'Tis a common Practice, when People draw Mischiefs upon their own Heads, to cry, the Devil's in't and the Devil's in't. Now the Devil happen'd to spy an Old Woman upon an Apple-tree. Look ye (says he) you shall see that Beldam catch a Fall there by and by, and break her Bones, and then say 'twas all along of me. Pray, good People, will you bear me Witness, that I was none of her Adviser. The Woman got a Tumble, as the Devil said she would, and there was she at it, The Devil ought her a Shame, and it was the Devil that put her upon't: But the Devil clear'd himself by sufficient Evidence that he had no Hand in't at all.
We are apt to ascribe our Successes in this World, and to impute our Misfortunes to wrong Causes. We assume the One to our selves, and charge the other upon Providence.Source:
L'Estrange 232.
This image from the
Luttrell Psalter shows a child stealing cherries from a cherry tree, but I thought it would make a good illustration for this story.
M0812 (not in Perry)
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