Year: 1866

the people, the facts occurred few years
since of which the following is true mar
ration


An honest farmer and his family prepar.
ing to celebrate Thanksgiving at his wifa's
fathers, in an adjacent town. were hurried
and confused extremely on the day preced-
ing that festival, by the multiplicity of
things which must be done before they
could leave home with safety. The house
was to be "banked up" and the gleanings
of the harvest, cabbage, turnips, and so
forth, put into the cellar, that the external
entrance thereto might be closed for the
season. Having carried in the vegetables,
the boys were dispatched to the barn for
straw to fill the passage with, while the
good man himself was busted on the oppo-
site side of the house


An old ram, the horned patriarch of a
large flock of sheep kept on the farm, hav-
ing got taste of the scattered cabbage
leaves, unobserved entered lhe cellar and
silently continued his feast The avenue
through which he entered was Immediately
closed up, and all the necessary work and
arrangements being completed, the larger
boys and girls set off on foot in high glee
the dog running and barking before them.


Soon after, the parents and their little
ones, having put out the fire and fastened
the doors and windows to keep out thieves,
started on the same destination.


On the afternoon of the day following
the festival the family returned home, ac-
companied by some young cousins. Some
of their youthful neighbors of both sexes,
were invited in, and a merry Thanksgiving
carousal as i full tide of successful op-
Grafton, when one of the boys who had
been sent into the cellar with little two
wick candle, which gave just enough light
to make darkness visible, to draw cider
ran back into the room, with eyes glaring
wildly, uttering the half suffocating excla-
nation


"The devil is in the cellar !"
"Pooh," said the father, "you have only
been frightened by your own shadow give
me the light )"


Saying this, he seized the candle-leav-
| ing the candlestick fast in the hand of the
| boy and boldly rushed to the cellar stairs
but before he had decended half the steps,
the large saucer eyes and enormous horns
of the ram caused him to retreat as much
| terrified as his son, exclaiming:


"Sure enough, the devil is in the eel
lar |"


The good man seized the great bible, and
ed, burned blue, and threw such feeble
light on the sacred pages, and the book
trembled so much in the hands of the read
er that he could not distinguish one word
| from another. The little children cried and
clung to the mother the girls nestled
close to their favorite swains, and the
whole house was shaken with the agitation
| of it's half demented inhabitants. One
bright thought, however, occurred, and a
messenger was sent for the minister to
come and clay the devil"


The parson, a man more celebrated for
good nature, piety, and credulity, than for
talent and heroism, slipped a small bible
into his pocket, put on his band and sur
plice, that he might appear as formidable
| to his great antagonist as possible, and
hastened to the relief of his distressed par
| ishioners.


On coming to to the house, the reverend
was hailed as a deliverer, and implor-
ed by at least dozen voices at the same
moment, to drive the devil away. But few
moments were lost in asking which no one
could answer, before the parson pushed
| forward as a leader, with the same penuri-
GUS light, into the cellar, the most coura-
geous of the company keeping close behind
| him He reached the foot of the stairs, the
eyes of fire, the shadowy outline Of the en-
ormous horns, magnifed tentold at least,
by the terror of those that beheld them, re-
moved all doubt if any had existed in his
mind as to the Internal nature of the being
with whom he had to contend.
| 4al
and, with uplifted hands, began to pray in
his most fervent manner. The ram not un-
derstanding the pious mans motives, but
supposing by the motion Of his hands that
he was daring him to butting contest,
made pass with all his might, at his sup
posed adversary, but, deceived by the
swelling demensions Of his drapery, missed
the slender body Of the priest, and draw
ing hastily back to renew the assault, hook
ed one of his horns into the belt of the sur,
plice and pulled the priest with him into
the cellar.


While thus in the power of his victorious
foe, he lost hope as it regarded himself
and the natural benevolence of his disposi
ton burst forth in the exclamation


Brethren, take care of yourselves the
ueNH las SOG INC.


This exhortation was better obeyed than
any he had ever delivered from the pulpit
his friends all fled, and left him to his
fate Among the company was shrewd
young farmer, who had from the first, sup
posed the fend to be some domestic AM
NAL, but being lover of fun-and, willing
to see comedy, kept his thoughts to him
self and pretended to sympathize witt
others in thair fears He thought it time
to interfere, and, snatching pitch pine
knot from the blazing fire, expressed hi
determination to rescue the preacher O
perish in the attempt.


"Don't don't y shouted several.


"What does the devil care for fire Z


said another.


"Take along the bible if you will go |!
: -suggested another.


But unheeding the suggestion and th'
} manifestation of concern for his safety, h
e pushed into the cellar, seized the anima
n by one of its horns and dragged the strue
: Cling ram up stairs, calling to the astol
: ished parson Follow me !" The horne
e devil was led in triumph, followed by tn
n Ecclesiastic, in the midst of the compan,
!, A momentary silence and hanging dow
t of heads ensued, but the past scene wa
e too ludicrous to admit of sober reflection