The Devil and Tom Walker — Vocabulary
Washington Irving
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You shall extort bonds, foreclose mortgages, drive the merchants to bankruptcy—†5 more

The one on which he had been seated, and which had evidently just been hewn down, bore the name of Crowninshield; and he recollected a mighty rich man of that name, who made a vulgar display of wealth, which it was whispered he had acquired by buccaneering.†1 more

The lonely wayfarer shrank within himself at the horrid clamor and clapper-clawing; eyed the den of discord askance; and hurried on his way, rejoicing, if a bachelor, in his celibacy.†2 more

She had probably attempted to deal with the black man as she had been accustomed to deal with her husband; but though a female scold is generally considered a match for the devil, yet in this instance she appears to have had the worst of it.†2 more

This, however, Tom resolutely refused; he was bad enough in all conscience, but the devil himself could not tempt him to turn slave-trader.†1 more

Since the red men have been exterminated by you white savages, I amuse myself by presiding at the persecutions of Quakers and Anabaptists; I am the great patron and prompter of slave-dealers and the grand-master of the Salem witches.†1 more

What these conditions were may be easily surmised, though Tom never disclosed them publicly.†1 more

However Tom might have felt disposed to sell himself to the devil, he was determined not to do so to oblige his wife; so he flatly refused, out of the mere spirit of contradiction.†

The old stories add, moreover, that the devil presided at the hiding of the money, and took it under his guardianship; but this, it is well known, he always does with buried treasure, particularly when it has been ill-gotten.†1 more

The old stories add, moreover, that the devil presided at the hiding of the money, and took it under his guardianship; but this, it is well known, he always does with buried treasure, particularly when it has been ill-gotten.†

On the bark of the tree was scored the name of Deacon Peabody, an eminent man who had waxed wealthy by driving shrewd bargains with the Indians.†

It is said that after this commencement they had a long and earnest conversation together, as Tom returned homeward.†

Everybody remembers the time of Governor Belcher, when money was particularly scarce.†

He affected to receive Tom's advances with great indifference, made brief replies, and went on humming his tune.†

He prayed loudly and strenuously, as if heaven were to be taken by force of lungs.†1 more

The rust on the weapon showed the time that had elapsed since this death-blow had been given.†1 more

Tom was as rigid in religious as in money matters; he was a stern supervisor and censurer of his neighbors, and seemed to think every sin entered up to their account became a credit on his own side of the page.†

If he really did take such a precaution, it was totally superfluous; at least so says the authentic old legend, which closes his story in the following manner: One hot summer afternoon in the dog-days, just as a terrible black thunder-gust was coming up, Tom sat in his counting-house, in his white linen cap and India silk morning-gown.†

He built himself, as usual, a vast house, out of ostentation, but left the greater part of it unfinished and unfurnished, out of parsimony.†

Tom consoled himself for the loss of his property, with the loss of his wife, for he was a man of fortitude.†