Satan Playing Cards At A Merry Meeting
: STORIES OF SATAN, GHOSTS, ETC.: Welsh Folk-lore
It was formerly a general custom in Wales for young lads and lasses to
meet and spend a pleasant evening together in various farmhouses. Many
kinds of amusements, such as dancing, singing, and card playing, were
resorted to, to while away the time. The Rev. Owen Jones informed me
that once upon a time a merry party met at Henafon near Rhuddlan, and
when the fun was at its height a gentleman came to the farm, and joined
and the stranger played better than any present. At last a card fell to
the ground, and the party who picked it up discovered that the clever
player had a cloven foot. In his fright the man screamed out, and
immediately the Evil One--for he it was that had joined the
party--transformed himself into a wheel of fire, and disappeared up the
chimney.
For the next tale I am also indebted to my friend the Rev. Owen Jones.
The story appears in a Welsh MS. in his possession, which he kindly lent
me. I will, first of all, give the tale in the vernacular, and then I
will, for the benefit of my English readers, supply an English
translation.
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