TALE XVI.
THE UNFORTUNATE FIDDLER.
A fiddler, in the Isle of Man, having agreed with a person, who was a stranger, for so much money, to play to some company he should bring him to, all the twelve days of Christmas, and received earnest for it, saw his new master vanish into the earth the moment he had made the bargain. Nothing could be more terrified than was the poor fiddler; he found he had entered into the devils service, and looked on himself as already damned; but, having recourse to a clergyman, he received some hope: he ordered him, however, as he had taken earnest, to go when he should be called; but that, whatever tunes should be called for, to play none but psalms. On the day appointed, the same person appeared, with whom he went, though with what inward reluctance 'tis easy to guess; but, punctually obeying the ministers directions, the company to whom he played
