The story of Jack-o-lantern

A man called Jack who was a well known drunkard and miser.

One evening while drinking in his pub, the Devil appeared to him and demanded his soul.

Jack cleverly persuaded him to have a drink before they left.

To pay for his drink, the Devil transformed himself into a sixpenny piece which Jack immediately pounced on.

He put it in his bag which had a cross-shaped lock on it, thus preventing the Devil from escaping...

In the end, Jack freed the Devil on condition that he allowed him another year on earth.

Twelve months later, when he came back, Jack played another trick on the Devil who finally left him free again at the foot of a tree.

The Devil promised he would no longer come in search of him.

Eventually Jack died. Driven out of Paradise because of his sins, and from Hell because of the tricks he played,

Jack, in despair, negotiated a burning coal from the Devil to light him on his way in the dark.

He put it in a turnip he happened to be eating, and as the story goes, was condemned to walk with his lantern forever..

The End.