The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-03-31
THE DERISIVE SNORT OF
 SATAN.
BY OPIE r. READ.

though a rough section of Tennessee, l "fell i'll" with nomadic preacher. He was one of the courageous evan gelists who fight down every physical disadvantage that they may spread spiritual consolation, and neither cold winds nor the greasiest and most dys- peptic fare could turn him from an apostolic course which he had mapped out. In the course of two days travel together we became somewhat conf- dential. told him that 1 was trav- cling in the interest of great news paper, writing up the peculiarities of the people; he told me that he had with him five hundred dollars, which a former congregation had just paid him for one years service.
 "Don't you think" said I, "that you acted unwisely in bringing the money with you?"
 "No, for 1 had no place to leave it." he replied. "I am but little ac- quainted with the ways of business, but know enough of banks not to have any confidence in them."
 One night we stopped at wayside house. We occupied the same room.
 "Don't you think" said I, as we were preparing to go to bed, "that it would be better to put your money under your pillow?"
 "No, don't think so," he replied. ''1 am but little acquainted with the ways of the world, but know that under mans pillow is about the first place robber searches"
 He placed a candle and some matches near the bed. It must have been about midnight when the pop and flash of a match startled me into wakefulness. A negro stood in the center of the room, holding the preachers pantaloons in his hand. My friend sprang out of bed, but before he could say anything, the negro sank upon his knees, held up his hands and said
 "Marster, lissun ter me one mint. knows dat oughter be sent ter jail, but fo' you sends me jes let me cur munercate CT little Shortly alter you genermen went ter bed ole Satan got inter my heart, he did. He tole me dat dar must be money in dis yere room. Says l, MT. Satan, you git right straight berhind me now, cage what is it ter me eff dar is money in dat ar room? It doan Tong to me- MT. Satan, an you oughter know dat tack. Go on erway an' let me erlone. 'Silas,' says he, 'you'se CT fool; you'se been workin' fur w'ite folks all yo' life an you ain't got nothin' yit How long you gwine go on dis way? Gwine let de folks grind you un'er da feet?' 'Mr. Satan,' 8 I, 'wush you would go on erbout yo' bizness, fur ] ain't got no conversation wid you, but he kep' er-gittin' closer ter me am at las, not bein' able ter stan him l slipped up yere, tuck yo' money an went down. Satan wuz gone, an gunter think an den gunter pray Sunthin' 'peared ter say, 'Whut's dc use'n prayin' long ez you got dat stoled money in yo' pocket?' an der de tears O sorrow gunter gush outer my eyes. Oh, felt that my po' soul wuz dun los, and it 'peared ter me dat i hearn old Satan er-standin' at de cornder O de house er-snickerin' fit tel kill hisse'f. Marster, 1 couldn't stan it no longer an l creeped back up stars an wid CT pr'ar in my heart, wuz putin de money back in yo britches wen you woke up an lit dat can'le. Now, sah, you may take me ter jail. Jes take me erway an won't say CT word, fur I's lissened ter de voice O ole Satan an hab described it all. Put CT rope roun' my naik marster, am lead me erway."
 He bowed his head and tears gushed from his eyes. The preacher was deeply moved. "Poor creature" said he, "you yielded to temptation, but your determination to replace the money proves that you have an i'm pressive and generous soul. will not have you sent to prison-I will for give you, will pray for you."
 "Oh, marster, marster, may dc Lawd bless you fur dis. I will go back ter my cabin, sah, an pray"
 I was also deeply moved, for could see that the old negro was sim cere. He shook our hands just before leaving the room, and, in his own pe- culiar way, begged us never to forget that we had seen a man whose soul had been stricken. When he had gone my friend said:
 "I do not believe in personal devil and yet there is almost enough proof to convince me that there is. That poor old negro suffered inst as much as though he really heard the derisive snort of Satan.n
 The next morning, as we wer,