jlc@atux01.UUCP (J. Collymore) (10/14/86)
As per my tradition (and marking my return to the net after a 20-month abscence), I am posting this halloween folk-tale for the enjoyment of you, your friends, relatives and neighbors. ================================================================================ HOW THE JACK O' LANTERN GOT ITS NAME (AN IRISH FOLK TALE) There was once a very old, miserly man named Jack. He was even more miserly and selfish than Scrooge. No one in the town liked him at all, which just made him more bitter and miserly. Well, one day, Jack took a walk out to a nearby woods and proceeded to take a nap under a tree. Suddenly, Jack awoke to find the devil sitting next to him smiling evilly. The devil had long been following Jack's selfish and greedy ways and wanted to make a bargain for Jack's soul. Well, of course Jack was terrified of this prospect, but you don't get rich by not using your head, so Jack quickly formed a plan. Jack told the devil that he couldn't make deals on an empty stomach, so would the devil please climb the tree and get him a piece of fruit. The Devil agreed and climbed the tree. Once up in the tree, Jack took out a knife and carved a cross into the bark of the tree. Now as everyone knows, the devil can't pass over the sign of the cross, so the devil was stuck up in the tree indefinitely. The devil was (needless to say) furious with Jack and threatened Jack ter- ribly. Jack said that HE would offer the devil a deal: If the Devil promised never, in anyway to try and take Jack's soul, he would scratch out the cross so the devil could get down. The Devil didn't like this at all, but neither did he like the prospect of being up a tree forever, so the devil grudgingly agreed to Jack's terms. So saying, Jack scratched away the cross and let the devil down. The devil then vanished. Well, Jack died eventually, and his spirit went to heaven, but upon reaching the Gates to Heaven, his way was barred by Saint Peter. Saint Peter said that a man who had led such a narrow and uncharitable life could not be permitted entrance to Heaven. Jack was shocked, and he begged and pleaded with Saint Peter to let him in, but still he was denied. Accepting his fate, Jack turned and proceeded to the only other place that his soul could go, so he proceeded to Hell. Well, when he got to the Gates of Hell, the devil was there. When Jack asked admittance, the Devil mockingly told him that under different circumstances Jack could have entered, but he reminded Jack of the deal they had made. So say- ingly, Jack could not stay in Hell, either. Jack had no place to go, and realized with horror that he must walk the Earth (in purgatory) forever! Well, since damned souls cannot be abroad during the light of day, they must walk the Earth at night. So Jack's soul wandered the Earth looking for a place to rest. Especially on Halloween, which you know is slang for "All Hallow's Eve," the night all souls of the dead roam the earth. Jack wanted to light his way on his endless search, so he dug up a large turnip, cut out holes in it, and he placed a lighted candle inside of it, making it into a lantern. He then went forth, into the night mists searching for a place that his soul may rest. And that is why we call it to this day, a Jack O' Lantern (meaning: the Lantern of Jack), and why we see it every Halloween. It is also said that lighting the Jack O' Lantern, and plac- ing it in your window, helps light the way for all the lost and wandering souls on this particular night. (I hope you all enjoyed this story.) Happy Halloween, Jim Collymore