youth, while tears streamed down their aged cheeks. They separated, and a few months later both had passed over the river. The story relates to Professor Thomas C. Upham, of Bowdoin College.
A curious law was enacted by the Legislature of New Hampshire, when this State was a province. It was passed in the year 1715, "anno regni Regis Georg." It is entitled: "An act for suppressing and punishing of Rogues and Vagabonds." Among the classes enumerated for punishment are rogues, vagabonds, beggars, drunkards, persons using any subtile craft, juggling, or feigning themselves to have knowledge in physiognomy, palmistry, or pretending they can tell destinies, or such as neglect their callings, and misspend what they earn. The enactment further states that such persons shall be punished by putting fetters upon them and by moderate whipping, not exceeding ten stripes at once, which shall be inflicted when they enter the House of Correction, and from time to time in case they be stubborn.
The Devil in New Hampshire. The strange incident recorded below, happened in New Salisbury. N. H., in 1784, and is taken from the diary of the late Asa Redington of Waterville, Maine, who was a Revolutionary soldier. He was at work at the time for a Mr. Greeley. An elderly lady by the name of Bailey, and of whom it was said she was a lover of toddy, happened to be at the barn one day when there came on a heavy shower of rain and thunder, during which period the Prince of Darkness appeared unto her; in consequence of some valuable promises made to her, entered into contract with him; agreeing to give herself up both soul and body to his infernal majesty at a certain hour on a certain day, and in about six days after this interview. When the storm was over, the good lady returned to the house and gave them a history of what had taken place, adding that she had signed and sealed the contract with her blood, showing the wound on her finger from whence the liquid was drawn. Her friends were exceedingly alarmed at the dreadful story, and the news spread like wildfire both far and near. What could be done to save her! Notice was immediately given to Mr. Searle, the then settled minister of the town, and like a good shepherd he at once determined to defeat the evil-one if possible. Accordingly on the Sabbath following, he mentioned the appalling circumstances to the congregation, and with tears in his eyes, told them (Redington being one of the hearers,) that the Prince of Darkness had appeared in bodily shape to one of his parishioners, and on a certain day was again to make his appearance according to contract, and take off with him a member of his church to the regions of despair, and on the day named for the exhibition, he should by the consent of the church then present, appoint a meeting, and wished if any one present had any objections, he would make it known. A pause then ensued, and not even a whisper was heard. The minister then said he should, and accordingly did, appoint the meeting. On that important day, a multitude of persons of all ages and sexes, assembled in Mr. Pettingell's orchard on an elevated piece of ground; measures having been previously taken to have ten or twelve ministers from the neighboring towns to attend at the meeting, and they accordingly appeared on the ground in due season for the exercises. The good old lady was then introduced and placed in the centre of the multitude, the ministers forming in a circle around her; then another circle composed of deacons, elders and members of churches present, and then in the rear of those the multitude formed in a close column. Everything then being prepared for action, and at least one hour before the time appointed for his Satanic Majesty to make his appearance, the exercises began by singing, praying, and supplicating, all in favor of the good old lady,
