The Devil and His Wife

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 116, 21 March 1893, Page 4

The Devil and His Wife

There are at the present moment on show in the window of a Holborn tradesman, effigies of a dark, horned gentleman, with cloven hoofs, and an equally dark, saucy-lookiug lady, clad in somewhat modern habiliments — that is to say, a corselet laced vest, open Directoire jacket, a parti-colour-ed skirt, and a pair of wings— which the shockod yet admiring public have promptly dubbed 'the devil and his wife.' We confess we were ignorant that the devil bad ever been married, but a correspondent narrates a story which may afford room for belief that Old Satan had at some period tasted the joys and sorrows of connubial life : — 'The Father of Evil was taking bis walks abroad as usual at eventide (the scene was the market-place in an Italian town), when he drew near to a small knot of people who were being harangued by a priest. Thought tho devil, 'These folk are in good hands ; I may spare my labor while they huve such a guide ;' when, in spite of himself, ho became interested in the oration. The priest was discoursing on woman, describing her as the author and origiu of ovil, and wound up by declaring that she would 'beat even the devil himself, if she had the chanco.' This put Old Scratch upon j his mottle ; and thus inspired, joined j to a feeling of curiosity as to how the matrimonial dish would taste to an infernal palate, he essayed to try wedlock. Having found a wife more or less to his liking, he settled down, and in due time becamo father of a son, whom he brought up to the profession of medicine — for to make him a limb of tho law was more than even tho devil could stomach. Mephisto got on pretty well with his wife in the earlier days of his married life ; but as her son approached the years of discretion she doveloped a disposition so fiendish that tho devil's homo got to hot too hold him— tho very sight of his wifo or tho sound of her voice was enough to fill him with terror — nnd he was fain to betako himself to his wandering habits again. Before quitting the connubial roof ho had started his son in a medical practice, and, wishing him well, ho gayo him a parting word. • Son,' said he, 'it may help you to know, that whenovor you see mo at tho bed-head of a patient nud I refuse to move, there is no hopo. The Yrfo is already mine, and your skill will avail naught ; but if, after a little hesitation, I depart, the patient will recover.' Tho son thanked his father, and the latter sped on his way. Now, in tho courso of time tho son in hia turn wanted a wife. All things prospered with him in his suit with tho daughter of a wealthy merchant, till the father was taken ill and lay at the point of death. One day he was horrified to see the devil at the head of the couch, and knew by that token that his medicines must fail. But his betrothed and her irother having- hesought him with tears to save the old man, he resolved to appeal to his Satanic father to relinquish his priz\ He did so, but the Dr:vil refused, saying that ihe merchant was lawfully his and he could not give him up. Then the .son bethought him of a device which might save tho life of his prospective father-in-law. He arranged with the mother of his betrothed that he should see the sick man alone. 'J he lights burned low, and in tho silence of tho nigbt it seemed that the sick man must pass away; when the young 1 doctor put his head in at the door and whispered across the bed — 'Father, father, mother's coming!' And the Devil, terrified out of Iris wits at the prospeer of a dtniard for the fulfilineiit of his marriage vows, cried. Never ! ' bohed, and the man got well.