Show JACK O JACK O S The Irish havo bavo a legend concern concern- in In the Iho o Juck lantern Jack which runs runt thus A Away way back In tho the shadowy v times of long ago ajo lived a n nan man Jack by byname name Jack what So No scald in song until hata told tol told no sa saga saffa n taught taught butt but t it t makes not one whit of 01 difference tomy tomy to tomy my story Ho ITO lo lived by bv tho the banks of a n stream stream close by a n ford ford and ant was known farand farand far farand and wide as M Lh the Iho meanest meanes most churlish churl churl- ish sli an and l Inhospitable old curmudgeon in the tho land land J A bo betar par would never think of aking even en for a n crust at his door for or well wel he ho know knots the surly reception re- re or in store for hin hie nee it was a fair day ay and Jack had been in tho the until late lato Ills Ils heart sank in him as ho he thought of 01 the lonely wood through which ho would have haro to pass pasi to reach tho the ford ford The was dark and anddrea dread drea tales of murder and evil evI spirits came to his hi mind mind Lower and lower sank his spirits and darker and arker darker the grew v path as its n he ho neared the fatal spot spot half dead death with fri fright ht his hi teeth chattering and ind his breath coming in short gasps gaps ho he 10 entered catered the wood wood Suddenly he heard a groan a again aln and again he ho hoard heard it i the blood almost almost al at- most froze in Jacks Jack's veins and his hi nI scanty hairs stood on end with hoc hor hor rot rot- Ho Ito le tried tiled tied to t push on on but the moans still sti rang meg in his oars ears ears an and not knowing why he stopped and b began n 9 searching for the cause cause Just then ho he saw extended at rt his feet for fot he had dismounted from his h hf e on un old gray gray haired man mn his I thin and rag ragged el who crl cried d For the love of ot h heaven aven take tako me re to toome some ome Bore human habitation I have lost my ny way I cannot cross the tho ford and andam I am dying of 01 hun and hunge-and e nd cold cold t Something within Jack spoke sloke his good rood spirit spIrit that had never m moved him before in all al his life lifa le induced him to wrap the poor poor shivering old man in his lis hi own o heavy coat coal coat place him on his horse and carry him to to his hi own home home lome Jacks Jack's carro wife rie started back in when she saw tho the burden ho he cn carried arned red into int the house and she was jUito sure ho he had gone y cra or been switched bewitched when he ho ordered a bed to tobe tobe tojo be jo mado made for the tho feeble stranger and the tho 10 best the poor cottage afforded to tobe tobo too bo be o set before him 0 n tt uD c r ag was wa-s wa dazzled by tho the brilliant light that shone around the room no one had a separate bedroom at Jacks Jack's Jaks Jak's cottage and nd when his eyes had been boon accustomed tomed to the wondrous sight he saw a beauteous vision vision vision-an an angel clo clothed hed hedin In white with snow snow whito wings wings gazing gaz gas ing lug at him Mortal I said tho the angel lam lamone I am ameno amono ono one of the tho spirits spiris commissioned to watch over the sons eons of Adam Adam I heard ono one of ot thy neighbors neIghbors' say not one ne spark of human kindness dwelt in 1 thy stone cold heart not a grain of compassion com corn passion but they were mistaken A AlLo little lLo grain lay hidden unused in thy heart hert To To try theo thee I took tho the form of a cable old man I am thy stranger guest guest whom thou hast housed wai warmed mod and fed fed I have shared thy he hearth rth for this thy kindness my blessing stall snail rest upon thy home and I will wi grant thee theo three wishes Weigh well wel what thou asketh 1 I 1 should like t said Jack Jack after some somo reflection that whoever shall sit in I my especial chair sh shall shiell l never beable bo be able to lift lt the chair chai from its place place nor get out of it until I allow alow him him I would have the tho hand that touches anything in my tool box on tho the wall val for Cor Jack Jak was Wa a cobbler unable to move the box boL boJ or take the hand out until I 1 give give permission Lastly 1 would havo have whoever plucks a n branch from tho the sycamore before my door unable to let go his hi hold until I say so 50 People tAke tako my awls and pluck my tree treo and I 1 will not have It It it The Tho angel looked