The Devil and Daniel Webster

Daniel Webster #1

by Stephen Vincent Benét

Jabez Stone seeks help from the lawyer Daniel Webster to get him out of the bargain he has made with the Devil.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Classics, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Plays, Horror

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1937

About the author

Stephen Vincent Benét was born July 22, 1898, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, into a military family. His father had a wide appreciation for literature, and Benét's siblings, William Rose and Laura, also became writers. Benét attended Yale University where he published two collections of poetry, Five Men and Pompey (1915), The Drug-Shop (1917). His studies were interrupted by a year of civilian military service; he worked as a cipher-clerk in the same department as James Thurber. He graduated from Yale in 1919, submitting his third volume of poems in place of a thesis. He published his first novel The Beginning of Wisdom in 1921. Benét then moved to France to continue his studies at the Sorbonne and returned to the United States in 1923 with his new wife, the writer Rosemary Carr.

Benét was successful in many different literary forms, which included novels, short stories, screenplays, radio broadcasts, and a libretto for an opera by Douglas Moore based on "The Devil and Daniel Webster." His most famous work is the long poem John Brown's Body for which he received the Pulitzer Prize in 1929—a long narrative poem which interweaves historical and fictional characters to relate important events in the Civil War, from the raid on Harper's Ferry to Lee's surrender at Appomattox. During his lifetime, Benét also received the O. Henry Story Prize, the Roosevelt Medal, and a second Pulitzer Prize in 1944 for the posthumously-published Western Star, the first part of an epic poem based on American history. At the age of 44, Benét suffered a heart attack and died on March 13, 1943, in New York City.

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER

Don't miss this 1936 short story classic featuring the best litigator in the country. A man and a patriot who is proud of his Union....A man who does not fear the most terrifyingly stacked 'other worldly' jury ever known to man....A brave and oh-so-cheeky stand-up man who fights the devil himself to win back a soul.

Daniel Webster is the man!

I loved this oldie!

[Majenta · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 patriotic God-lovin', Satan-battlin' stars. Happy Thanksgiving to ALL, and to ALL a good feed and a good sleep.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this because a GR friend mentioned it. I hadn't read this since I was a teenager. Terrific short story, a classic. Glad to be reacquainted.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! IT was such a short read but I love the ironies, the satire and just the thought that man can.take on and fight the devil. If only more men took on the devil the world wuld be a much better place.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short story of pure wit and cheekiness with a good history lesson mixed in. Loved it.

“they say that whenever the devil comes near Marshfield, even now, he gives it a wide berth. And he hasn’t been seen in the state of New Hampshire from that day to this. I’m not talking about Massachusetts or Vermont.”

[Theo Logos · Rating 4 out of 5]

”But there’s a jug on the table and a case in hand, and I never left a jug or a case half finished in my life.”

The Devil and Daniel Webster tells a tale in the folk tradition of clever men challenging the devil in contest. Here, the historical figure of Senator Daniel Webster is portrayed as a bigger than life, nails-tough New England folk hero, a canny lawyer with a preternatural talent for oratory. He takes on the devil in a courtroom challenge to save the soul of his neighbor, a hard luck farmer who made a deal with the devil and requested the great man’s help to break his contract.

The story is both humorous and patriotic, though, unlike some patriotic tales, it acknowledges national faults. The devil claims American citizenship, saying:

”When the first wrong was done to the first Indian, I was there. When the first slaver put out for the Congo, I stood on her deck…Tis true the North claims me for a Southerner, and the South claims me for a Northerner, but I am neither. I am merely an honest American like yourself.”

The devil conjures up a court of the damned — twelve men and a judge from among the most infamous figures of American history — Simon Girty and Walter Butler (notorious loyalists during the Revolution) Teech the bloody pirate, King Philip, Indian chief from the original Indian war, etc. And as judge, Justice Hawthorne, the unrepentant hanging judge from the Salem witch trials. Yet all, as Webster demanded, Americans.

Against this judge and jury, Webster was unable to prevail on the facts of the case, so resorted to his oratory to move the jury, waxing eloquent on the meaning of being an independent man:

”There was sadness in being a man, but it was a proud thing, too, and he showed what the pride of it was till you couldn’t help feeling it. Yes, even in hell, if a man was a man you’d know it. And he wasn’t pleading for any one person anymore, though his voice rang like an organ. He was telling the story and the failures, and the endless journey of mankind.”

