Timely Warning — 540
A Yankee editor thus confesses to have had dealings with Satan, for the good of his readers, of course:—I was sitting in my study, when I heard a knock at the door. “Come in,” said I; when the door opened, and who should walk in but—Satan! “How d’ye do?” said he.—“Pretty well,” said I.—“What are you about? preparing your leader?”—“Yes,” said I.—“Ah! I dare say you think you are doing a great deal of good?”—“Well,” said I, “not so much as I could wish; but a little good, I hope.”—“You have a large lot of readers,” said he.—“Well, pretty well for that,” said I.—“And I dare say you are very proud of them,” said Satan.—“No,” said I, “that I am not, for not one-third of them pay for their papers!”—“You don’t say so!” said he.—“Yes, that I do,” said I; “not one-third of them pay for their papers!”—“Well,” said he, “then they are an immoral lot; but let me have the list, I think I can do a trifle myself with such people.”