Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-02-12

Once upon time the devil was seized
with desire 10 marry. He therefore left
hell, took the form Of O handsome young
man, and built fine, large house. When
II was completed and furnished IN the
most fashionable style he Introduced
himself TO q family where there were three
pretty daughters, and paid his addresses
TO the eldest Of them. The handsome
man pleased the maiden, her parents
were glad to see dsnghter SO we'll pro-
ylded Tor, aud II was not long before the
wedding was celebrated.
| When he bad taken his bride home he
presented her with a very tasteiully ar
ranged bouquet, led her through all the
rooms OF the house aud finally to closed
door.
"Thc whole house is at your disposal, !"
said he, only must request one thing
of you, that Is, that you do not on any
account open this door"
or course the young wife promised
faithfully, but equally, Of course, she
could scarcely wait for the moment to
come when she might break her promise
When the devil had left the house the
next morning under the pretense OF 60
ing hunting she ran hastily to the forbid
den door, opened 1t and saw a terrible
abyss Of fire that shot up towards her and
snged the flowers on her bosom.
When her husband came home and
asked her whether she had kept her
promise, she unhesitatingly answered
yes" but he saw by the flowers that she
was telling q lie, and said: "Now / will
not put your scuriosity to the test auy
longer. Come with me; will show yOt
myself what is behind the door" There
upon he led her to the door, opened it,
gave her such push that sho fell down
Into sheol, aud shut tue door again.
A few months alter he wooed the next
sister for his wife, and won her, and the
experience OF the first one was exactly re-
peattd with her.
Finally he courted the third sister. She
was prudent maiden, and said to her
self: "He has certainly murdered my
two sisters; but then It Is a splendid
match for me. so will try and see II !
can not be more fortunate than they"
And accordingly she consented. After
the wedding the bridegroom gave her a
beautiful bouquet, but forbade her also
TO open the door which he pointed out.
Not whit less curious than her slst r.,
she too opeged the forbicde door when
the devil had gone bunting, but she had
previously put her flowers In water. Then
she saw behind the door thu fatal abyss
and her sisters III rein.
"AhW she exclaimed, "poor creature
that am; thought had married an
ordinary man, and instead OF that he is
the devil. How can ! get away from
hint"
She carefully pulled out her two sisters
and hid them. When the devil came
home he Immediately looked at the bou-
quot,whch she again wore on her bosom,
and when he found the flowers so fresh
he asked no questions.
A few days atterward she asked him II
he would promise to carry three chests
for her to her parents house, withc u,
putting them down aud resting on the
way. The dev.l promised 10 do 1t, aud,
accordingly, the next day he carried the
first sister, the second day the second
sister, and on the third day the last Of
the three, each in long chest, the third
wife having left dummy figure of her
eelf on the balcony.
When he got back, after carrying hel
home, he bids the dummy get his dinner
for bin and when II does not stir he give
1t a good round box on the ear. Finding
out that 1t was only bundle Of rags h,
rummages the house, but there lie no vito
and his wife's empty jewel-box tells thu
story. In rage he runs to the parents
house aud, as he came FEAR, hs saw, tC
his great surprise, all three sisters, hli
/ wives, looking down on him with scorn
iul laughter.
Three wives at once terrified the devi
so much that he took his flight with al
: possible speed. Sincs that time he ha
lost all his taste for marrying.