Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-10-20

than George, so he was not the least dis
turbed by Satan's jokes or ridicule.
"Come, hurry up" added tho Devil
"Do you suppose l have time to bother
with you for an hour ?"
"You SEQ that since | cannot have all
l have wished for out Of this third
wish"
"Wellw
"Then," said George, scratching his
head thoughtfully, "then wish that
had three more wishes"
Our hero said this as simply and quiet
ly as ii it WAS the most natural thing in
the world, and in truth so it appeared to
him. 1t was like the egg OF Colum bus
a perfectly simple .hought, but one which
would never have occurred to any one
less stupid than George.
When Beelzebub heard the wish he
stared moment ~ il almost DISCOMFORT
ed. lie felt almost as if no had gone on
the ice for the first limo to skate, y little
tottering and trhe cold, for he toresaw at
glance to what such wish might load.
But he trusted to Georges stupidity not
20 SEQ it also, so he replied in o matter
of fact tone /:
"Very good. Coon, l am in hurry"
IL want fine farm, with twenty cows
and handsome house."
The Devil waved his hand OF phosphor-
us through the air, and suddenly the roof
OF q stately house arose above tho bushes
and the lowing of cows sounded molodi-
ously in Georges ear.
Next want great cask OF Nurem-
burg beer that will never give out"
Again Satan's hand made signs hither
and thither.
"Done | now thirdly and lastly /" he
said little uneasily.
Thirdly, want--"George paused,
"Make an end-I've no timo to
spare" growled Belzebub.
Thirdly, wish--I wish-I had three
wishes more"
"Thunder |" shouted tho Devil" 60
on I"
Now came tho various wishes for Elise
and himself, for continued youth OF the
one and n moving arm chair for tho 9TH
er, but no recollocted tho roast pork Tor
himself and the golden shoe buckles for
tho other in time to say;
"Thirdly, | wish for throo moro wish
es."
by this time George had begun to think
it would be better, perhaps, to reserve
some ofhis wishes for tho twenty five
years of his life, so he laughngy said he
would keep tho third wish for tho 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 pretticst dresses to DO seen in
tho entire eighborhood ; with everything
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 no and Elise thought OF
host Of needfu things. The Devil camo
when called, splitting fire and llame from
fury, aud George wished again He
wished to be- tho richest peasant in the
country that his fields should yield har-
vest without planting that if the enemy
{ cane his property should DO invisible /;
and then that there might be peace, for
fear the sound Of the cannons should dis
turb his afternoon nap.
But after a time these wishes grew tame
and he began TO amuse himself ut Satan S
expense. Once no wished that his Ma
josty should dance n minute before 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
days-and now the final hour had come.
Long before he had wished that no and
Elise should be good, true people and
this too had come to pass. So he waited
without anxiety for the coming hour. At
/ O'Clock hG sat in his arm chair, placid
~ smoking his meerschaum, when Satan
appeared before him, without waiting for
q call.
Eleven o'clock I" hissed the torment
ed Devil" one hour and you are mine
then | will pay you these twenty-five
years that are gone. Now what do you
want 2"
Three wishes more9" said George
with composure.
"Well p
"First play game OF cards with me
and stake the tip Of your tail on it,"
"Have you nothing batter 10 think OF
in your last hour than jokes 7" inquired
Satan sullenly.
"No!"
"Then wen play" takinga pack of
cards from his pocket.
Secondly | wish for ell the trumps ~
the Devil groaned aloud. They played,
he lost and George pocketed the bit OF
tail with visible pleasure. while Satan
grit his teeth with pain. In few sec
, onds it would strike twelve. Belzebub's
face grew bright, his eyes rolled with an
ticpation and ho leaned eagerly forward
"One more wish ~ said George quiet.
"Out with it," croaked tho Devil.
The clock began to strike. One i
two
"Thirdly. I wish" said George
tboughtfully. three -four =" I wish u
five six
What ?" howled Satan.
Seven i--eight l-nine |
"That our contract should be null and
void" exclaimed George, triumphantly
A clap Of thunder shook the house, the
Devil vanished in fash OF lightning
and the clock struck loudly, ton, eleven
twelve.
The thunder had awakened Elise and
she rushed into the room to find George
standing before his chair laughing till hli
sides ached.
"What Is the matter Have you los
your senses ?" demanded Elise.
mo, but come to bed, or / shal
laugh myself dead"
Since this adventure, tho Devil hai
been very shy about making bargains
with people noted for stupidity. From