Answer:
Its called The Ancient Evil:
The winter winds dance upon the ice-capped plains
as a ballerina dances across the stage, free just as the wind
the winter winds ice-cold figures danced but in vain
for just as joy flowed through their actions, an evil was left behind.
An evil that devours the ground upon the winds passing.
Frigid winter wind oblivious to the wreckage left in its wake
yet even the simple remnants; left behind is not wanting
the frozen land beholding crystals of ice upon the icy plains.
The ancient evil abhors the honest winter wind,
with it comes the scorching warmth, the killer of ice, and all that is frozen
the ancient evil holds the winter dancers within its blistering grasp
and obliterates it with absolute detest.
With the ancient evil comes the gentle caresses of the sun and the reviving rain; Spring has arrived and with it draws near the hope of another year.
I believe the answer is: c. This, however, Tom resolutely refused: he was bad enough in all conscience, but the Devil himself could not tempt him to turn slave-trader.
Washington irving want to emphasis how evil it is the act of slavery. Tom walker is described as the most morally bankrupt person that Irving knew in his life. But even that morally bankrupt man cannot put himself to be involved in slave trades. That's the satirical statement on how bad slavery is.