Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-08-06
Worse Devils than the Devil.

stone, on the side of solitary country
road, and he appeared to be in some
great trouble. His head rested on his
hand, his eyes were fixed on the ground
before him, and his face was very sad !;
in short, he really seemed to be III sore
distress.
Along the road comes Old Mag, the
fortune-teller, and (as everybody called
her and feared her as such) the country
witch. "Helloo, master, You are
very sad to-day. What's the matter?'
81 guess have reason to be sad,' an
swered the Devil. "Working so hard,
and yet gaining nothing"
GLOW is that?" asked Mag.
"Do you know that old couple over
yonGer?" and the Devil pointed to i
lonely farmhouse out piece from the
road.
'The old man and woman over
there? Certainly know them"
GA nice, peaceable old couple, ell ?"
grinned the Devil sadly.
"Oho! that's what worries you,"
laughed the fortune-teller. "a very
nice, peaceable old couple, that won't
let you get between them. Is that 1t 20
"That's it exactly! have been try
ing very hard for all the years they are
living together (and it is now about for
ty) to sow discord between them, but
al in vain. They live on quietly In
spite Of me. don't like to give up the
project after having gone to SO much
trouble about it; and yet | almost de-
spair of ever gaining my point"
"What will you give me if l do for
you what you cannot do?" said Mag in
her own taunting way.
"You bring discord between that good
old coupler"
eyes, l."
GLOW long will it take you to do it,
do you Think"
go, a day or two"
"You do in so short time what |
could not do in all these forty years."
eyes" laughed the old sinner, "to
show tne Devil that there are persons in
this world smarter than himself"
"If you can bring about what you
say, will make you present of pair
of new shoes"
"Agreed !" said the witch. "This is
Thursday. Meet me here again next
Saturday noon and will get the shoes.
Be sure to bring them along" With
these words old Mag hobbled away,
studying how she could best fulfill the
Devils srrand.
The next morning, Friday, she went
to the farmhouse "to try her luck" as
she said. 1t was just as she wished.
She found the old lady alone peeling
potatoes for dinner, while her husband
was out in the field digging Stumps.
Mag bade her good-day and then began:
81 am Old Mag, the country fortune
teller. Maybe you would like to have
your fortune told?"
81 have nothing to do with fortune
tellers. Clear this house Immediately,
| and the woman motioned to show Mag
her way of.
"Just rs l expected" said Mag.
"Because am fortune-teller / dare
not be listened to, but must be driven
from the house. Couldn't forsee that
you would treat me thus? If you will
pot hear me, then bear the coEse-
quence," thus saying she turned to
leave the house.
"Well, what have you got to say?"
asked the woman, calling her back.
"Nothing, if you don't like it," re-
piled Mag, in sharp tone. "Howev-
err" she continued, softening her voice,
81 didn't come here to get angry, though
I knew we'll enough that l would be
thus treated. l came to tell you the
truth, whether you like it or mott"
"Well. what is it?"
"There are great trials and troubles
awaiting you. All | say, they will
come soon; your husband brings them,
and there is only one way of turning
them off,"
"what way? asked the woman rather
anxiously.
SIT is A somewhat odd way, and you
may not believe in it" continued Mag
"Whsn your husband is sound asleep,
YOU must take his razor and cut a hair
, away from his throat" and the witch
pointed to her own throat to show the
woman the place.
'If it don't do any good, it will at
least do no harm to try it," thought the
old lady.
"Just as you think" answered Mag.
"But the 'ooner you do it the better"
She turned again to leave the house,
when the woman called after ber, ask
ing whether there were no charges.
"No, ma'am, take nothing for this.
May God preserve you from harm"
AS the old witch passed through the
gate she said to herself with chuckle
$50 far my bargain is all right. Now
for the old man."
She took a roundabout way, SO as not
to be suspected. "Sir, l came this way
of purpose" thus Mag accosted him
"to warn you of danger that is threat.
ening you."
7 "Who are you?" asked the man ab'
ruptly.
81 am Old Mag, the country fortune
teller"