Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-01-11
Why the World
Needs the Devil

A LONG time ago there lived in Win
"a terberg, in the mountains of sauer
land a skillful loeksmith named Zach
arias Werner. His reputation wa
great. not only in Westphalia. but il
Thuringia, even as far as Ssabia
Strangers who passed through the liz
tie town Of Winterberg never failed L
visit Werner and admire his works.
One Christmas eve a fine lookinl
gentleman dressed in scarlet stopped a
the door OF the famous workman ant
asked TO see him. He found him in hi
workshlp.
''Good-eyening. said the stranger Il
the prince OF locksmiths They tel
me that iron in your hands is as dough
in the hands OF a child"
BAH" modestly replied Werner II
Il not my skill. but the fire that con
quers the iron
Said the stranger: Il have at ms
home a fine furnace which never goe'
out. day or night. That's where 20,
could do fine work Just now | want
door made for my house. Il must oper
with the greatest ease from the outside
but Il must remain Theoretically closeC
to those inside who would attempt L
so out
Werner's curiosity was excited I'll
IL far to your house. my lard?"
Ny lord smiled THAT. my dear
would depend upon the number o
years you have lived
Werner opened his eyes in wonder
What did the scarlet gentleman mean
Was he joking? The good locksmitl
cid not like 10 be made game OF. Fol-
that reason he changed the subject.
Here. said he. is trunk | have
Just finished | consider the lock OF
It as my masterpiece. The devil him
self could not open i"
The stranger laughed in such a sar
castle manner that It set the locksmitf
10 thinking hard People are not fools
/ in Winterberg That fine gentleman
dressed in red who had a furnace in hi
house. and a house into which on'
could enter. but from which none coul'
escape could Il be? Al this very mo
ment a slight seorching odor tickle'
the nostrlls OF Werner. and he I'm
agined be saw the wagging Of a shor
| tail under the coat tail OF the visitor. ~
kept cool and gave no signs Of the emo
/ ton he felt.
See. said he. In the manner of mer
chant pralsing his wares, "see how wei
this trunk is prorortioned. A tall MAJ
could lie in Il as In his bed.
"oh hardly"
"Try and see for yourself"
The gentleman. without apparen
miseiying. entered aud lay down h
M Hardly had he done 50 when the liz
came down with crash. and the Ike
turned Instantly
.Mahant, Gretchen, Hilda' Vol
gang, Bernhardtl' The locksmit
was calling at the top Of his voice hi
wife daughter. servant apprentice
An came in haste and asked what wa
the matter
The matter is that have Jailed IN
devil in this trunk He is locked IN an
cannot escape
In those days wives had the habil G
criticising their husbands and douote
their power and intelligence, So sh
said. what! The devil, who Is
cunning. and can do anything he wisf
esq The devil. who could put the bridg
of Mayence in his pocket and transpoi
the Cologne cathedral on the Taurus
You imagine you can hold him cal
tive In your worthless trunk oh, VIVA
are you talking about?
With a frown Werner said;
woman, you talk without relies
ton Have you only looked at my WORT
less trunk. as you call it? On the IL
on the sides-what do you see? Bano
of iron crossing each other, formin
the sign Of our redemption. What
the lock itself but a cross? How q
Won expect him to overcome such obst
cles? wolfgang. run for the prizes
: Dom Aloysius. With two or three exc
cisms and holy water. he will make e
cane impossible. The rascal knows
well Hear him grunt" Sure enous
palnful groans we're heard comm
from the trunk.
He wants air" said Gretchen, II
! moor wretch is sunocating
what" said Werner, with laug
.syou pity the enemy Of makind?
, trunk is too fine londging place Il
such as he.
. Dom Aloysius, being informed OIL u
great event. arrived in haste. miss
in one hand and sprinkler in the othe
lie told the devil some hard truths
Latin. a tongue that Satan understan
, better than the professors in our III
versities. He then sprinkled the trui
with holy water. A little Of Il perc
lated through some cracks and caus
! the devil intense pain.
"All goes well. said Aloysius.
will sprinkle him morning and eVenln
: All Master Werner what fine cat