And, of course, as this is an outsmart the devil tale, Webster moved the hearts even of the damned of the jury. Walter Butler speaks for them saying:

”Perhaps tis not strictly in accordance with the evidence, but even the damned may salute the eloquence of Mr. Webster.”

This short tale is a classic of its type, and in addition to the tropes already mentioned, piles on a lot of New Hampshire Yankee flavor. I rate it 3 1/2 stars, rounded up for both its fame and the sentiment that I hold for it from my youth.

[Thomas Ray]

The Devil and Daniel Webster

In this fictional account, Daniel Webster is the heroic statesman and orator who defends a farmer who sold his soul to the devil.

The real Senator Daniel Webster sold his vote to moneyed interests. From an 1832 letter he wrote to Nicholas Biddle, manager of the Second Bank of the United States: "I believe my retainer has not been renewed or /refreshed/ as usual. If it be wished that my relation to the Bank should be continued, it may be well to send me the usual retainers." Quoted in /13 Bankers: The Wall Street Takeover and the Next Financial Meltdown/, Simon Johnson and James Kwak, 2010, p. 21.

[Barb H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today my short story group discussed this tale. I discovered how prolific Stephen Vincent Benet was in his writing- often poetry. This story was an entertaining episode in our readings. It involves a farmer, whose luck was totally unsuccessful and chaotic. He was desperate. So when the devil appeared to make a deal to save him, he eagerly jumped at the chance for salvation. Of course this involved a time expiration, which Farmer Jabez Stone filed away in a dark corner of his mind, Until...

Many of us are familiar with this work of Benet's, but I read it so long ago, I forgot the cleverness and the nuggets of humor throughout. We all loved this story.

[Plateresca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A snappy and ironic short story about American patriotism.
I cannot fathom how the ending might be considered fair, though, - probably because I am neither American nor patriotic.
But it's a nice quick read all the same.
You can find it online here:
http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0602...

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was in one of my short story anthologies from middle school. I love a good Devil story.

[Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this piece of corny old Americana. Besides, it's not all one-sided and sentimental—there's some serious truth in here. And it's also fun. A great story to read on the Fourth of July.

[DeeReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread and upped the rating to 5 fantastic stars.

Farmer Jabez Stone from Cross Corners, New Hampshire can take no more failure and bad luck so he sells his soul to the devil aka 'Mr Scratch' for a term of seven years of prosperity. He prospers and excels in all things and marries a good woman name Mary and they have a son who they named after Jabez's lawyer friend, Daniel Webster. When Jabez Stone's seven years are up, the devil comes a calling with a revision of sorts (to take he son's, Daniel's life), Jabez says no and asks for help from this friend, the famous orator and lawyer, Daniel Webster who also was once tempted by the devil.

"Mr. Stone is an American citizen, and no American citizen may be forced into the service of a foreign prince. We fought England for that in '12 and we'll fight all hell for it again!"
-Daniel Webster

"...though I don't like to boast of it, my name is older in this country than yours." -Mr. Scratch aka the Devil

This story although short, packed a punch. Webster demanded a trial and boy does he fight hard for the American, Jabez Stone. But there's a twist...the devil selects the judge and jurors:

Walter Butler, a Loyalist
Simon Girty, a Loyalist
King Philip (sachem (elected chief) of the Wampanoag people)
Governor Thomas Dale
Thomas Morton, a rival of the Plymouth Pilgrims
The pirate Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard
Reverend John Smeet (a purely fictional character)
After five other unnamed jurors enter (Benedict Arnold being out "on other business"), the judge enters last – John Hathorne, the infamous and unrepentant executor of the Salem witch trials.

So the trial is rigged against Stone and Webster... "for it was him they'd come for, not only Jabez Stone."

I reread this story because it reminded me of what is happening to our democracy today and the similarities are striking! Although this was a fantasy story, some of the plot is 45's story - a traitor and a cheat to us all ... all for personal gain and of course abuse of power and obstruction of Congress... And Daniel Webster was similar to the chairman, Adam Schiff and his faithful six managers going up against Trump's corrupt presidency during his impeachment trial!


