The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-08-21
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WORSE DEVILS THAN THE DEVIL.

The Devil was one day sitting on 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 in sore distress.
Along the road comes Old Mag, the for
tune-teller, and Gas everybody called her
and feared her as snch) the country witch.
HHelloo, master! You are very sad to-
day, What's the matter?"
81 guess | have reason to be sad" am
swered the Devil. "Workipg SO hard,
and yet gaining nothing"
"How is that?" asked Mag,
"Do you know that old couple over yon-
der ?" and the Devil pointed to lonely
farm house out piece from the road.
"The old man and woman over there
Certainly know them
ga nice, peaceable old couple, eh
grinned the Devil sadly.
soho that's what worries you" laugh
ed the fortune-teller. "a very nice, peace,
able old couple, that won't let you get be-
tween them. Is that it?"
"That's it exactly! L have been work.
ing very hard for all the years they are
living together (and it is now about forty
to SOW discord between them, but all in
vain. They live on quietly in spite of me.
l don't like to give up the project after
having gone to so much trouble about it;
and yet I almost despair of ever gaining
my point"
"What will you give me if I do for you
what you cannot do?" said Mag in hel
own tauntipg way,
aYou bring discord between that good
old couple p
"Yes, I"
aHow long will it take you to do it, do
you think ?"
30, day or two."
"You do in so short time what 1 could
not do in all these forty years ?"
"Yes," laughed the old sinner, "to show
the Devil that there are persons in this
world smarter than himself"
eff you can bring about what you say,
I Twill make you present of a pair Of new
shoes. "
"Agreed" said the witch. "This is
Thursday. Meet me here again next Sat
urday noon and l 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 errand.
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: II am Old
Mag, the country fortune-teller. Maybe
you would like to have your fortune told p
81 have nothing to do with fortune
tellers. Clear this house Immediately,
and the woman motioned to show Mag
her way off.
"Just as | expected, !" said Mag. "Be-
cause am fortune-teller I dare not be
listened to, but must be driven from the
house. Couldn't / forsee that you would
treat me thus If you viii not hear me,
then bear the consequence" 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 r replied
Mag. in a sharp tone. However" she
continued, softening her voice, II didn't
come here to get angry, though I knew
well enough that / would be thus treated.
I came to tell you the truth, whether you
like it or not r.
"Well, what is it2"
"There are great trials and troubles
awaiting you. All I can say, they will
come soon your husband brings them,
and there is only one way of turning them
off,"
"What way2" asked the woman rather
anxiously.
at is somewhat odd way, and you
may not believe in it." continued Mag.
When your husband is sound asleep, you
must take his razor and cut hair away