Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-07-19

for the devil to sign, and this bond sreci-
fled that in case the devil failed at any
time during the next twenty-four years
to do whatsoever Daniel command ID
him, then should the bond which the
devil held against Daniel become null
and void and upon the same day should
one thousand and one souls be released
forever from the devils dominion. The
devil WINGED: he hated to sign this
agreement, but he had to. An awful
clap of thunder ratified the abomnablc
treaty, and every black cat within a
radius of 100 leagues straightway fell to
frothing and to yowling grotesqucly.
Presently Daniel began to prosp I; the
devil was a faithful slave, and he served
Daniel so artfully that no person on earth
suspected that Daniel had leagucd with
the evil one. Daniel had the finest
house in the city, his wife dressed mag
Efficiently, and his children enjoyed
every luxury that wealth could provide.
Still Daniel was content to be known as
a business man; he deported himself
modestly and kindly; he pursued with
all his old time diligence the trade
which in earlier days he had found
SO unproductive of riches. His inditfer
nnce to the pleasure which money put
within his reach was strange, and it
caused the devil vast uncasiness.
Daniel" said the devil one day,
"you're not getting out of this thing all
the fun there is in it. You go poking
along in the same old rllt with never a
suspicion that you have it in your power
to enjoy every pleasure of human life.
Why don't you break away from the
old restraints? Why don't you avail
yourself of the advantages at your COM
mand?"
81 know what you're driving at, " said
Daniel, shrewdly. "Politics!"
mo, not at ALL" demonstrated the
devil. "What | mean is fun-gayety.
Why not have a good time?"
But | am having good time, said
Daniel. My business is going along all
right. | am rich. Eve got lovely
home, my wife is happy, my children
are healthy and contented, | am re-
Bpccted-what more could ask! What
better time could | dcmand?"
"Iou don't understand ma" ex-
planned the devil "What | mean by a
good time is that which makes the heart
merry and keeps the soul youthful and
puoyant-wine, Daniel. Wine and the
lhcatrr, and pretty girls, and fast horses
and all that sort of happy joyful life!"
tut tut, TUT" cried Daniel; no more
IF that, sir! | sowed my wild oats in
College What right have to think of
such silly follies-l at 40 years of age?"
SO not even the devil himself could
persuade Daniel into life of dissipat zion.
All you who have made a study of the
business man will agree that of all
human beings he is the hardest to swerve
from conservative methods. The devil
groancd and began to wonder why he
.lad tied up to a man like DAM Ia bus
hess man.
Pretty soon Daniel developed an am
bition. He wanted reputation, and he
told the devil 50. The devils eyes
sparkled. AT last" murmured the
devil with sigh of relief, "at last"
"Yes, said Daniel, 81 want to be
known far and wide. You must build Il
church for me.
What shrieked the devil. And the
devils tail stitfened up like sore
thumb.
"Yes, said Daniel calmly "you must
build church for me, and it must be
the largest and handsomest church in
the city. The sittings shall be free, and
you shall provide funds for its support
forever
The devil frothed at his mouth and
blue fire issued from his ears and nos
.rils. He was the maddest devil ever
seen on earth.
Il won't do it," roared the devil. "Do
you suppose I'm going to spend my time
N building churches and stultifying my
self just for the sake Of gratifying your
idle whims? / won't do it-ncver.
Then the bond | gave is null and
void, " said Daniel.
"Take your old bond," said the devil,
petulantly.
But the bond you gave is operative, -"
continued Daniel. $50 release the
thousand and one souls you owe me
when you refuse to obey me.
20 Daniel!' whimpered the devil,
show can you treat me so? Haven't |
always been good to you? Haven't
given you riches and prosperity? Does
no sentiment of friendship"
"Hush said Daniel, interrupting him.
II have already told you a thousand
times that our relations were simply
those of one business man to another 1t
now behooves you to fulfil your part of
our compact; eventually | shall fulfil
mine. Come, now, to business! VIII
you or will you not keep your word and
bond?"
The devil was sorely put to his trumps.
But when it came to releasing a thousand
and one souls from hell-ah, that stag
gered him. He had to build the church,
and noble one it was, too. Then he en-
dowed the church, and finally he built
a parsonage; altogether it was a stupen-
dous work, and Daniel got all the credit
for it. The preacher whom Daniel in
stalled in this magnificent temple was
severely orthodox, and one of the first
things he did was to preach series of
sermons upon the personality of the
devil, wherein he inveiged most bitterly
against that person and his work.
By and by Daniel made the devil en-
dow and build a number of hospitals
charity schools, free baths. libraries, and
other institutions of similar character.
Then he mHd" nam secure tn" election oi
hOn"st men 10 office, an or Hp'; r'rt
Judges to the bench. It aImus. b,o,e
the devils heart to do it. bat tIr hryiI
was prepared to do aIIno,t anything
rat 'rr t'mr forfeit his bonI, AMI .siy2uu