It seems that, back in the early 1860s, a certain Charleston lawyer had a young clerk named Emmett. The clerk was especially valuable to his employer, owing to his phenomenal memory. In the days before modern court reporting, Emmett could recite any piece of dialogue from court proceedings at will. So precise and quick was his recall that his evidence given "on the record" came to be accepted in any court throughout the south.
One day the lawyer was in his study, when the Devil came to pay his respects.
"What do you want," demanded the lawyer.
"I've come for Emmett," was the answer.
"Ah, so it's Emmett is it?" replied the lawyer, "Well, Mr. Scratch, I can't spare him, so be off with you."
"It can't be helped," said Scratch impertinently. "His time is up. What's more, he's losing his memory."
"Come now," the old lawyer reasoned, "you're a sporting man. I'll make a little bet with you. If Emmett's memory is failing then he's of no use to me and you can take him. Test the man, and if you can fool him, he's yours. But if you fail, then he stays."
"Agreed," said Scratch, who then went on his way.
Emmett was in his garden sometime later when the Devil made his appearance.
"Do you like eggs?" said Scratch.
"Yes," replied Emmett.
The Devil then departed and Emmett saw him no more. The following years were difficult ones. The War of Northern Aggression overtook the south and the lawyer accepted a commission in Lee's army. He was killed in the early days of the great conflict. Emmett, now on his own, survived many years of hunger, wandering, and fighting. After the war reconstruction brought its own trials and hardships.
About 1885 Emmett, now bent and silver-haired, found his way out west and at last settled down on his own piece of ground.
As he was tending his stock one afternoon, the Devil again made an appearance and confronted him.
"How?" said Scratch.
"Fried," replied Emmett.
---------------A Final Thought ...
"And Satan trembles when he sees,
The weakest saint upon his knees."- William Cowper (1731–1800), English poet