Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 edition. Excerpt: ... Leastwise, they couldn't du no harm," exclaimed he, pulling the handkerchief off and looking out. " They wouldn't du yer no gude, Mr. Pengelly," says the Devil. " I shu'd be more comfable in my mind, sir, if I said "em," says he. " Now, I'll tell yu what, Mr. Pengelly," says the Devil after a pause, " I'd like to deal handsome by yu. Yu've done me many a gude turn in your day. I'll let you live as long as yonder cann'1-end burns." "Thank'y kindly, sir," says Mr. Pengelly. And presently he says, for the Devil did not make signs of departing: " Would yu be so civil as just tu step into t'other room, sir? I'd take it civil. I can't pray comfably with yu here, sir." " I'll oblige yu in that too," said the Devil; and he went out to look after Mrs. Pengelly. No sooner was his back turned, than Mr. Pengelly jumped out of bed, extinguished the candle-end, clapped it in the candle-box, and put the candle-box under his bed. Presently the Devil came in, and said: " Now, Mr. Pengelly, yu're all in the dark: I see the cann'l's burnt out, so yu must come with me." "I'm not so much in the dark as yu, sir," says the sick man, " for the cannTs not burnt out, and isn't like to. He's safe in the cann'1-box. And I'll send for yu, sir, when I want yu." Mr. Pengelly is still alive; but let not the visitor to his farm ask him what he keeps in his candle-box, or, old man of seventy-eight though he is, he will jump out of his chair, and lay his stick across the shoulders of his interrogator. " They du say," said my informant, " that Mrs. Pengelly hev tried a score of times to get hold of the cann'1-end, and burn it out; but the master is tu sharp for his missus, and keeps it as tight from her as he does from the Devil." Mr. Pengelly has the credit of having been...