The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-24
JACK-O'-L

( back n the shadowy times or long ago
/ lived man, Jack BY name. Jack what,
I NO scald in song hath told no saga
/ taught" but it makes not one whit OF diff
/ ference TO my story.
/ He lived by the banks of stream, close
/ By ford. and was known far and wide as
i.the mcenest. most churlish and inhospits-
I; BILE old clrmudgeon IL the land 4 beggar
would never think of asking even for q
! crust at his door. for well ne knew the
surly reception IN store for him.
Jack had a wife, more's the pity, and
/ the poor soul had nothing 10 sweeten life's
hard crusts No neighbor cared TO cross
her husbands inhospitable doorsill and if
( they met him on the read they turned their
( eyes another way, so as not to see him, 50
| evil was his reputation.
Once, it was a fair day. and Jack had
! been detained in the village until late.
His heart sank in him as he thought OF
the lonely wood through which he would
have 70 pass TO reach the ford. The night
was dark and dread tales of murder and
evil spirits came to his mind.
But his fear was not as strong as his
greed. and he decided to press on rather
than spend his silver for nights lodging,
sake would give him a shelter for the
night. So he rode boldly Sf.
Lower and lower sank his spirits and
darker and darker grew the path as he
neared the fatal spot. Half dead with
fright, his teeth chattering and has breath
coming IN short gasps, he entered the wood.
Suddenly he heard a groan; again and
again he heard it, the blood almost frozs
l. E%<,1, <,<.X
on end with horror He tried 10 push on,
but the noans still rang in his ears, and
not knowing why he stopped and began
searching for the cause OF them
Jack was no coward, no matter what
other bad qualities he possessed He was
not afraid of anything when he was cor
nered SO, be it spirit or devil, lie deter
mined to investigate. Summoning all mis-
courage he asked, who and what are you
that makes these unearthly moansS
Just then he saw extended at his feet
for he had dismounted from his horse an
old gray haired man, his clothes thin and
ragged, who cried: For the love of
heaven take me to some human habnation;
I have lost my way. / cannot cross the
/ ford, and am dying of hunger and cold"
Something within Jack spoke; his good
:
all his life, induced him to wrap the poor,
shivering old man IN his own heavy coat
place him on his horse and carry him to
his own home. Jacks wife started back
in surprise when she saw the burden he
carried into the house, and she was quite
sure he had gone crazy or been bewitched
when he ordered bed to be made for the
feeble stranger and the best the poor cot
afro I'D ba car hafc
The stranger was warmed, cheered, com
forted and put TO bed and was soon asleep.
Jack hardly knew himself in this new role,
but something had impelled him that he
could not disobey; he needs must do that
and nothing else.
Jack, on awakening next morning, was
dazzled by the brilliant light that shone
around the room fno one had separate
bedroom at Jacks cottage) and when his
eyes had been accustomed TO the wondrous
sight he saw a beauteous vision-an angel
clothed in white, with snow white wings,
gazing at him.
Mortal" said the angel, II am one of
+ the spirits commissioned to watch over the
sons of Adam heard thy neighbors say
not one spark Of human kindness dwelt in
thy stone cold heart; not a grain Of COM
3
grain lay hidden unused in thy heart.
ITO try thee took the form of feeble
old man. / am thy stranger guest, whom
thou hast housed. warmed and fed. /
have shared thy hearth; for this thy kind
ness my blessing shall rest upon thy home,
and will grant thee three wishes. Weigh
well what thou askeths"
Il should like" said Jack, after some
reflection. that whoever shall sit in my
especial chair shall never be able 10 lift
the chair from it's place, nor get cut Of it
until allow him. / would have the hand
that touches anything in my tool box on
the wall (for Jack was a cobbler) unable
10 move the box or take the hand out until
/ give permission
Lastly, would have whoever plucks .
branch from the sycamore before nv door
unable to let go his hold until | say 50.
People take my avis and pluck my tree,
and will not have II.
The angel looked az Jack with sorrow
full eyes and grieved expression a. he fn-
Ished his wishes, but he granted them and
departed
Foolish man 20 ask such paltry things
when SO much was within his grasp
From that moment Jack was excluded
from heaven. for he had eternal biessedness
for the asking. but asked il not.
The angels blessing rested On Jacks
household Everything prospered with
him and MS children bnt no one loved
MIN, no one ever cared for him
Years after, perhaps fifteen or twenty.
he was resting in Ats easy chair with as
pipe. when suddenly be perceived a strong,
disagreeable oaor, something ike bsim-
stone. he locked up. much surprised and
his eyes lighted On a demon standing u
the doorway, tall. dark being. graced
with two horns. csovea feet and long tail.
which ne carried gracefully under his arm
SO 80 legend says
jack c1aked with fright. but. putting a
bold face on, a he usually did when driven
20 the wall, politely asked hin what Es
wanted
You" said The demon. "my master est
/ ne 10 conduct you 20 nina. AID ne viii give
( yoa <arm welcome
"Aa right sad Jack. rising from ms
chair ana politely motioaing 20 the demon,
pray be seated. yo1 must be weary after
your iOng joarnsy. Res; Tou rseH While
put On 14y sunday clothes. for o~rsr eoul1
r I appear bpsfore Ms satanic r1s je~ty IN :kese
csd dllos will D. nd ye a jg9v
tn. demon STATED himself comfortably
ia the chair. for 4 1zs -oft and easy Jack
! irarnea lzteJy too Eew azsi thar stscsi d.
TIE TONER ADD EAs3ed tns gseos deEns'o
wltn1n an aseh q - life. a VAN -
shraeked Tor mercy, bsgl@d, begged ard
p~zye.1. He cos4ia uos move tie CHAR. nor
- c , from Il
f L1.forsauzze 5eznou Sat - w@s JACK
lad Il - vita TiEht go@d z7I. Ys cans
u sake nc sd Sc - sour not stae, did
gazg III tAeL~ So 80 a9uss 4ft~r --cs-t