The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1872-08-15
RAISING THE DEVIL.
An Incident in the life OF Peter Cartright.

wild beasts squealed, when a poor
preacher of the gospel wendell his
way through the dismal intrioacies
of . Western forest many years ago.
The poor man felt anything but
comfortable, for he was wet through
to the skin, and almost tired to death.
He had been tramping about since
morning, besides he had lost his way
so the reader can i'm agine what state
of mind he was in, and also sppreci-
ate the sudden transition from des-
pair to hope which he experienced
on seeing the glimmer oflight ahead.
He quickened his tagging footsteps,
and soon came up to the light, which
issued from the window of a solitary
log cabin in the forest.
Remembering the scriptural in
junction, "Knock and it shall be
opened unto you," he did so, but
without any response. He raped
again, louder than before, and this
time gruff female voice asked:
who's there p
1T Is 1, was the indefinite reply OF
the rain soaked person.
well, who are you and what do
you want p asked the voice gruffer
than before.
"A poor benighted preacher of the
gospel who has lost his way, and
who wishes to stay here all night
answered the preacher, in dolorous
voice.
Wellesley there, 1 don't see
what's to hinder YOU
But / am almost starved, and
will pay you literally for some sup
per- he responded, his teeth chat
tering with cold. and not in the least
approaching the joke.
The words liberal pay acted
like charm, and after a few mo-
ments of delay, caused by the unfas-
tening of the door, it was opened and
our pastor entered.
He found himself in rough apart
ment with large fireplace at one
end, on which great log was blaz.
ing rough deal table and three
chairs, besides box filed with dry
flax, composed the furniture.
But all minor deficiencies seemed
to be made up by the landlady ofthe
house, for she was fully six feet in
height, and weighed nigh unto three
hundred pounds.
After having placed some food OF
the table, she turned to the parson,
who stood shivering before the fire,
making futile attempts to dry him
self, alternately turning one side and
then the other to the fire.
Now, I 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 here over night
But, my good woman said the
parson snxiously, Il shall perish in
this inclement weather. Ihaye been
wandering in this fearful storm since
morning, and if you have any COM
passion or pity at all you will try and
give me some place where I can be
sheltered from this storm for the
night > and he offered her five dol
lar bill.
WALL said the woman, avaricious.
ly clutching the money, IF you think
you can stay in the garnet, maybe
you can stay but hurry up, for ex.
poet my husband home every min
ute, and it's as much as your life is
worth if he he should catch you here
for he's perfect devil incarnate !;
he would think no more of murder
ing you than he would of shooting q
grizzly bear
The woman produced a small lad
der as she spoke, and babe the par
son get up in the garnet.
There was small drop or trap
door in the ceiling, which raised Of
its own accord on the parsons head
pressing it upwards, and not without
some difficulty he managed to
squeeze himself through the aper-
ture. 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 preach.
er was left to his own reflections.
Wet and uncomfortable as he was
his fatigue was such that he had al.
most fallen asleep when he was dis.
turbed by some knocking at the
door. .@..' f.. ..
Being somewhat curious to know
what kind of q looking man his un.
known host was, he rose and peered
through small crack in the floor OF
his room to the room underneath
He saw the woman open the doc l
cautiously, and after admitting q
short, thick set man, in q heavy coat,
lock it again. ~.
From the mysterious actions and
whisperings that ensued, our parson
rightly concluded that the person
that had just entered was not the
woman's husband, bat her paramount
who had taken advantage of her hus.
bands absence to pay her nocturn
al visit. After whispering together
q while the woman went to the cup.
board and produced a bottle of wits
KY, and plate of ham and bread,
which she set on the table and the
two were soon engaged in a loving
repast. While the parson was
watching the guilty couple, there
came laundering knock at the
door, which caused them both to
jump to their feet with the greatest
CONSERVATION. Without o moments
loss of time, the woman ran to the
box of fax, and emptied it upon the
floor. Then she babe the man, who
was almost scared to death. to get
into the box, which he was only too
glad to do, and. when he was in she
rapidly covered him up with the
fax. The woman then ran to the
door and unbelted it all the while
rubbing her eyes as if she had just
awakenen from sleep.
Il was asleep and didn't hear you
BEFORE whimpered the woman
sAnd don't for Gods sake curse SO
much, for there's q Methodist preach.
er asleep in the garrett
'Who cares for q Methodist minis.
ter, I'd like to know. But I'll soon
have him out Of his hole. Here,
you old canting hypoorite, come out
and shew yourself, or I'll make You,
he exclaimed, with many impreca-
tons, as he set the ladder before the