Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-02-07

Devil to take bath in, the vessel OIL holy
water that the priest had brought hlth-
er for the baptism At this order Ger
enbog made horrible grimace. He
trembled from head to foot, ground his
teeth, rolled his eyes, and for some mo-
ments showed himself irresolute. But
at length the desire to snatch a soul
from paradise-which is the incessant
and exclusive occupation of the evil one
got the mastery over his natural hor
ror of holy water He began to shrink,
and curl himself up, to fold himself
over and over, until he became about
the size of mouse Then, approach
ing the basin in which is washed away
all the sins of men, he resolutely plung
ed in, and dived head-foremost as from
the bridge of the Neva. One heard
that kind of devll-hissing that red-hot
iron makes when being tempered in
cold water: only, it was not the Devil
who burnt the holy water, but the holy
water that burnt the Devil; for strong
odor of scorched flesh was spread
around and throughout the house, =
Nevertheless, Czernebog came out OF
the baptistry, scalded, but triumphant.
"When he presented himself before
Pan Twardowski, having resumed his
natural form, laughing with the satan
ic sneer by which all devils express
their contentment after having perform
ed some trick of their trade, the poor
doctor in his turn trembled one would
have said he felt the roasting ofhis own
body.
ssBut there remained third task
for him to propose to the devil. Seeing
what terrible adversary he had to
overcome, Pan Twardowski resolved to
strike the decisive blow, and to bring
into battle his last reserve to play, as
we say at cards, his ace of trumps. He
ordered the devil to pass one entire
month in company with Pan Twardow-
ska-his WIFE, The devil knew her as
well as he did the wife of Socrates, for
she was one of those dame Honestas
who necessarily are the curse of their
! husbands.
Z" At this magic name he instantly
cried out, EAbre71ataotjo ! [ gave it up !!
and, leaving Pan TwardowskI, he ran
to hide his shame and defeat in the far
thest depth of hell. Let no one say,
after this, that bad woman is good
for nothing"
My comp enion, laughing in his icy
beard, coughed that little dry cough of
the orator who pauses to give place to
the applause of the audience.
&c This history" said I to him, "like
the bad woman, is worth more than
nothing, and am satisfied with it but
[ do not see the least connection be-
tween Pan Twardowski and light of the
moon" ''Ah it is true,n replied he.
" forgot to tell you there were two
versions of the history of my Polish
sorcerer. The frst-that which I 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 renamed all
his life bachelor, these relate his con-
test with the devil in another way
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 the condi-
1 tions of certain adventures, which des-
tiny had reserved for them to accom-
plish-came off conqueror. And poor
! Pan Twardowski, like a true gentleman,
the slave of his word, of his Uerbatn,
mobile, delivered himself with a good
grace to the enemy of the human race.
! Hung as soon as taken Czernebog
seized him by the collar of his doublet,
and, like an eagle holding lamb in
his claws, he carried off his prey
through the air.
Squeezed in his throat by the grip
ofthe devil, and suffocated by the rapid
ity of this aerial flight, Pan Twardowski
lost his breath. Feeling himself ready
to expire, he cried aloud with a stified
voice, like the dying man who recon-
mends his soul to God. Ave Mario
purissinea.' 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 jal
of alcohol. And there he is yet presev
ed in ethereal vapor. And the people o.
my country, at the time -of the full
moon, when they see upon it's face {
little man, holding out his arms an6
throwing out his legs, do not failto say
All there is Pan Twardowski = 4"
At this moment our sledge stopped
before the station of Tozna and while
changing horse we hurried into the hal
of the post-house, that is open to al
travellers, to warm ourselves by drink
ing cup of excellent caravan tea
*The Leches were Sclavonic tribe who inhabited
this country in the seventh century, and toward tn
end of the tenth century called Poles Ii. e.
Sclavonians of the plains). The Pasts were tn
regning family in Poland from $40 until 1870, whel