The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-19

But that I'D be masterpiece to see me
| dancin round Strumpshire Mil, devil or
no devil
Billy knew Strumpshire Mill 1t stood,
and still stands, on the top OF the only
decent hin in the neighborhood. Var
mouth Roads can be seen from IL on
clear day. Evidently it was Norfolk
brocken at the beginning OF the century.
and Billy was in for a local Walpurgis-
nacht.
The stranger said no more, but backed
out, and in half dozen strokes had disap-
peared, leaving the old man half dazed,
put Jubiiant. When his punt was full he
padded back to his houseboat and slept.
The next morning he picked out a fine
brace or cells, and went up to see his
friend, Parson Sparrow. He told his adj
venture of the previous night. and held up
the two cells as corroborative evidence.
Hal hat laughed the parson. why,
Daniel. you were drunk
Il tell ZEE / worn't, Parson," retorted
Billy. 'Du yew come and look at the
catch.
Well, WE'LL" said Sparrow. you'd bet
ter try the dodge, and II it is successful,
why, you must build round house, with
out corner In it. and cheat the devil.
Hal hal Eh?"
That Will. bor.' said Billy. delighted.
I'll cozen Old Nick yet But don't We tell
nobody on 1t, sir, will yer"
The parsou chuckled and promised to
keep the secret
Tie dodge was successful. Night after
night did the we'll get filed, and with fine
cells. Billy grew tired of babbing, and
made large, fine-meshed scoop net, and
after repeating the charm he simply show
eled out as many fish as he wanted He
was drunk all day, but sobered up at
night, when he wanted cells, for he found
the Incarnation too much to get his tongue
round when he was in liquor, and the cells
would not come for Interpretations
He soon saved enough to build cottage.
He leased few acres against his boat
from he lord Of the manor, at a rent of
FOUR stvne of cells per annum, planted his
wt;io-3, and engaged local builder
round matched house was soon run up I'M
der billy's SUPERVISION without corner in
1t. The old Nan got the parson to come to
housewarming, and. under the influence
OF Red House OLD ale and smuggled brandy
the Kew. John Sparrow concocted hating
screed to be cut in stone over the door
He said: "Hic, a shervant o. tn Lord en-
rhyme s well ash e devil" This was it:
''The devf, may c6r.,, and the devil may go;
The devil may rhve and the devil may swear;
wont care curse for the old noodle crow
"hiie my house stands round it is not
square,
The screed was duly cut, and Billy set
tied down in his cottage to many cells.
much drink and great content
fhe third night Of the third month of
the third year came in the course of time.
and Billy went to sletp. drunk and hfc-
coughing 4 can't kneel in no coarner,
cause there amt no ctarnerR
The night was unusually close for March
ano, what was still more unusual, shortly
after midnight heavy thunderstorm broke
over Cantley. The people in the Red
House said afterward that the lightning
played all round BiIIy-s house. and the
crash of the thunder was terrific But the
storm made off to the nor east. Strump- |
SHIRE way without disturbing the drunken |
man He woke In the morning in the sun |
shine with great thirst and a desire for |
small beer. He staggered out OF bed across |
to his cupboard. where the cask was and |
suddenly stopped. ''Wha, blame nv old |
heart alive he said "hare-s a coaruer.'' |
He looked 'mszed like about him. Ev- |
erything was as usual save that his house |
was square, not round.
AS quickly as he could he went out The
screed over the door was gone black
smear like an eel was in its place He 1
lost no time in gettint; to the parsonage, /
where he found Parson Sparrow breakfast
ing of home brewed ale and roast beef
The parson looked a bit serious at first /
after hearing Of the transformation, but.
after mighty pull at the ale he eheered !
up. why, Daniel, man, you must sell
your house now. that's ALL You only swore
to kneel to the devil in the house you
were to build"
Right yew be, bor." said Billy, roaring
with laughter.
The parson bought the house for a fish
ing box, and there the tale ends. Whether
the magic of the incarnation continued
history sayeth not. That is all that is
known Of the way Billy Daniel cheated the |
devil
do not vouch for the veracity OF all the
details Of the legend. But know the cot
rage is now square. and there is no screed
over the door. The whole house ia so dirty
that the mark Of the scaeIess fish has
merged in the general biackness.
The probability is that the devil got both
Billy and the parsor after all. so he may
lave got his own back in the end-Bfaek
md White.