Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1847-11-18
Ml2CBIlLA ny.
From the Literary World.
The SupernaturaliSm Of New Eng
... .. land.
By the author of" The Stranger in Low
ELL" London Wiley aud Put
nam. !847.

the Literary World; but the admirers o
Mr.. Whittier's genius will rejoice TO Sc,
the appreciation he receives abroad, as in,
dictated by the following article, we copy
from the Literary Examiner.
Mr.. Whittier, E" the author of the Stran,
ger in LOWELL" is New Enslan farmer
wen known at home as strenuous advo-
cate of tee-totaliSm aud anti-Slavery-o
which latter cause, indeed, he may be in
some sort considered the poet laugeate-his
vigorous and melodious verses in its be.
alf having secured for him even in Eng
land, large circle Of admirers and read>
ers. The present little volume, kind OF
Demonology aud Wilchcraft,s suited to
the latitude and atmosphere Of New Eng,
land, is production rather out of his ordi>
nary beat-but it is written conamore, and
makes very pleasant series of desullory
Pages. Full, as such work must neces>
sarily be, of allusion and reference to the
witchfnding exploits, aud grim Lemoniacal
combats of Mr.. Whiuier's Puritan ances.
tors, this Superna of New England
is ment chiefly to record and preserve such
fragments of superst,ions belief and prac>
tice as still linger in the more seouestered
regions Oh that singular district Mr.. Whit
tier has large budget of stories illustrative
OF these, and he tells them very impressive>
ly. A slight undercurent of humor mo-
wing beneath the narration Of his more
fantastic anecdotes, does not disturb the
proper seriousness and ave with which he
regards the origin and causes of Christi IN
superstition-and he never fails TO remind
US that though the world to-day must be
considered fairly dispeopled sfthe whole
brood of witches and goblins, ghosts, and
devils, The universe, TO him who views II
nright. is still instinct with fearful, mys,e>
rious grandeur. To use his own striking
words: "the witches of Father Baxter, and
the Black Man Of Cotton Ma,her have van
! ished-belief in them is no longer possible
On the part uf sane men. But this nyste>
riOuS universe, through which half>veiled
in its own shadow, our dim little planet is
wheeling with its starry worlds. and tho't>
wearying spaces, remains. Natures nigh.
ty miracle is still over and around as and
hence awe, wonder, and reverence, remain
10 be the inheritance of humanity: still are
there beautiful repentances and holy death
beds. and still over the souls darkness an1
confusion Uses. star>like, the great idea of
duty. BY higher and better influences tina a
the poor spectres of superstition, man must
hencelorth be laugh, TO reverence the invis.
IDLE, and, in. tho consciousness of his own
weakness, and sin, and sorrow, 10 learn
| with childlike trust on the wisdom and mer-
cy Of an over>ruIing Providence"
| Mr.. Whittier's first speculations are on
the influence which the superstition of ;heiI
Indian neighbours and enemies exercised
on that OF the Pilgrim Fathers, and in the
course of his remarks, he introduces the
following anecdotc, the like of which is told
of many first Christian convert Of many
a savage tribe, and does not easily lose its
interest by :epetitions. 1t must be premi
sed that Powah and Panisee are Indian
terms for sort of prophet>wizard. "There
is beautiful and touching incident" he
says, "recorded Of the Indian preacher
Hiacoomes, the first convert 10 Christianity
on Marlha's Vineyard. While addressing
on one occasion, large assembly of his
red brethren, and while asserting tht
super iority of his new faith, over that which
he had been educated, celebrated Pau
isee, whose mag ical power was every wher'
dreaded, made his appearance in horrie
costume, and with the paraphernalia of hi
art hanging about him. After vainly EN-
deavoring, by strange gestures. contortions
and mutterings, to disturb and terrify thu
preacher, he placed before him a charm O.
medicine bidding him keep silence, OF
pain of instant destruction. The supersti
,ious and hah-converied auditors drew
back in the utmost terror, Shrieking ane
begging their preacher TO desist. Hiacoo
mes never hesitated, With a iopd voie'
he deied the magician, told that his arts
bad no power over a servant Of the true God
and, in proof of it, Iampled the formidable
charm ander his feet. This bold act wa
more convincing to the as.onished specta
tors than all the previous sermons Of thei
eloquent preacher. From that day tn
once formidable Powah became laughing
, stock on the island."
The belief In ghosts furnishes SOM
striking stories 10 Mr Winters book
curiously diversified here aed there b!
traits Of New England money getting
and rogue.y. So lately " as some year
, ago" for instanc wealthy old sprniste
named Aunt Morse. died, we hear. leav
ing property, but apparently no viii
though, as was shrewcly suspected,
certain Squire Of 3. Of that neigh boThoo