The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-07-29

munty. He takes rather low view Of human
nature, but in matters like this his opinion IL
as good az anybody's. Yes, I'm undoniably
Awful. Isn't that so. Stackpoc2"
The follow whom had previously noted as n
mortal like myself. and a basc trucklcr withal
to the ways and whims ofthe Spurgcs. stepped
forward from the throng. raised his eyes from
the ground until they mot those OF Ahrinan,
and forthwith began to shake and 5aivcr as il
stricken speechlcss with terror. | believed at
the time that the rascal simulated 1t all. even
thought he gave me sly wink as he retired
when he had got through trembling.
You see" said Ahrmnn. turning proudly to
me. what q marked effect my presence has on
our worthy friend. Jeremiah Stackpolc. though
he has been accustomed 10 the sight Of mo for
nearly twenty years."
This mortal. then, was the aihostcal young
man OF Canaan. Of whose mysterious disappear
ancc in 1853 | Ind been informed in Deacon
Pymuton's grocery. aftcrward learned that
the manner Of his introduction Ia the Cave % the
Splurglcs was identical with my own. Unlike
mo. he had speedily become rcconcllcd to the
situation. The society of tho retired devils in
the bowels Of the earth exactly suited his tastcs
Assured OF u comfortable subsistence ~ long
as he lived. he made no attempt TO escape from
the cave, and found 1t to his interest to earn the
good will OF his captors by toadying to their
harmless vanity
Now. MORTAL" resumed Ahrlman. with
lofty air you may think II strange that Evil
Spirits. so powerful and terrible as we are
should contemplate any other disposition Of
your worthless body and totally depraved ma
ture than 10 wipe you out OF existence alto
gethor. To tell the truth. however. we find il
convenient to have a mortal or two on hand to
do the hard work OF the communicate ass st
int l.tx 81
sources Of the cave. Not that we are lazy" he
added. but in our honorable retirement we
are perhaps less active and energetic than we
used TO be- 1t is for this reason that you are
offered tho opportunity to enjoy the remark
able advantages Of perpetual companionship
with Beings 50 great as we arc. Dear. dear"
! continued this awe-inspring demon. tanning
himself with a barbcd tail. which had not pro-
viously noticed it is rather warm. Moloch.
take this mortal away. find it very fatlguing
to talk 80 much"
confess that felt a tri1c uneasy at the mon.
| ton Of "A name which had been awful To- the ears
% men for centuries. There was something
ghoulish in the idea Of being turned over TO the
cruel and bloolthirsty Mooeh. at whose red
affairs thousands Of human lives had been sac
riircd. The appearance u my new custodian.
however. WIS reassurinc. Molorh came up with
u friendly smile. patted mo on the head. and
| offered 10 show mo over the Cave. H. WIS a fat
demon. gpol-naturrd. and apparently lazy with
grotcsquc face and n merry twinkle in his
eyes. liked Moloch from the first.
I'll tell you good ono" he whispered in my
| ear. What were the sliiiest nations that ever
lived on the face OF the earth liza. ha. its
cool one. assure YOU"
81 give it up said.
why he said. beginning to shake like a
jelly fish with suppressed mirth. the siiest
nations were the Ass-yrians and the Ninny-yites
and the labhle-onians. Dye see - And Mooch
wont of into n CONFUSION OF mcrriment.
Ilrushcd heartily. and he seemed to he much
| eratiiied at my appreciation of his humor. " I'll
| tell you n better one than that" he said con-
! hicntillly. " as soon As | think Of the answer.
/ I've quito ior-utt'n how the answer comes in.
Its somctl ng about a ir~sy rogue and a risky
frog-nO. I'm not certain that's Just il. But IL is
one Of the best Jokes you ever heard when it,
Put properly"
Those devils oyer thore." sail Molo,h. as
We walked nut Of tlle audience chamber into a
field. under tn" oyorar'hlus roof OF the cave.
where suniry rather innocuous- Shocking de-
mons We're hoeins corn. ARE the Asuras and
goblin Pretas and terrible Rakshashas Of the
llinloos. They used to range the earth with
| bloody tongues and ogre teeth AMI cannital APP
! potitos. Now thoy are strictly graminiyorous
/ devils. q. Itcll you there has hncn "a vast inn
provemont in our race since we retired from
active business. You i-ht call il tho march Of
civilization" he added. with violent symptoms
Of inward laughter.
We came upon q gigantic demon sitting I'M
steadily On a rock his huge right list ca-ping
wicker flask. It's Typhon." whispered Molorh.
the Set Of the an lent Egyptians Set used to
breathe smoke. and pelt his enemies with rod
lfl 4 Pal. 4
II you remember. aud drove them out Of the
country. lie won't hurt YOU. rs very peace
all" now even whon he's fuldlrd. Set las
nnow, .as YOU oi- 'rye. So Is declined. YOU see.
You ar,. mad was. Moo.h," s.id t.
,r,. !, s"uN my ,!""iu- WY hn "piri. ~
. iy the Canaan Outlet. and set n, laughing T.,
ar. mi ,i'n outside. Dos you notice
lnthr courSeof nv walk with Mooch through
/ On" Nllur-lr COMMUNITY .Gini" t' understand
low harlulrss AMI ,Nru slim !. ninled these
| mai volcnt.tiiry had discarded their mal.yo-
| 'n' when superstition discarded them. !. ,r.
| Gee 'Hyrd -rnt..m'n iu Ofgtr bran .hrs oi iu il--
! irv' -nn" ~ them retained ari9u lr "a
! in. p whilom ii"nd f-nne~-. hu' tho shadow VS.
/ H!i fyu~N IN =" lii' ~li -tnu''. pu" lN Nu,,
| liant jriir desprf which rn-r,t That ann un-
nh 20 rrnrmhrr,tu tine de,i'~oi ami 'lu .tv.~ super
ss"ir M dogma nn' r,'ri ~ n yer gi'i n.r'
F fu' ~ o." "arfil and ron' into r.tir.nnrt in
I-fNHrn uni rthrrNnfs of inrtnr".-prons'd
/ .t"r~ $. riv ,ni hal gr,Anily ru-''i i6'o
dmreoi Us tl' r.r'l- unto th"ir c,r"ui rs.
Ahtn"n h.- A"lt hI- hrad .u"rurn the
Mou,h. "nnl {. rr,.'or. h., E'--,1 l-, I'M, i.rI
/ sately. b 'Wrcu you aul ulr. ,lnnt lonrs. un
rs 'n ornId1hlo or d"A.sA than aD man o.
! saw ant talked with Rlal II, seemed a