Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-10-20


said, "Good evening, Mr.. Satan !"
lit is you, is it, George2 ? Well what
do you wish ?" said his Majesty, smil-
ing.
"Iwould like you to make my fortune,'
was the ready answer.
"Wel, shall not have to waste many
words on you, forsee. But do you un.
derstand the terms which l require ?"
George assured him of his readiness to
agree to anything, provided he could
have merry life here ON earth.
"Well, l will allow you twenty-five
years of merriment and pleasure, but then
you are mine"
"All right" said George.
"And now what am to give you in
exchange for your soul ?"
George thought moment or two, but
the only thing of which he could think
was the asking for three wishes, which he
did. Tho Devil laughed aloud at this
"What that old story not dead yet
But it's all right. Come and sign this
contract"
He took a sheet ofpaper from his breast
pocket, the only clean thing about him,
showed George how to draw blood from
his finger tip to sign it with then placed
his own signature upon it with a pencil OF
sulphur and phosphorus, tied tho roll
carefully with long worm, put it in his
coat pocket and said with pleased grim
aces:
"Now wish quickly l have much work
to do"
"First, wish for great bag Of gold
and a wheelbarrow to carry it on"
The Devil nodded, and quick as fash
n wheelbarrow with a bag of shining
gold stood beside the delighted George.
Secondly, l wish Elise would love mt
enough to wish to marry me-"
The Devil nodded again with half clos
ed eyes, made a waving motion in the ell
with his hand, and said
THAT will bo all right, and now youl
third wish"
But Georges thought had gono as far
as possible in ono day, so he said he woulC
like to talk the matter over with Elise
and find out what she would like.
"Very we'll. You have enough to tor.
ment you for the present; wife and
money" sneered tho Devil. "Farewel
and be happy" So saying, no vanished
George seized tho wheelbarrow with
a gay heart, paid the Walloonet the sum
promised, and trundled off toward his
native village. BY dawn, to his surprise
he saw Elise running and springing tC
meet him. How delighted ho was. They
FASTENED to the nearest church, were
made ore in trice, and then proceeded
/ homeward.
cannot picture Elisos surprise wher
she heard of tho contents Of tho grea
sack. No matter how often she rubbeC
her eyes or how widely she opened then
there still shoae the bright gold-a sole
reality, not dream.
She felt a little frightened when sh,
heard that her husband had only twenty
five years in which to enjoy the honey
OF life, but by degrees she became accus
toned to the idea, and concluded will
him that it was better to live quarter o
a century in duice jubiio than drai
along double that term in misery anS
discomfort.
"We will buy a good farm with new
house," said Elise, "and twenty head o
cattle. And you must wish tho enemy
would never come in our neighborhooC
and that you had only black hair instead
Of your stit1, yellow hair, and smootl
rosy face instead of your pocked markeC
one, and long blue coat with bright sill
yer buttons."
George nodded his head contentedly
though little doubtlully.
"Then l must have something for my
self. SO | wish that | may always b,
young and pretty as now, and have The
incest dresses in the whole country. ;
George nodded again with pleased face
Then we will need more money, anC
we must have q closet that no thief car
enter"
"And a great cssk of Nuremberg bee
that will last forever" added George
phlegmatlcally.
"And an invisible servant TO do all tn,
cooking and housework for mo while
am asleep" said Elise.
"And a soft arm chair which will car
ry me all over the house," added George
quite lost in delightful anticipation OF hi
prospective luxury.
"And pair Of gold shoe buckles fo
me |"
"Roast pork and cherry cake for m,
every day %
"And a---Oh dear 20 said Elise
suddenly checking her enthusiasm.
George looked at her questioningly.
"Ah we have wished for SO much al
ready, and yet there is still so much w
need. How can all that be got with one
wish ?"
I'm see to that" said George compos
edly. "The Devil must keep his word
and III call him tonight, and talk th'
matter over"
But George did not need to wait foI
midnight and magic circle, for Satar
is never far from the soul he owns. In
deed, during this conversation he haC
been listening behind the bushes which
boarded the roadside, and now nodded
and winked to George to come to him.
81 have heard your whole conversa
tion," he said, laughing till poison raj
like tears over his red face. "But tn
! five hundred things you hayo wished 70
l. 4 fll l,tp al