscs, for with one look
Of terror at the burning figure, he fad
out the house, closely followed by his sa-
tanic majesty. .-
When they were both gone, the parsou
gave his hostess short but elective leo
.ure on connubial duties, after which he
seated himself comfortably before the
fire.
When the woman's husband returned,
he treated the parsou with the greatest re-
spect, fully convinced that he had the
power 10 raise the devil at will