Now this is writing at its best!

[Franky · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Devil Went Down to New Hampshire....

The Devil and Daniel Webster is one such variation of the “Devil trying to steal man’s soul” themed tale. It will seem remarkably familiar to most readers because this theme has been copied and repeated so many times in popular culture in films and stories.

The story centers around a troubled farmer (Jabez Stone) who inadvertently makes a deal with the devil to secure a prosperous future, but eventually wants out of the bargain. To help him get out of the deal, Stone enlists Daniel Webster to defend him against the Devil (Mr. Scratch). What ensues is a trial in which Webster attempts to outmaneuver Scratch to protect his client’s--- and his own—soul.

I enjoyed the themes and the morals contained within the story. We have Daneil Webster being the ultimate American patriot who fights with gusto to prove that his client is a righteous and good man. The themes of patriotism, good versus evil, and righteousness definitely ring true in this tale.

That being said, I think most of my criticism for this story stems from how the story is presented. It was a little too tall tellish in its format and structure. A good deal of the dialogue and interactions have a little bit too much hokey, corny humor that did not really work. Additionally, I wish there had been more to the actual trial scene that the story culminates with, but instead this whole scene was glossed over quickly in a superficial, tell-rather-than-show kind of way.

I remember seeing this one in my literature books back in high school and I am glad I finally got around to reading it. It is a fun, easy, quick read at less than thirty pages, but I wish the story had been more fleshed out with more depth and with a more serious tone.

[Mary Overton]

After a season of bad luck:
"It was about the last straw for Jabez Stone. 'I vow,' he said, and he looked around him kind of desperate - 'I vow it's enough to make a man want to sell his soul to the devil. And I would, too, for two cents!'
"Then he felt a kind of queerness come over him at having said what he'd said; though, naturally, being a New Hampshireman, he wouldn't take it back. ... But notice is always taken, sooner or later, just like the Good Book says. And, sure enough, next day, about supper time, a soft-spoken, dark-dressed stranger drove up in a handsome buggy and asked for Jabez Stone.
"Well, Jabez told his family it was a lawyer, come to see him about a legacy. But he knew who it was. He didn't like the looks of the stranger, nor the way he smiled with his teeth.
"They were white teeth, and plentiful - some say they were filed to a point, but I wouldn't vouch for that. And he didn't like it when the dog took one look at the stranger and ran away howling with his tail between his legs. But having passed his word, more or less, he stuck to it, and they went out behind the barn and made their bargain. Jabez Stone had to prick his finger to sign, and the stranger lent him a silver pin. The wound healed clean, but it left a little white scar."

[Lemar · Rating 4 out of 5]

New England yarn about Jabez Stone who is understandably reluctant to cough up his soul to the Stranger as he had promised. Instead he does the American thing and sues, hires the best lawyer he can, Daniel Webster. Webster mounts an ingenious defense.
As a modern reader I still enjoyed it but on looking up the histories of Stan's own jury they were almost all like Simon Girty, a friend of the Native Americans and somebody I liked or Thomas Morton who founded a fascinating and liberal community that were the hated rivals of those uptight Puritans.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in tall tale format this short story tells of a real man, Daniel Webster, and his attempt to save a farmer who has sold his soul to the devil. A classic piece of American fiction that should be read by all.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this short story in my college English Literature class, and boy am I glad that this was included in the list of reading! While I enjoyed The Devil and Tom Walker, I prefer this retelling over the original. This story is just so well-written and intriguing, and while Washington Irving's version has its merits, I believe Benet was able to transform Irving's story and give it a new life and zest that Irving's story lacks. My professor assigned this story to be read near Halloween, and I would highly recommend reading it around that time because it puts you in a spooked and somber mood!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a farmer makes a deal with the devil, he brings in a lawyer to get him out of the contract. Not as cynical as it sounds, I enjoyed this short story (and the black-and-white illustrations colored in by a young library patron with crayons).

[Stephan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humorous, fascinating, easy going. The devil’s ultimate challenge, Daniel Webster, is the best lawyer in the world. A lawyer that is bound by morality and justice, bold and daring and without fear of the devil and its nonsense; Funny, amusing, and highly recommended.

