next morning , when the youngest girl did not come to her work , the old woman asked where she was . the sisters pretended not to know , but the old woman easily guessed what had happened , and , as she was in reality a wicked witch , determined to punish the fugitives . accordingly , she collected nine different kinds of enchanters ' nightshade , added some salt , which she first bewitched , and , doing all up in a cloth into the shape of a fluffy ball , sent it after them on the wings of the wind , saying : " whirlwind!-mother of the wind ! lend thy aid against her who sinned ! carry with thee this magic ball . cast her from his arms for ever , bury her in the rippling river . "
a wicked witch .
who was the old woman in reality ?
who was the old woman in reality ?