The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-07-22

i After whispering together for
while, the woman went to the cur
board, and produced bottle 0
whiskey and a plate of ham and bread
which she set on a-table, and th
| twain were soon engaged in loving
repast.
j While the parson was watching
the couple, there came laundering
rap at the door, which caused then
both to jump to their feet in tn,
i greatest CONSERVATION. Without .
moments loss of time the woman raj
to the box of fax and emptied j
upon the floor. Then she bade the
man, who was almost scared to death
to get into the box, which he was
only too glad to do. and when he wa'
in, she rapidly covered him with th'
fax. The woman then ran to the
door and opened it, all the time rub
bing her eyes, as if she had beer
asleep.
81 was asleep and did not hear yor
before" whimpered the woman
"And don't for Gods sake, curse SC
much, for there's Methodist min:
lister, in the garret."
.Who cares for Methodist minis
ter, I'd like to know. But I'll scor
have him out Of his hole. Here, yor
old canting hypocrite, come out o
this and show yourself, or I'll make
you," he exclaimed with many inn
precautions, as he set the ladder before
the trap-door.
The poor parson almost dead with
fright, slowly descended the ladder
looking as white as a ghost. for, from
the ruffian's manner, he would be {
ghost soon.
"Don't hurt the poor man. Sec
how sickly he looks!' exclaimed the
woman, plying the poor creature s
distress.
"You shut up, and mind your owr
business, or it will be the worse fol
you," was the gracious reply of her
lord; then turning to the trembling
narson he asked.-
"Are you Methodist minister
and do you believe in hell and ths
devil?,
Tie parson replied in the afirma.
tive.
swell, by the Eternal, / don't, and
| if you believe in the devil, you'll
either have to make him appear, OF
I'll cut your lying throat, and make
you appear before him!' and he drew
his bowie knife in a threatning man
ner.
The poor preacher was in anything
but an enviable situation, and thought.
Of another world began to fill his
mind with anxious forebodin gs.
sAre you most ready?" asked the
rufian, raising his knife, as Re saw
the other hesitate. "I'li give you
just three minutes, and if the devil il
not here, you will be with the devil!''
aMy friend," said the pastor, into
whose head brilliant idea had
popped, "that there is hell is WE'LL
established fact, as I can prove by
hundreds of writer's; and that the
devil EXITS allows of no contradic-
tion; and that I have the power to
make him appear is also true; but
dreadful to you will be the conscquen-
ces ifhc does! Better for you had
you never been born, than to see
Satan face to face in the wicked state
in which you now are!''
"Stop preaching and call the old
boy! I'll stand the consequence es for
the time is up"
The parson went to the fireplace
and took brand which he applied
to the box of fax. It blazed up al
most like gunpowder, and the ur-
earthly yell that issued from the poor
devil in the box was truely appalling.
With acrobatic power, of the possess
ion of which he was himself una
ware, he leaped out of the box, GOV
cred from head to foot with burning
fax.
With roars and howls of agony,
be made straight for the door; but he
was not SO quick as the owner Of the
premises, for with one look of terror
at the burning figure. he fed out of
the house, closely pursued by his
Satanic Majesty.
When they were both gone, the
parson gave his hostess a short, but
effective lecture on connubial duties,
after which he seated himself before
the FIRE.
When the husband returned, he
treated the parson with the greatest
respect. fully convinced that he had