Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-23

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work to cheat him out of the conditions
He became, therefore, all Of sudden, O
violent church-goer. He prayed loudly
and strenuously, ms if heaven were to BIZ
taken by force of lungs Indeed, one
might always tell when he had sinned
most during the week, by the clamor Of
his Sunday devotion. Tho quiet Chris
tinns who had been modestly and stead
tasty travelling Zionward, were struck
with self-reproach Mt seeing themselve,
so suddenly outstripped in their career by
this new.made convert. Tom was ne rig
id in religious as in money matters be
WINS stern supervisor and censurer OF
his neighbors, and seemed to think every
sin entered up to their account became
credit on his own side of the page. He
even talked Of the expediency Of reviving
the persecution of Quakers and Anabap-
fists. In word, Toms zeal became MS
notorious MS his riches.
Still, in spite of all this strenuous ut
tention to forms, Tom had lurking dread
that the devil, after all, would have his
due. That he might not be taken un-
awares, therefore. it is said he always car
ried small Bible in his coat-pocket. He
had also great folio Bible on his count
ing-house desk, and would frequently be
found reading it when people called on
business on such occasions he would
lay his green spectacles in the book. to
mark the place, while he turned round to
drive some usurious bargain.
Some say that Tom grew a little crack
Drained in his old days, and that fancyine
his end approaching, he had his horse
new shol, saddled and bridled, and buried
with his feet uppermost because he sup
posed that at the last day the world would
be turned upside.down in which case he
should find his horse standing ready for
mounting, and he was determined at the
worst to give his old friend run for it.
This, however, is probably a mere old
wives fable. If he really did take such
prccaution, it was totally superhuous
at least so says the authentic old legend
which closes his story in the following
manner.
One hot summer afternoon in the dog
days, just as a terrible blnck thunder gust
was coming up, Tom sat in his counting
house, in his white linen cap and India
silk morning gown. He was on the point
of forcclosing a mortgage, by which he
would complete the ruin of an unlucky
land-speculator for whom he had profess
ed the greatest friendship. The poor
land iobber begged him to grant few
months indulgence. Tom had grown
testy and irritated, and refused another
day.
my family will be ruined and brought
"Charity begins at home, replied Tom
81 must take care of myself in these hard
times"
"You have made so much money out of
me, said the Spectator.
Tom lost his patience and his piety.
"Ihc devil take me-" said he, 'if have
made farthing p
just then there were three loud knocks
at the stroet-door. He stepped out to see
who was there. A black man was hold |
ing black horse, which neighed and
stamped with impotence.
TON you're come for" said the black |
fellow, gruflly. Tom shrank back, but
too late. He had left his little Bible ut
the bottom of his at-pockct, and his
big Bible on the desk buried under the |
mortgage he was about to foreclosc new
rr was sinner taken more unawares.
The black man whiskcd him Ikea child
into the saddle, gave the horse the lash,
and away he galloped, with Tom on his
back, in the midst of the thunderstorm.
The clerks stuck their pens behind their
cars, and stared after him from the win
'lows. Away went Tom Walker, dashing
down the streets ; his white cap bobbing
up and down his morning-gown tluttcr-
ing in the wind, and his steed striking fire
out Of the pavement at every bound.
When the clerks turned to look for the
black man, he had disappeared.
Tom Walker never returned to fore
close the mortgage. A countryman, who
lived .on the border of the swamp, re-
ported that in the height of the thunder
gust he had heard great Gathering of
hoofs and bowling along the road, and |
to the window caught sight of n |
figure, such as / have described, on |
horse that galloped like mad across the |
fields, over the hills, and down into the
black hemlock swamp toward the old In
.lian fort and that, shortly after, thun-
ierbolt falling in that direction seemed to
set the whole forest in blaze.
The good people of Boston shook their
heads and shrugged their shoulders, but |
had been so much accustomed to witches
and COLLINS, and tricks of the devil, in
all kinds of shapes, from the first settle
ment of the colony, that they were not SO
much horror-struck as might have been |
expected. Trustees were appointed to |
take charge of Toms effects. There was
nothing, however, to administer upon.
On searching his Golfers, all his bonds
and mortgages were found reduced to
cinders. In place of gold and silver, his
iron chest was filled with chips and shay
lngs two skeletons lay in his stable in
stead of his half starved horses, and the |
very next day his great house took fire
and was burnt to the ground.
Such was the end of Tom Walker and |
his ill-gotten wealth. Let all gripping
lay this story to heart. |
The truth of it is not to be doubted. The
very hole under the ak-trees, whence he |
ing Kidd's money, is to be seen to this
day and tue neighboring swamp and
old Indian fort are often haunted in |
stormy nights by figure on horseback,
in morning-gown and white cap, which is
doubtless the troubled spirit OF the usur-
or. In fact, the story has resolved itself |
into proverb, and is the origin of that |
popular saying, so prevalent throughout
New England, Of "The Devil and Tom
Walker"
The componcnts of DR.. Bulls Cough Syrup are
laily prpsrrihpu nhIpst y bna |