Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-09-06

case he should find his horse ready
for mounting, and he was determined
at the worst to give his old friend
run for it. This, however, is prob
ably mere old wife's fable. If he
really did take such precaution
it was totally superfuous; at
least, so says the authentic old leg
eud, which closes his story in the
following manner:
One hot summer afternoon in the
dog days, just as . terrible black
thunder-gust was 2ning up, Tom
sat in his counting house in his
white linen cap and India silk
morning gown. He was on the point
of foreclosing mortgage, by which
he would complete the ruin of an un-
lucky land-speculator for whom he
had professed the greatest friend
ship. The poor land-j -jobber begged
him to grant a few months indul-
gence. Tom had grown testy and
irritated, and refused another day.
my family will be ruined, and
brought upon the PARISH" said the
land-jobber.
"Charity begins at home," replied
Tom; Il must take care of myself
in these hard times.''
s'You have made so much money
out of me" said the speculator.
Tom lost his patience and his pie
ty.
''The devil take me-" said he, "if
L have made farthing -
just then there was three loud
| knocks at the street-door. He step
| ped out to see who was there. A
black man was holding black
horse, which neighed and stamped
with impatience.
Tom, you're come for," said the
fellow gruffiy. Tom shrank back.
but too late. He had his little bible
at the bottom of his coat pocket, and
his big bible on the desk buried nn-
der the mortgage he was about to
| foreclose; never was sinner taken
more unawares.
The black man whisked him like a
child into the saddle, and gave the
horse the slash, and away he gallop-
ed, with Tom on his back, in the
midst of the thunder storm. The
clerks stuck their pens behind their
ears, and stared after him from the
windows. Away went Tom Walker,
dashing down the streets; his white
cap bobbing up and down his morn
ing-gown fluttering in the wind, and
bis 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
foreclose the mortgage. A country
man who lived on the border of the
swamp, reported that III the height
of the thunder-gust he heard a great
clattering of hoofs and a bowling
along the road, and running to the
window caught sight of figure such
| as L have described on horse that
galloped like mad across the fields,
over the hills, and down into the
black hemlock swamp toward the old
Indian fort; and that, shortly after,
a thunder-boit falling in that direc-
tion seemed to set the whole forest
in blaze.
The good people of Boston shook
their heads and shrugged their shoul-
| ders, but had been SO much accus-
toned TO witches and goblins, and
tricks of the devil, in all kinds of
shapes, from the first settlement of
the colony, that they were not so
much horror-struck as might have
been expected. Trustees were ap-
pointed to take charge of Toms eff
fects. There was nothing, however,
to administer upon. On searching
his Golfers, all his bonds and mort
cages were found reduced to cinders.
In place of gold and silver, his iron
chest was filled with chips and shaw
ings; two skeletons lay in his stable
instead of his half-starved horses,
and the very next day his great
house took fire and was burned to
the ground.
Such was the end of Tom Walker
and his ill-gotten wealth. Let all
! gripping money-makers lay this story
to heart. The truth of it is not to
be doubted. The very hole under
the oak-trees whence he dug Kidd's
money, is to be seen to this day;
and the neighboring swamp and the
old Indian fort are often haunted in
stormy nights by figure on horse
back, in morning-gown and white
cap, which is doubtless the troubled
spirit of the usurer. In fact, the
story has resolved itself into a prov
erh, and is the origin of that popular
saying, so prevalent throughout New
England, of s'The Devil and Tom
Walker"
AN ENTERPRISING, RELIABLE HOUSE.
ii. c. Pierce can always be relied upon, not only
to carry in stock the best of everything but
| cure the Agency for such articles have we'll
| known merit, and popular with the people,
thereby sustaining the reputation of beng always
| terprising, and ever reliable Having secured the
| Agency for the celebrated DIR. Kings New Discov-
| cry for Consumption, will sell it positive guar