at Jack Jck with wih sorro sorrowful eyes and grieved expression expression sion eion as M ho he finished his wishes but bat ho lie granted them and departed Foolish man mn to ask such paltry things when so much was wit within in his grasp From that tha moment J Jude Jack ek was WM rasp excluded from heaven beaven for ho he had eternal bl blessedness for the asking but tasked asked it not not Years after perhaps fifteen or twenty he no heva was va resting in his easy chair with ih his hi when suddenly ho perceived a strong disagreeable odor something like liko brimstone He le looked up much and his eyes lighted on a demon standing in tho the doorway a it u tall tall dark being graced raced with two horn horns cloven loot foot and a along lon tail tall which ho lie carried gracefully Under under under un un- der his arm arm so so the legend says Jack quaked with fright but but putting put- put ting on a bold face faca ace as be ho usually did when driven to tho the wall wall politely asked him what he be wanted You I said the demon demon ray Y master master mas mas- ter tr sent me mo to conduct you to him and ho he will give you a warm wel vol come All l right right I said Jack Jack rising from his bis chair and politely motioning to t tI tho the demon demon pray bo be seated you must be bo weary from your long journey Hest yourself while I 1 put on my Sunday Sunday Sunday Sun Sun- day clothes for lor never novel could I appear before his Satanic majesty In these old duds duds I will wl bo ho wid ye yo in a jiffy I rho The demon seated himself comfortably comfort ably in the chair for it i was wa toft Eor and easy Jack immediately ook Uok ok a now neW flail that stood In the tho corner and whaled t tho e poor demon within an inch of ot his lils lIfe le In vain ho shrieked for mercy hi howled sagged lagged and prayed Ho could not move the tho chair nor getup pet got 10 up from it It Unfortunate demon that ho was Jack Juck laid it i on with wih right good will wiL wiLYo Yo Ye came camo to t take tako me mo wid vid you to your hot hole did Ill I'll Il tacho tache ye yo to i coin com after a it f genteman t Ja y St St. r Y S S i Jacks Jack's brogue was as v very ry broad when when ho he was excited I Jack never naver never stopped until tho flail fai I lay in splinters and his arm arias ached with wih the tho exertion Then making the demon domon promise never to come foi fot him I again ho he let him bun go go and gladly ho went vent limping oH off vowing ve on n Jacks Jack's Jaks Jak's head II Again very vory wroth at tho the failure an and treatment of 01 his ls messenger messenger mes mes- mes-I mes sent a 0 second to summon Jo Jack Ink k before his nis lis tribunal tribunal with an im im- order to c came como mo forthwith or ot I fm-I it i ivul would be worse for or him hm Ho lo bade the tho demon go o without delay dc- dc In lay la tarry for nothing and and not sit down in Jacks Jack's bou house bouso o or bo be be beguiled by Jacks Jack's blandishments Again Jack mot met his politely and asked aked him to be bo seated Tho The demon answered gruy Not Nut 1 1 J will not sit down do in your house I will wl stand stand I 1 dont don't want all ni my bones bons broken broken as the tho other mes mes- was S fool enough h to let his be e. e I But But come come come comet My Jy master badeS bade bado S you not delay so come right along S All Al right right t said Jack but butt th the way tray is I long and the tho stones big big and andS S I lint hot h Jt and my brogan ha has hl a hole in it it tso so BO just st let lot me inc put a stitch in it it If I you will wi hand mo me that awl from ti-am tho the bo box boxon on Son tho the wall aU I r will vi bo be ready in tho the of an nn eyelash S The ho demon dol delighted with having so trouble in getting the tho refractory tory Tack rack to go g with him and thinking think think- ing lug how ho he would Crow over his hs fellow fel id- low demons demon's discomfiture stepped StOpIe to the tho bo boc bOl c and seized an awl when lo lor lorhe he could not get ct his hand free pull pul and tU tug as he le might might nor DOl could he pull lull pul the box lx from the tho wall Jack laughed with glee Iee seized a alai hail flail lai and haiti bant tho the demon demol almost t to a l jelly elly Yr Yer Y wants in jely r mo rue a hurry himy lurry does ho Well Vell Wel take tako mo me mo thin take ako me wid vid y i Ye are a broth of a aby aby by jy to do an arrant Come Coma v no now letus lot let lotus