The Devil and Tom Walker

Tom's wife went to bargain with the Devil. Old Scratch, however, wasn't interested in dealing with her.

When she came back, she was reserved and sullen in her replies. She spoke something of a black man, whom she met about twilight hewing at the root of a tall tree. He was sulky, however, and would not come to terms; she was to go again with a propitiatory offering, but what it was she forbore to say.