[SpookySoto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: I liked it 😃
2020's ATY in 52 books reading challenge: 21. A book related to Maximilian Hell, the noted astronomer and Jesuit Priest who was born in 1719

I've never heard about this story, I looked it up because it was reference in Supernatural S09e14 "captives", Where Crowley had storage units rented by the name D. Webster and Sam recognized the name from the short story.

It's an entertaining, fast read.

From wikipedia

Farmer Jabez Stone, from the small town of Cross Corners, New Hampshire, is plagued with unending bad luck, causing him to finally swear "it's enough to make a man want to sell his soul to the devil!" Stone is visited the next day by a stranger, who later identifies himself as "Mr. Scratch", and makes such an offer in exchange for seven years of prosperity. Stone agrees.

After seven years, Mr. Scratch comes for Stone's soul. Stone bargains for an additional three years; after the additional three years pass, Mr. Scratch refuses any further extension. Wanting out of the deal, Stone convinces famous lawyer and orator Daniel Webster to accept his case.

At midnight of the appointed date, Mr. Scratch arrives and is greeted by Webster, presenting himself as Stone's attorney. Mr. Scratch tells Webster, "I shall call upon you, as a law-abiding citizen, to assist me in taking possession of my property," and so begins the argument. It goes poorly for Webster, since the signature and the contract are clear and Mr. Scratch will not compromise.

In desperation Webster thunders, "Mr. Stone is an American citizen, and no American citizen may be forced into the service of a foreign prince. We fought England for that in '12 and we'll fight all hell for it again!" To this Mr. Scratch insists on his citizenship, citing his presence at the worst events in the history of the U.S., concluding, "though I don't like to boast of it, my name is older in this country than yours."

Webster demands a trial as the right of every American. Mr. Scratch agrees after Webster says that he can select the judge and jury, "so long as it is an American judge and an American jury." A jury of the damned then enters, "with the fires of hell still upon them." They had all done evil, and had all played a part in the formation of the United States:

Walter Butler, a Loyalist
Simon Girty, a Loyalist
King Philip (sachem (elected chief) of the Wampanoag people)
Governor Thomas Dale
Thomas Morton, a rival of the Plymouth Pilgrims
The pirate Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard
Reverend John Smeet (a purely fictional character)[1]
After five other unnamed jurors enter (Benedict Arnold being out "on other business"), the judge enters last – John Hathorne, the infamous and unrepentant executor of the Salem witch trials.

The trial is rigged against Webster. He is ready to rage, without care for himself or Stone, but he catches himself: he sees in the jurors' eyes that they want him to act thus. He calms himself, "for it was him they'd come for, not only Jabez Stone."

Webster starts to orate on simple and good things – "the freshness of a fine morning...the taste of food when you're hungry...the new day that's every day when you're a child" – and how "without freedom, they sickened." He speaks passionately of how wonderful it is to be human and to be an American. He admits the wrongs done in the course of American history but points out that something new and good had grown from them and that "everybody had played a part in it, even the traitors." Humankind "got tricked and trapped and bamboozled, but it was a great journey," something "no demon that was ever foaled" could ever understand.

The jury announces its verdict: "We find for the defendant, Jabez Stone." They admit, "Perhaps 'tis not strictly in accordance with the evidence, but even the damned may salute the eloquence of Mr. Webster." The judge and jury disappear with the break of dawn. Mr. Scratch congratulates Webster, and the contract is torn up. The devil has overreached himself, agreeing to a jury trial out of pride in his unbreakable contract. But by doing so, he has put his contract within the reach of the Common Law used in America, under which a jury can enter whatever verdict it likes, regardless of the law. Webster's eloquence in swaying this supposedly unswayable jury is remarkable, but would have gone to no effect without the devil's pride-induced mistake in giving Webster a chance.

Webster then grabs the stranger and twists his arm behind his back, "for he knew that once you bested anybody like Mr. Scratch in fair fight, his power on you was gone." Webster makes him agree "never to bother Jabez Stone nor his heirs or assigns nor any other New Hampshire man till doomsday!"

Mr. Scratch offers to tell Webster's fortune in his palm. He foretells (actual) events in Webster's future, including his failure to become President (an actual ambition of his), the death of Webster's sons (which happened in the American Civil War) and the backlash of his last speech, warning "Some will call you Ichabod" (as in John Greenleaf Whittier's poem in reaction to Webster's controversial Seventh of March speech supporting the Compromise of 1850 that incorporated the Fugitive Slave Act, with many in the North calling Webster a traitor).

