The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-03-06

since She ma1e her appearance. Ihree
days ago a scolding woman fell down
there, and since then we are all utterly
worn out with her. Only let me stay
on earth and I'll promise to do you
good turn"
"Then she's no betterP" cried the
alarmed man.
"Worse, if possible" said the imp.
"She does nothing but talk of what she
will do when she catches you again"
perhaps it is as well not to disturb
her." answered the husband, fastening
away from the mouth of the pit. The
imp, well pleased, trotted at his heels,
and as they walked, proposed to his
benefactor business partnership.
Suppose we 60 together to the town
of Vologda. IN take to tormenting
folks, and you shall cure them. What
say you, PEASANT CaD'tyou see money
in the schemeP"
The peasant, after cogitating awhile,
agreed to the proposition. When they
reached fine house belonging to q
merchant who had a wife and several
daughters, the imp insinuated himself
through the key-hole of the door, and
fell to playing tricks upon the women,
which fairly drove them crazy. The
doctor of the village came, and the
priest came, and all the old gossips
| gathered around the house. But moth
ing could be thought of to relieve the
possessed women, till finally our friend
J the peasant, dressed like a venerable
man, presented himself upon the
threshold, Offering to drive away the
live spirit. In despair, the people al
lowed him to see the patients, when 10!
at the first sound of the newcomers
voice the afflicted ones became quiet
and submissive. In the end he sue.
ceeded in curing them entirely, so eff
fectually putting to flight the fiend that
his grateful hosts loaded him with
money, and fed him on pies and beer.
This enterprise, repeated from house
to house, soon filled the pockets of the
partners. They were obliged to hide
away the gold that came to them in
bagfuls. At last, one day, the imp,
who was getting little uppish, re-
marked to his friend the peasant:
at seems to me you've made money
enough by this time. I've about made
up my mind to leave the firm and give
up business altogether. Now I'll agree
to let you have all the gold if you IL
promise not to drive me away from the
next person | take possession of. It's
time l was having little fun upon my
own account.
The next thing that was heard of was
the illness of the Boyar's daughter, the
beauty of the town. She was quite out
of her mind, they said, threatening to
eat every body who came into her pres
ence.
$50 that's what you are up to, my
lad, said the peasant, suspecting the
absent imp. He went to the Boyar's
house, where he was greeted joyfully.
Can you cure my poor daughterP'
asked the unhappy BOyar. Promising
to do his best, the pretended physician
told the Boyar to assemble all the
towns-people, together with the coach
men of the place, in the street outside
the house. Moreover, he gave orders
that at a given signal from the window
of the sick room the coachmen should
all crack their whips, and the people
should cry out as he directed. This
done, he went into a room, where the
Boyar's beautiful daughter flew at him,
biting and swapping. Opening the
window he gave the signal, when in
stantly arose a tumult of shouts and
cries from without, with the cracking
of whips and yells of "the cantanker.
Gus wife has comet
On hearing this, the imp rushed out
of the Boyar's daughter, and appeared
; before the peasant, with his hair stand.
ing straight upon his head, his eyes
, staring wide with terror.
I 1T can't be true, peasant She
, hasn't really come hereP"
Louder and louder arose the cries
+ "The cantankerous wife has comet
, "Where can take refuge, peasantP'
screamed the imp, now thoroughly
overcome with fear.
''Alas, my poor friend. I know not
! unless you go back to the pit, - said thu
a peasant. 1T is certain she won't wisl
to return there"
"Good-bye,' cried the imp, and wa
off like a flash to the pit, and to TIT
q company of the cantankerous wifi
! also, since she never came back t,
5 earth. "-Harper'S Bazar Translation