Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-02-22
From Putnam'S Magazine for February.
THE OLD WOMAN WHO DRIED UP AN
BLEW AWAY.


"There be many witches this day in Iapand who sell
winds to Mariners and they must needs go whom the devil
drives."-lFulers Holy and Profane State.
"0d woman, old woman, whittier SO hight"
"To sweep the cobwebs from the sky"
MANY yeaIs ago, on the old stage-road lead
ing from Boston to Plymouth, just out Of Wey-
mouth into bingham, there lived on old woman
who went by the name Of Sue Ward.
Where she came from no one knew. Some
years before the time of which we write, she
had taken up her abode in an old house which
had been deserted by its former owner, and there
she dwelt-all alone, perfect mystery to the
gossips of the neighborhood. She managed to
get living by doing all sorts of odd jobs for
the people of the village; by knitting now and
then pair of stockings; by spinning few
hnots of yarn or going out to nurse for the sick.
The villagers, also, at first, were quite kind to
her. But after while they began to weary Of
being benevolent to SO mysterious being. All
plotting and questioning to ascertain her former
life failed to produce any effect, save stubborn
refusal to CRAFTY curiosity, and slight flashes Of
anger, which all inquirers agreed boded no
good.
Although the time of which we write was af-
ter the excitement concerning the Salem witches
yet belief in such beings had not wholly died
away, especially among the older portion Of the
community. Could they not quote the Bible
and the cody Mr.. Mathcr in sapport Of their
doctrines
By-and-by strange stories began to be circu'
lated concerning old Sue Ward. 1t was said
that being vexed by Deacon Burr, she gave ut
terance to muttered curse, and tho next morn
ing the deacon's best heifer was found dead, in
such strange position, that nobody but the
devil could have brought her there. Then, al
Mistress Ward was walking home one cold night
uncle Joshua overlook her in his nice new wag'
on She asked him to carry her home, as she
was tired. But he replied he could not, as il
was rather off his road and he was in hurry
" May you DO longer reaching home than am,
exclaimed she, and but a moment afterwards hi
horse fell, broke both shafts to the wagon, ane
what was worse his own leg.
These stories, somewhat magni6ed, perhaps
in the telling we're soon in the mouth OF every
one in tho village. Soon they spoke OF her nj
longer as Mistress Ward, or old Sue Ward Sh'
possessed the three great requisites for witcl
of that time.
l. She was old.
II. She was ugly.
III She was poor.
With such an evil suspicion hanging abou
her, it was no wonder that many who had for
merly befriended, now avoided her. Even tn
little children, having heard the mysterious tai
of their parentsa as they passed her in the street
clasped one another's hands more tightly, on
gazing at her with half-frightened looks, wen
hurriedly on, though some of the larger boy
would sometimes shout after her.
Matters we're thus, as enc wild windy Noven
Der night, old Sue sat by her fire in her lionel
hut. She had been out to gather the faggots
which the FIRE was built, and meeting some rud
boys on her return, they had taunted her wit
unseemly words. Not often would such WORD
have affected her so much. But as the scream
ing wind howled through the branches of tn
forest, and she heard the meanings of tn
dying autumn, thinking all the while that sh
knew not where to look for help through tn
coming winter, what wonder that she felt lik
cursing the day in which she was born'
She did curse it most bitterly. Her wicked
withered old heart was lifting itself up in bla
phsmy, as she sat by her fire that night, an
gazed into its flames as they lightened up h
miserable room.
"Why can't dies'' muttered she to he
self. AS if seventy years of sorrow, saven'
years of sin, wasn't enough for one poor mo
tai Doesn't the Bible say that three sco
years and ten are the limits Of life Why shou
I live longer! |, without friends, with none
the comforts which belong to age, old, poo
miserable, halfstarved and cold p and she Dire
up closer to to the fire, and continued
81 would drown myself, but tho water is
cold have not strength enough to kill m
! self in any other way. Why is there no 9th
way but dying to be rid of the world Iffol
: could cast Of life as they do an old carmen
} I've heard of old women that dried up and biz
: away. The Lad knows that Im dry enoug
Why, if he will not let me die, will he n
, blow me away should not care If it was to
, place warmer than this, where old women dol
have to no out after fageots." And she GRIM