Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-07-27
MIS- Ulsk "a q 81 q . y ; :


In her nativc village there wcfo two or
nhons. who, on the death Of their parents.
dependod on tho bounty Of some distant
,eia,iyes. The oldest. girl, was sever
a ycars oldor than hcr brother, poor
sickIy boy who relied solely on his sister for
thoso necessary attentions that seemed Of
hen to preserve his lifo. They had eaten
Tor many years, tho bitter bread OF do
uendonce, whom tho prosecuting spirit, IN
Inc form of the witchcrntt de'usIon, awokc
In the land. TINS young girl. now about
siuh toen, wns distinguished by rem1rka-
'bl o maturity of character. and also BY
.oorfoction Of form and feature, as raro az
Il was beautiful. 1t is we'll known TINT
,.rla victims of this delusion were selected
among those who wero di4.inc Iishod by
Ynre gifts Of mind or porson, md oyon the
pcrsons most cmncn, for piaty and cxcoi-
lance of character were most likely 10 be.
come accused of intercourse with tho
Author Of Evil.
Tradition, said our Grandmother, rep
resented Miriam Power as quconiy IN her
person, Of most winning sweetness in
countenance AMI manner, altho' Mingled
with sadness and reserve. Tho sadness
was attributed TO the carly loss Of her par
ants, and to the anxiety and caro- which
had IA lien upon her ut that carly nge, in
the protection of hor unfortunate brother.
He was affected with that fsa rful naladv,
epilepsy. 1t Is now well known that. al
though physical disease. it will yicli 10
mild romodies and moral treatment. She
bsd in this way or by the natural ascend
encies which a strong mind exercises over
. weak one, attained a perfect control Of
her IDIOT brother. She md watched aim
20 long, and become 50 accustomed - tho
caro-, tina, although sho could not fprcsoo
and prevon. the paroxism Of tho malady,
yet as soon rs consciousness began 10 ro-
turn. by fixing her ego mildly on his. and
taking him in her arms, sho couli immc
dintely soo,hc hun to quiet and sleep.
As usual III such cases, ovory ono was
rcady with advice, and there was as many
remedies offered "a ihero wero persons 10
prescribe; but Miriam had learnt from cx-
psrience that her own treatment was tho
best, and refused all herbs. nos,rums and
charms.
Among tho most carncs, was All Old IN
dian squaw who had long boon tie doc
tress Of the village. who ontraaIei Miriam.
to make uso Of II woolchucii blls Il aiiya
aud then reduced to p,war. taken il ssuall
doses every day. The cruel prescription
was rejected with horror, and the poor
girl went quietly on in her own way.
Soon after the accusation for whitch-
craft began, either incitoi by !hoso who
onyied the beauty aDl tllcn. of Miriam.
or urged by anger at the rejection Of hor
advice; tho oi Indian accused the poor
girl of first thre aiag her brother into fits,
and then bringing him out of them BY tho !
assistance Of the Devil |, is wei! known /
how readily tho people, ani even tho ma
ylstratcs. lont an car to such accusations I
All, who wolll mt acknowaIcIg a com
pact with the Evil OIn. fl: lh1t they .
we're lost rs soon rs they wore accused. /
Poor Miriam know instantly that her /
late was soalei, whom ono morning in I
August tho otfisor entered her liltlo room /
where she was sitting by her brother. and /
old her that he bad cone to takc her TO |
'rlson. $40 turned palo rs death. bat, |
With that trust III God. which was habitu-
i TO her. she en,reated permission to re-
Iro, to comment hcrsolf AMI brother to
ieavcn. Whom she returned. she was
'alm. nni asked with much tirmnass who /
were her accusers, aud demanded 10 be
confronted with them. When they tore her
rom her weeping brother hor for.itudo
orsook her. and sho ontroatei with tears
ha, no might BE- permitted to 90 with her
> prison. Her prayer was not granted.
nd the poor idiot knew no. the calamity
e was suffering.
la casas like these, the cruoltv of their
'roceedlngs was only exceeded by their ra-
pidrty. Tho next day Miriam was takon
rom prison and carried to Salon for exam
nation. These examinations took place
The church, and were- conducted with
20 moclery of religious soiemaitv.-
hls meeting was opanel with PRAYER BY
no Clergyman, tho accused was then
'ouShi IN and placed between two mon.
no zach held an outstretched arm. so that
ne % could touch nothing III her vicinilv.-
70 relative or friend was permitted 10
esioFm thus othcc, not even husbands
'nen incur own wives were tho accused.
Miriam, on this awful occasion. had not
'aohy neglected her dress, but her bcauti-
y 'oh9 mar hung loosely about hor neck
~ shoulders. She was deadly pale. cold
'ops OF agony stood upon her forehead.
AZ mere was high, in her dark eve that ,
''u, Whatever Nigh. b, her fate. she :
,oua % true % her PRINCIPLES. AMI that
uNner Inc longing for .iia. ia ono -
oaos' nor the fear Of cruel death, would :
ing from her ono faIsa word.
+. ne lndi1n was now placed before her.
ae was old. bent, wi,horei. ami there was
Ha'Snans expression in her snaho-liko
w. "hch coniraslol with the calm in.