Page:The shoemaker's apron (1920).djvu/231

 The shoemaker picked up the piece of meat. It was all fat and gristle.

“No use carrying this home,” he thought to himself. “I think I better do as Godfather says. Yes, I’ll go to hell and give it to the Devil.”

So he tramped down to hell and presented himself at the gate. The little devil who stood on guard greeted him merrily.

“Hello, shoemaker! What do you want here?”

“I have a present for the Devil, a piece of meat that Godfather gave me.”

The little devil of a guard nodded his head understandingly.

“I see, I see. Very well then, come with me and I’ll lead you to Prince Lucifer. But I’ll give you a bit of advice first. When the Prince asks you what present you’d like in return, tell him you’d like the tablecloth off his own table.”

The little devil of a guard then conducted the shoemaker into Prince Lucifer’s presence and the Prince received him with every mark of consideration. The shoemaker told him what Godfather had said and presented him the hunk of meat. Lucifer received it most graciously. Then he said:

“Now, my dear shoemaker, let me make you a