The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-10-18

might lead. But he trusted to GEORGES
stupidity not to see it also, so he replied
in manner of-fact tone
every good. Go on, I am in hur-
ryr'
IT want a fine farm, with twenty cows
and handsome house."
The devil waved is hand of phospho-
rus through the air, and suddenly the
roof of stately house arose above the
bushes and the lowing Of COWS sounded
melodiously in Georges ear.
Next, [ want great cask of Nurem-
berg beer that will never give out"
Again Satan's hand made signs hither
and thither.
"Done now thirdly and lastly p he
said, little uneasily.
Thirdly, [ want -" George
paused.
Make an end-I've no time to spare"
growled Beelzebub.
Thirdly, I wish-I wish-I had
three wishes more.
"Thunder ~ shouted the devil" go
on
Now came the various wishes for Elise
and himself, for continued youth of the
one and moving armchair for the other,
but he recollected the roast pork for
himself and the golden shoe-buckles for
the other in time to say:
Thirdly, I wish for three more
wishes.
By this time George had begun to
think it would be better, perhaps, to re-
serve some of his wishes for the TWEEN
ty-fve years of his life, so he laughingly
said he would keep the third wish for
the next day. To this Satan was obliged
to agree, willing or not; so, green with
rage and bowling with fury, he ran
away.
But George, with curly black hair and
blue coat with enormous silver buttons,
walked proudly into his new house with
Elise on his arm-the prettiest woman
with the prettiest dresses to be seen in
the entire neighborhood- every
thing ready to their hand, and nothing
to do but enjoy themselves and fancy
what they needed next.
At midnight George went to the cross
roads again, for he and Elise thought of
a host Of needful things. The devil
came when called, splitting fire and
fame from fury, and George wished
again He wished to be the richest
peasant in the country that his fields
should yield harvest without planting
that If the enemy came his property
should be invisible and then that there
might be peace, for fear the sound Of
the cannOns should disturb his afternoon
nap.
But after time these wishes grew
tame and he began to amuse himself at
Satan's expense. Once he wished that
his Majesty should dance minuet be-
fore him, which he did, though yellow
with wrath. Then, again, that he should
stand on one foot for an hour and listen
to hymns
SO time passed away twenty four
years, eleven months and twenty-nine
days-and now the final hour had come.
Long before he had wished that he and
Elise should be good and true people,
this too had come to pass. So he wait
ed without anxiety for the coming hour.
At IL o'clock he sat in his armchair,
placidly smoking his meerschaum, when
Satan appeared before him, without
waiting for CALL
Eleven o'clock!" Kissed the tor
mented devil-"one hour and you are
mine then / will pay you these twenty
five years that are gone. Now what do
you want?"
''Three wishes more!" said George,
with composure.
"Well !"
First play a game of cards with me
and stake the tip of your tail on it"
Have you nothing better to think of
in your last hour than Jokes? ?" inquired
Satan, sullenly
"No!"
"Then we'll play" taking a pack of
cards from his pocket.
"Secondly wish for all the trumpsl''
The devil groaned aloud. They played,
he lost and George pocketed the bit of
tail with visible pleasure, while Satan
gritted his teeth with pain. In few Sec
onds it would strike twelve. Belize
bulbs face grew bright, his eyes rolled
with anticipation and he leaned eagerly
forward.
some more wish (" said George, qui-
city.
9 Out with it, y croaked the devil.
The clock began to strike. One-two
Thirdly, [ WISH" said George,
thoughtfully, three -four !-'' I wish %
five six
Z" What?" howled Satan.
Seven Eight mime
''That our contract should be null
and void, exclaimed George, triumph
antly.
A clap of thunder shook the house,
the devil vanished in fash of light
ming, and the clock struck loudly, ten,
eleven, twelve.
The thunder had awakened Elise and
she rushed into the room to find George
standing before his chair laughing till
his sides ached.
"What is the matter? Have you lost
your senses p demanded Elise.
=" No, but come to bed, or I shall
laugh myself dead"