In "The Devil and Tom Walker," how would you describe the mood as the story opens? Which words from the first paragraphs help create it?

The mood at the beginning of "The Devil and Tom Walker" starts out as dark and sinful. 

The setting that is determined to be a few miles from Boston, Massachusetts has a dark and evil feel to it. Some words used in the description that best support this idea are "dark grove," "night," "the Devil presided," and "ill-gotten." The place is described as a place that is very secluded where secret happenings take place. 

The events added to the setting indicate that the place was a good location for people to secretly bring money, hide it, stay on the lookout, and come back for it at another time. Everything in this situation describes mischief and evilness. 

Lastly, the initial descriptions of two of the characters in the short story are provided. Tom Walker and his wife are described as miserable people who hide everything they could from each other. 

Everything within the first few paragraphs of "The Devil and Tom Walker" point to a depressing, dreary mood.