The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-11

had welded seven husbands. but upon each bridal night Asmodeus appeared in the shape of a sucubus and drained the groom of his blood, leaving him a corpse in his nuptial chamber. It so happened that when Sarah was a widow for tee seventh time her property and her person fell to Toby, Who was her cousin and quite youth. It was a long journey to Sarah's country and Tobys father did not feel equal to the task of it's undertaking, whereupon he induced his son to go in his stead. Toby was afraid of the perls attending such a jaunt,s hut. the: angel Gabriel spoke to the lad and promised to accompany him. The boy consented and off the two started together, One day while en route the youth, while engaged in bath, was attacked by huge fish and became badly frightened, although he succeeded in staying his piscine ad- versary. Under Gabriers injunction, Toby preserved the vscers of the fish and car ried it along with him,
 This is a favorite episode in art and in marble as well as upon canvas we find in the churches and cathedrals of the old world representations of the young fellow walking with one hand hold ing to that of Gabriel and the other car rying the precious fish.
 When he met Sarah he fell in love with his fair cousin, who reciprocated his pas sion, but she feared to marry him lest he should meet the same fate that had befallen her previous husbands, These fears she communicated to Toby. who in turn repeated them to Gabriel. Just here the fish becomes an important factor in the story, for Gabriel informed his charge that if upon his bridal night he would burn the viscera of the fish in his nuptial chamber the fumes would so nauseate Asmodeus that he would quit the apart ments, leaving the youthful groom un- touched. This was done, and so far as We know the pair enjoyed a life of peace, happiness and connubial bliss
 The next chapter in our story brings us to the strange building of Solomons temple, which was erected without the sound of hammer any instrument of iron. No stones ever shifted more silent ly and obediently to their places under the spell of the Tyre of Orpheus and the walls of Jericho never responded more subserviently to the voice of sacerdotal horn and trumpet than did the stones of Solomon's temple glide into their posi- tions under the magic spell of worm called shamr. But what was this sha- mir? Modern savants have. worried and coniectured as to its identity. some of them declaring it was the frost and others aNcllny Wllu cuudl CDlilueOtc that II was nothing more nor less than electricity Be this as it may, Solomon was in darkness concerning this strange energy and his reputation for wisdom was at stake. As- nlodeus was the only one who held the secret and he Solomon summoned to inn part the knowledge. Bad as was the de- mon in killing Sarahs husband he, had a most tender heart and when In his hurry 10 respond to the royal summons he be-
 finn over rocks and upsetting houses; he turned so suddenly aside to avoid demoi- isliing the hut of a poor widow who had ilnportuned him to spare her home. that he broke his leg in the act and has been ''diable boiteux'" dame deviD. ever since
 We do not know what Asmodeus said