Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1851-02-06


ling and trembling on the grass, but could
not see any hand throwing them. One
Mrs. Clark and her son saw and felt them
Too. One person would not be persua>
1ed but that the boys at work might
throw them, and straight her little boy.
by her, was struck with stone
On the back, which caused him to fall
crying, and her (being convinced) to car
~ him away forthwith. A righteous
punishment for her unbelief, - whereat.
h. in6dels, for whose conversion make
this epi,ome, will take warning. s.
These, and similar operations, wero
carried on daily and nightly, and the de-
tail for one day or night will serve, with
but little variation, for every other.--
Great stones fell in the kitchen. usually
about the time when some of the family
were going to bed; the pewter was
thrown down from the shelves; stones
and bricks we're thrown against tho doors
and through the windows. Mr.. Walton
and Eve or six that were with him in his
field, were assaulted frequently with
stones sometimes they were hit, bwtnot
hurt. Once, however, he was hit on the
back with stones very previously. Some
times there was heard humming noise
in the air, like o bullet discharged from
a gun; a noise, like that of snorting and
whistling, was generally heard BY the
men at work. Sometimes the Devil
seemed disposed to play merry prank.
One night the cocks Of hay, made the day
before in the field. were spread abroad |;
some of the hay was thrown among the
branches of the trees. and some Of il
brought into the house and scattered
about the rooms. Two logs that lay at
the door were very strangely disposed Of
lone Of them being laid By the chimney
in the kitchen, % the other set up against
the door Of the room whore Mr.. Walton
lay, as if to conine him therein! A
form that stood in the entry or porch,
was set along by the fireside, and joint
stool upon that, with napking spread
thereon. with two pewter pots, and two
candies sticks. A cheese was taken out
Of the press, and broke to pieces. A
snorting was heard, the candles we're put
out several times and negro maid was
hit on the head with porringer from
the kitchen. " p
II seems that every member Of this un-
fortunate family had share Of the afflic-
ton. At young Walton's house, half a
brick was thrown into q cradle 'out'of
which his young child was newly taken
up This was certainly very kind and
considerate Of the Devil, to withhold the
brick till the child was out Of danger.
+ One Of the remarkable incidents hap.
pened to Mr.. Walton himself. He was
going up the river Pascataqua, in his
boat, and loading it with hay for use ut
his house--when about midway in the.
river, he found his boat in sinking cons
dition, at which, being much surprised.
upo search. he discovered the cause to
be the pulling out plug or stoppIe in the
bottom of the boat, being fixed there for
the more convenient letting out Of the
rain'water that might fall into II; con-
trivance and combination Of the old Ser
pent and the old WON an, or some other
witch or wizard Tin revenge or innate
enmity) tn have drowned both the good
landlord and ish company.
The author Of this work was not ex-.
empt from the assaults Of this malignant.
demon. although he was but a temporary
lodger in the house of Mr.. Walton. His
bed>chamber was the scene Of inexplica-
bio mischief. Large stones, some as big
as his fist, were thrown through the win-
dow, and the bits Of glass often came
near hitting his eyes, intended as he bell.
eyed, to deprive himself of sight but
proy;dentia!ly without effect. He came
near having his head broke with a maui
or great hammer, breaking the top or
roof of the room, as he was walking in il
and lighting down near by him bat il fsIP
SO that his landlord had the greatest dam
age, his windows being with many stones,
miserably and strangely battered. most oil
the stones giving the blow on the inside and
forcing the easements Outwards and yet
falling back yard or two into the room
only one little stone was taken out OF the
glass Of the window, whore it lodged itself
IN the breaking it, in hole exactly it for
the stone The pewter and brass were
frequently pelted and thrown down upon
the ground; for the Evil Spirit seemed To
effect variety OF mischief, and diverted him-
self at this end after he had done %
much execution at the other" Some OF
the stones that were thrown about were
taken up hot, as Immediately coming out Of
the fire. #
Some exceedingly strange things happen
cd to Mr.. Walton when he was nc work in
the woods with his men; but pass them
over TO give room for the incidents Of q day
and evening. that were witnessed by others
than the author. give his own account
without alteration or abridgement -
Being come TO his own house, Mr.. Wal
ton was charged again with fresh assault
10 the out. Houses /; but we heard OF nons
within doors. until Friday after. whenin the
Kitchen, were four or eve Stones Tone Of
them hoi) taken out Of the Fire. a. con-
ceived, and 90 thrown about. J. was then
present, being newly come 10 with NJ.
uV,,I.on from llis middle Field fna he called