lotus us be bo off 01 to YOUl laoS hot country I IAl All Al the tho time timo Jack was boating beating tho the demon ri right ht and loft lefts lert never ceasing casing till ti ho he was worn out with his labor and want of breath Ho Ito 10 made made the tho wailing demon promise never to come for or him m again and bade Dado him be off o. The devil devil wild wid with rage rago at the treatment of lis his messengers determined doter deter mined to go himself himsel an and bring brint this perverse man man to terms terms for for for never a ademon ademon demon lemon could ho he hoget heet get et to go so great groat was vas their horror o of tho the dreadful Jack k The devil il set of oT of thinking thinking lila his h pros pres- enco enC would strike terror to Jacks Jack's soul that tha thac he would quail quai before him and therefore be an cay y prey One Ono morning early erly he stood at nt the door Jack peeping through a n cranny ranny saw him stun standing ding there and his heart sank within him but ho be cudgeled his brain for some borne saro way to escape Tho devil thundered and roared that lie he 10 should como come immediately that ho he was not to bo be fooled foole with any of Jacks Jack's tricks trick so knocking the door open open he Jle seized the tho stricken terror terror man und and dragged ragged him out of the tho house his majesty not wishing to remain inside the 10 house for fear he ho might might fall lal into some ome trap i Jack begged to go goback back and kiss hi his his- his wife wie good-by good and g t a n cane cano Tor oa saId aid he lie I am In lamoy and the e 0 way vay IstL bI is b I tL 7 V an n an annot not walk o far lar T Tile o 0 devil devi would not let him go thou though b but kept a n tl tight ht grip rip on ott him him Al All right right said Jack The Tho ho way Is long and I cannot walk so o. o your yeu majesty maj majesty maj- maj esty if i you are anxious for my company company com corn pany you will wi have havo to carry me on your back I 1 know you will wi not like 1 that that for tor I am a a trifle trio heavy twenty stone or so As you will not net let me mo get my may cane cane just just reach mo rae a it 1 branch from yon yen sycamore tree it will help me mo along and relieve you of carrying me The Tho he devil hoping hopin to stop his tongue reached out his hand band hand and and to his Utter utter utter ut ut- ter surprise he ho could not break off of tho the branch or take tako his hU hand from the tree Again Jack resorted to the tho flail fai and three were broken over the devils dovil's devis devi's back back S ills His lis roars i and howlings were like liko mighty thunder thunder and the tho stamping of his feet shook the earth like liko an earth earthquake quake Jack had hd a tood good good- stout arm and he laid on with a a mighty vim vms from morning until night At Ins last lask when he ho could do no more more be made mado the devil devi promise he lie would never come como nor send any ny ono one for him and not even oven havo have him in boll boll I The devil devi gladly contented consented consented for or he hei i had not a whole bono bone in his hs body his horns wore were awry a his bis tall tal out of joint I and his hi cloven cloen feet cracked with the tho stamping J Jade Jack wont went to bed w weary ary nd and soro sore from his labors but with an exultant heart heart having cheated oven even the tho devil devi himself In the tho course of time death came came lie had ha no powers of or resistance against him him no potent spell to turn his Isis unerring unerring un- un erring shaft aside aside Jack died died ills His Ils spirit soared seared up up UI to tho the gates of heaven and knocked at the door St St. St Peter reco recognizing Jack at tho the portal said You cannot enter here You hud had a chance once to do so 60 but you did not grasp grasp it it it n And ho he shut thedoor the tho door in his face tace Jacks Jack's spirit then descended to the tho gates gates of 01 hell hel There also he ho heva was va refused admittance The rhe fiends when they thoy saw him grow grew grow pale palo from rom Iri fright ht for his bis evil reputation had a gone gono ona into the tho vest lowest depths and even even- tho the devil dovi himself turned and lied fled fed to the tho utmost part of 01 his domain domai And so 50 Jack was doomed to walk wale the earth with a lantern lo to t guide guido his footsteps on dark ni nights and in dim places until tho the judgment day |