Webster takes the predictions in stride and asks only if the Union will prevail. Scratch reluctantly admits that, although a war will be fought over the issue, the United States will remain united. Webster then laughs, "And with that he drew back his foot for a kick that would have stunned a horse. It was only the tip of his shoe that caught the stranger, but he went flying out of the door with his collecting box under his arm." It is said that the devil never did come back to New Hampshire again.

[Camden Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

After buying a bunch of classic books from Goodwill a few days ago, the cashier suggested that I check out this short story. I'm so glad that I listened to them because I really enjoyed this one. It's a classic that I'm surprised I haven't heard more people talk about. Definitely recommend :)

[Ray LaManna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This classic short story, published in 1936, shows the triumph of good over evil through the real historical character of Daniel Webster. Patriotism is viewed as a positive quality. I think this is a very good piece to read as we welcome a new president to lead our country.

[Bobbi Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Faustian literature. This story really holds up.

[Steph Mostav · Rating 2 out of 5]

The devil and Daniel Webster é mais um conto estadunidense que adapta a lenda de Fausto e muitos dos defeitos de "Tom Walker" foram atenuados aqui. Apenas algumas páginas mais longo, o autor as faz render muito mais. E, dessa vez, as inovações de Benét realmente alteram a estrutura do enredo estabelecida com a lenda. O protagonista não é quem faz o pacto, um fazendeiro azarado que apela para o contrato para garantir sete anos de prosperidade, e sim o advogado que este procura quando chega o dia da cobrança. Como o protagonista, Daniel Webster, não está diretamente envolvido na negociação, este novo ponto de vista externo é uma renovação interessante e proporciona uma segunda tentativa de acordo, muito mais importante que a primeira. Daniel Webster advoga em defesa do fazendeiro e seu direito intrasferível de liberdade. É aí que vem os problemas. Esse julgamento alcança pouco impacto no leitor devido ao distanciamento extremo entre as ações dos personagens e o que é narrado, já que temos pouco acesso ao diálogo que estabelecem e, com isso, todo o esforço argumentativo de Webster nunca é comprovado para quem lê. Além disso, o apelo ao patriotismo e a abordagem superficial da escravidão e do genocídio indígena, além de desnecessários para o enredo e para os personagens, são ofensivos e insensíveis. O final poderia ser muito bom, mas talvez seguindo os passos de seu antecessor, Benét apelou para a conclusão mais boba. Outra decepção, ainda que não tão ruim quanto "Tom Walker".

[Benja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daniel Webster takes the Devil to court in Benét's classic of literary Americana, which extols the rousing power of humanity (and patriotism) over black-and-white legality. This is an extension of the Faust myth, filtered through the prism of American exceptionalism. Webster doesn't triumph over evil by compromising his own morality or stooping to his level: he doesn't win by exploiting a convenient technicism or outwitting him with logic and counterarguments, but by appealing to the jury's empathy, sense of decency and ultimate humanity in the simple endearing tradition of Rockwell, Capra and Spielberg.

[Sid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great Short Story. Was referred to it by my Mechanics of Materials Professor (Prof. Sadeghi). It does have a lot of american pride and shows how two men with courage can take up the devil himself. Short and sweet!

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Neighbor, how stands the Union?"

As well-written a tall tale as ever graced America's fictional landscape. Daniel Webster beats back Old Scratch with a firey and stubborn faith...though not so much faith in the Almighty as in the Constitution and his own oratorical powers. Not to be missed.

[Terragyrl3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tall tale gives a uniquely American twist to the Faust story. An unlucky farmer appeals to a fictionalized Daniel Webster, the statesman and orator, to get him out of a contract he signed with the Devil.

[Mike Ehlers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently watched the film and was a little surprised I never read this when I lived in NH, where Daniel Webster is still a fairly popular historical figure. A good fable and engaging short story. As a former New Hampshire-ite, I particularly enjoyed the last line.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you think you could win your soul back from the devil? Successful Daniel Webster thinks he can. Read and see if Daniel succeeds or ends up being part of the devil's prized collection.