The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-08-08
RAISING THE DEVIL
An Incident in the Life of Peter
Cartwright.

a night to I'LL the SOUL Will - y
Iiohfning flashed, and the WHO peasts Il
sauealad, when poor preacher OF ne
OospeI wended his way through tne t
d;sral intricacies of Western forest, b
Ay TSa moor man felt anything but 8
Comfortable, for he was wet through
- fbe skin. and almost tired to death.
He had been tramping about since T
mornino. besides he had lost his way, I
- the reader can imagine what state {
IF mind he was in, and also appreclate
the sudden transition from despair TO {
hone which he experienced on seeing
fbe qlimrner of light ahead. ne Il
0uickened his tagging footsteps ana
soon came up to the light which issued
from the only window Of sohtafy
log cabin in the forest
Remembering the scriptrrai 70 lnnes
mic vou.v he did SO, but without any
resnonse. He raped again, londer
than before, and this time gruH fe-
male voice asked:
1Who's there -
aIt is I,r was the indennine. fep3y /
of the rain soaked parson.
GWell, who are You, and what 60 /
YOU want ~ asked the voice grufIer
than before.
IA poor benighted preacher Of the
gospel who has lost his way. and VINO
wishes to stay here all night answer
ed the preacher, in dolorous voice.
aWell, stay there--I don't see What
is to hinder you.
"But l am almost starved, anu !
will nav you literally for some supper
hs resnonded. his teeth chattering
with cold, and not in the least appre-
ho in1r
THE words = literally pay" acted
like q charm, and after few moments
DELAY. caused BY the unfastenlng OF
fine door. it was opened and eur pas
tor entered.
He found himself In q rough apart
mert with q large fireplace at one enc
on which great. log was blazing
rough deal table and three chairs, De-
sides box filled with dry fax, com
posed the furniture.
But all minor Deficiencies seemed
to be made up by the iandiady OF tne
house. for she was fully six feet IL
height. and weighed nigh onto three
After having placed some food or
the table she turned to the parson
who stood shivering before the ire
making futile attempts to dry himself
turning one side and then the othel
70 fhe FIRE. N<
aNow, I want you to eat this gruf
as quick as you know how, and tnei
tramp, for it is utterly Impossible 10
me to keep you here over night.
"But my good woman, said IN
parson, anxiously, 8 shall perlsh y
this inclement weather. have pee
wandering in this fearful storm sinc
morning, and if you have any com
passion or pity at all. you Will try an Z
give me some place where can o
Shattered from this storm for th
night and he offered her five do
lar bill. sss4assss.s'.sasz
"Well," said the woman, avarlciou
ly clutching the money, 1f you thin
YOU can stay in the garret may be 20
can stay .sbut hurry up, forsl .expe
INV husband home every minute, an
IT'S as much as your life's Worthsn II
should find you here, for he's per1e
devil incarnates would think no mo
of murdering you than ne Wouio
shooting grizzly bear. 81 -, -
The woman produced small Ia
der as she spoke, and babe the pars'
get up in the garret-l
There was a small "drop" or tr
door in the ceiling, which raised Of
own accord on the parsons head pre-
ing it upward, and not without sol
difficulty he managed to squeeze. nj
eelf through the aperture. After
was M the womaTl told him TO 81
fhe trap and not TO make any noise
his life, and then, taking the ladt
away, the preacher was left to his o
reflections. 81,
Wet and uncomfortable as he W
his fatigue was such tnat ne haa
most fallen asleep when ne was
turbed by some cue knocklng als
door.
what kind of looking man MS
known host was, he rose and pee
through small crack in the floor
the room underneath.z he saw
woman open the door cautiously, ]
Sffer admitting q short, thick-set ]
n heavy coaE, locksit again.
From the mysterious actions
whisperings that ensned onfe pal
rightly conjectured that the pei
who had just entered was not
Woman's husband, but her param
who had taken advantage OF her
bands absence to pay her q Vlslt. e
whispering together for while
woman went,to the cupboard aud
duced bottle of whisky and ]
Of ham and bread, which she Sc
the table, and the twain were sool
gared in loving repast. While
5arson was watching the guilty CO
there came a laundering rap on
door, which caused them both to
60 their feet with the greatest con
nation. Without moments loi
time the woman ran to the box OF
and emptled It upon the floor.
she bade the man, who was al
scared to death, to get into the
--I:ob bo xuo oalu too Crtad f0 do
when he was in she rapidly Co
him with the fax. The woman
ran to the door and unlocked
theswhiIe rubbing her eyes as i
waking out of sleep.
saf was asleep and didn't heal
before ,0whimpered the woman.
don't, for Gods sake, curse so !
for there is Methodist minist
in the garrett"
9Who cares for Methodist !
ter. I'd like to know? But III
have him out of his hole. Here
old. oanting hypocrite, come {
this and show yourself, or Ill
you.n he exclaimed, with; man
precautions, as he set the ladder
the trap-door. The poor parse
most dead with fright, slowly de
ed the ladder, looking as white
ghost, for, from the ruffian's n
he expected he would be ghos
aDon't hurt the poor man.
how sickly he looks !" exclaim
woman, pitying the poor ere
distress.
"You shut up and mind you
business, or it will be the wor
you'll" was the gracious reply
lord; then turning TO the tire
parson, he asked: !. Are you Q
odist minister, and do you bel
hell and the devil ?"
The parson replied in the a
tiYe. Essils.a