"The Devil and Tom Walker" (Washington Irving)

"The Devil and Tom Walker" by Washington Irving is a dark, moral story about greed and temptation. It tells of Tom Walker, a man who makes a deal with the Devil to become wealthy. Despite warnings, Tom's greed leads him to accept the devil’s offer, but he later regrets it as he suffers consequences. The tale explores how greed and moral corruption can lead to downfall, illustrating that quick wealth often comes at a moral cost. Irving uses this allegory to highlight the dangers of greed, hypocrisy, and valuing material wealth over integrity.