Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-01-31
Migrfllurrnus.
THE WITCH WIFE.
BY JOHN G. WHITTIER.

the red light of q birch log fire, as he sat for
hours watching its progress, with, half shut
eyes, changing his position only to reach the
cider mug the shelf near him. Although
he seldom opened his lips save to assent to
some remark of his host, or to answer 4 direct
question, yet at times, when the cider mug
got the better of his taciturnity he would amuse
us with interesting details of his early expe-
riences in the ssOhio Country"
There was, however, one chapter in these
experiences which he usually held in reserve,
and with which ssthe stranger intcrmeddled
not.' He was not willing to run the risk of
having what was brightful reality turned
into ridicule by scoffers and unbelieyers. The
substance of it as / received it from one of his
neighbors, forms as clever tale of witchcraft
as modern times have produced.
1t seems that when quite young man he
left the homestead, and stroling westward,
worked his way from place to place until he
found himself in one ofthe French settlements
on the Ohio river. Here he procured employ
ment on the farm Of widow; and being smart,
active fellow, and proving highly serviceable
in his department, he rapidly gained favor in
the eyes of his employer. Ere long. contrary
to the advice of the neighbors, and in spite of
somewhat discouraging hints touching certain
matrimonial infclicities experienced by The
late husband, he rcsolutely stepped into the
dead mans shoes, the mistress became the
wife, and the servant was legally promoted to
the head Of the household.
For time matters went on costly and COM
fortably enough. He was now lord of the soil;
and he had laid in his crops of corn and pota-
toes, salted down his pork, and piled up his
wood for winters use, he naturally enough
congratulated himself upon his good fortune,
and laughed at the sinister forebodings OF his
neighbors. But with the long winter months
came change overhis cloves young dream.''
An evil and mysterious influence seemed to be
at work i'll his affairs. Whatever he did after
consulting his wife, or at her suggestions, re-
suited favorably enough but all his schemes
and projects were unaccountably marred and
defeated. Ifhe bought horse, it was sure to
prove spawned and wind broken. His cows
either refused to give down their milk or Civ
ing it peryersely kicked it over. \ fine SOW
which he bad bargained for, repaid his parti-
ality by devourng, like Saturn, her own chill
dren. By degrees, dark thought forced its
way into his mind.
Comparing his repeated mischances with
the antc-nuptial warnings of his neighbors he
at last came to the melancholy conclusion
that his wife was witch. The victim in Moth
erwell's ballad of the Demon Lady, or the poor
fellow in the Arabian tale who discovered that
he had married goul in the guise of a young
and blooming princes, was scarcely in more
sorrowful predicament. He grew nervous and
fretful. Old dismal nursery stories and all
the witch lore of boyhood came back to his
memory; and he Crept TO his bed like 4 crimi
nal to the gallows, half afraid to fall asleep lest
his mysterious companion should take fancy
TO transform him into horse, get him shod at
the smithy and ride him TO witch meeting.
And, as if to make the matter worse, his wife S
affection seemed to increase Just in proportion
as his troubles thickened upon him. She ag-
gravated him with all manner of caresses and
endearments. This was the drop too much
The poor husband recoiled from her as from a
waking nightmare. His thoughts turned to
New England; he longed to sec once more the
old homestead, with its tall wellsweep and but
ternut trees by the roadside; and he sighed
amidst the rich bottom lands of his new home
for his fathers rocky pasture, with its crop of
stinted mulleins. SO one cold November day.
finding himself out of sight and hearing of his
wife, he summoned courage to attempt an
escape, and resolutely turning his back on the
west, plunged into the wilderness towards the
sunrise. After hard and long journey he
reached his birthplace, and was kindly well
coined by his old friends. Keeping close
mouth with respect to his unlucky adventure
in Ohio, he soon after married one of his scool-
mates, and by dint of persevering industry and
economy, in few years, found himself in pos
session of comfortable home.
But his evil star fingered above the horizon.
One summer evening on returning from the
bayfield,, who should meet him but his witch
wife from OhioI She came riding up the road
on her old white horse, with pillion behind
the saddle. Accosting him in kindly tone,
yet not without something of gentle reproach
for his unhandsome desertion Of her, she in
formed him that she had come all the way
from Ohio to take him back again.
1t was in vain that he pleaded his latter en-
gagements; it was in vain that his new wife
raised her shrilleSt remonstrances, not un-
mingled with expressions of vehement indig-
nation at the revelation Of her husbands real