The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-03-27


 And now I may add (and the reader should ponder upon this, as profound picture of human life,) that Gambouge, since he had grown rich, grew likewise abundantly moral. He was most ex- emplary father, He fed the poor, and was loved by them. He scorned base action.
 There was one blot upon his character he hated Mrs. Gam. worse than ever. As he grew more benevolent, she grew more virulent; when he went to plays, she went to bible societies, and vice persa; in fact she led him such life as Xantippe led Socrates, or as dog leads cat in the same kitchen With all his fortune-for, as may be supposed, Simon prospered in all worldly things-he was the most miserable dog in the whole city of Paris. Only ill the point of drinking did he and Mrs Simon agree; and for many years, and during con siderable number of hours in each day he thus dissipated, partially of his do mestic chagrin. Q philosophy we may talk of thee; but, except at the bottom of the wine-cup. where thou Hest like truth in d well, where shall We find thee?
 He lived so long, and in his worldly matters prOspered so much there was so little sign of devilment in the accom- plishment of his wishes. and the increase of his prosperity, that simon, at the end of six years, began to doubt whether he had eyer made such bargain at all as that which we have described at the commencement of this history. He had grown, us We said, very pious and moral. He went regularly to mass and had d contessor into the bargain. He resolved therefore, to consult that reverend gen tlrman, and to lay before him the whole matter.
 am inclined to think, holy sir, said Gambouge, after he had concluded his history, and shown how, ill some mi raculous way all his desires were accom- plished, that after all. this demon was no other than the creation of my own brain, heated by the effects of that bot tie of wine, the cause of my crime and prosperity.
 The contessor agreed with him, and they walked out of church comfortably together, and entered afterwards, cate where they sat down to refresh them selves after the iatigues of their devo- tion.
 A respectable old gentleman, with a number of orders at his button-hole, presently entered the room, and saun- tered up to the marble table before which reposed Simon and his clergical friend. Excuse me, gentlemen" he said, as he took d place opposite them, and began reading the papers of the day.
 Bahl" said he at last" sont-iks gron,tS ces journaea .lnglajS7 Look, sir, he said, handing over an immense sheet of the Times to Mir Gambouge, was ever anything so monstrous?"
 Gambouge smiled politely, and exam ined the preferred page. It is enor- mous,' he said, but do not read Eng fish
 Nay said the man with the orders, look closer at it, Signor Gambouge; it Is astonishing how easy the language is.
 Wondering, Simon took the sheet He turned pale as he looked at it, and began to curse the ices and the waiter Come, M. rAbbe," he said the heat and glare of this place are intolerable"
 The stranger rose with them. -1u pidiSr de rouS rer0ir, mon cher monSieur, said he do not mind speaking be fore the abbe here, who will be my very good friend one of these days; but thought 1t necessary to refresh your memory, concerning our little business transaction some six years since; and could not exactly talk of it at church, as you may fancy
 simon Gambouge had seen in the double sheeted T1ncs, the paper signed by himself, which the little devil had pulled out of his fob.
 
 There was no doubt on the subject: and simon who had but a year to live grew more pious and careful than ever. He had consultations with all the doc tors of the Sarbonne and all the lawyers of the Palais. But his magniticence grew as weary to him as his poverty had been before; and not one of the doctors whom he consulted could give him pennyworth of consolation.
 Then he grew outrageous in his de mands upon the devil, and put him to all sorts of absurd and ridiculous tasks; but they were all punctually per
 
 new ones, and the devil sat around all day with his hands in his pockets doing nothing.
 One day Simon's confessor came bounding into the room, with the great est glee My friend" said he, "I have found it Eureka !-I have found it, Send the pope a hundred thousand crowns, build a new Jesuit college at Rome, give a hundred gold candlesticks to St. Peters; and tell his holiness that you will double all if he will give you absolution
 Gambouge caught at the notion, and hurried off d courier to Rome vsure q terrt His holiness agreed to the re quest of the petition, and sent him an absolution, written out with his own fist, and all in due form
 Now said he, foul tiend, defy you arise Diabolus you're contract is not worth a jot; the pope has absolved