Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-03-08

certain her former life failed to produce any
effect, save stubborn refusal to CRAFTY
curiosity, and slight flashes OF anger, which
all in1uirers agreed bodied no good
Although the time of which we write was
after 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 gody Mr.. Mather in
support of their doctrine! ..
By-and by strange Ltories began to be Cir
culated concerning old Sue Ward. 1t was
said, that being veXed by Deacon Burr, she
gave utteranc TO a mu.tering curse, and the
next morning the deacon's best heier was
found dcad, in such strange position, that
nobody but the devil could have brought her
there. Then, as Mistress Ward was walk
ing home one cold night, unc e Joshua over.
took her in his nice new wagon. She asked
him to carry her home, as she was tired. =
But he replied he could not, as it was rather
Off his road, and he was in hurry. "llay
you be longer reaching home than am"
exclaimed she, and but moment afterwards
his horse fell, broke both shafts to the wag
on, and what was worse, his own leg.
These stories, somewhat magnifed, per-
haps, in the telling, were soon in the mouth
of every one in the Village. Soon they spoke
of her no longer as Mistress Ware, or old
Sue Ward. She possessed the three great
requisites ior witch of that time.
|. She was old.
II. She was ugly.
Ill. She was poor aat
With such an evil suspicion hanging about
her, il is no wonder that many who had
formerly befricnded, now avoided her. Even
the little children, having heard the mysteri-
Gus talk Of their parents, as they passed her
| in the streets, claspcG one anotber's hands
more tightly, and, gazing at her with half
frightened looks, went nurriedly on, though
some OF the lurger boys would sometime
shout after her
/ Matters were thus, as one wild windy No
vcmbcr nj shi, old Sue sat by her fire in her
lonely hut. She had been out to gather fag-
gots Of which the fire was built, and meet
! ing some rude boys on her return, they had
tuuntcd her with Lnsecmly words. Not Of
ten would such words have effected her su
much. But as the screaming wind hUwled
through the branches of the forest, and she
heard the meanings of the dying autumn.
thinking all the while that she knew not
where to look for help through the coming
winter, what wonder that she :rlt like curs-
ing the day in which she was torn!
She did curse it most bitterly. Her wick
ed, withered old heart was lifting itself up
in blasphemy, as she sat by her fire that
night, aud gazing intenty into its fumes as
they ightcned up her miserable room.
"Why can. de!" mutterel she to her
self. .'As if seventy years of sorrow, sew
cnty years of sin, wasn't enough for one
mortal! Doesn't the Bible say :hat three
score years and ten are the limits VI lite!-
Why should | live longer! |, without
fric nds with none of the comforts which De-
long to age, old, poor, miserable, halt-starved
and cold!" and she drew up closed to the fire,
and continued.
81 vould drown myself, but the water is tn
cold. have not strength enough to kill
myself any other way Why is there no 9TH
er way but dying to be rid of the world! Ii
folks could cast off life ss they do an old
garment! Ive heard of old women that dried
up AMI blew away. The Lord knows I'm
dry enough. Why, if he will not let me die
will he not blow me away! | shouid moi
care if it was to place warmer than this,
where Old women don't have to go out after
faggots." And she grinned most wicked
grin showing one worn yellow stump Of Il
tooth.
Good evening, Mother Wad," said q
voice at her elbow.
She turned and / aw just at her side little
old mun dressed in black. A quick active
old fellow no seemed, as, without being ask
ed, he drew the other Of the two rush-bot'
toned chairs-al! the seats the room con
taiued-up to the fire.
"Who are you! What do you want" ask
ed old Sue, as soon as she had little recov
cred from her astonishment at this sudder
interruption.
"A poor cold traveller who wishes II
warm himself 1t your fire." replied he, JUS
glancing at her with his keen black eye. Ol
It was the wickedest eye you ever saw, 81
full of malice and devitry, so glittering an
snake-like.
"You are welcome to the little warmth
wretched old woman's fire can give. Bu
you have not told me your name, though
ought tC know it, as you seem to knol
mine"
81 go under liffercnt Names" replied he
p "those most familiar with me, call me by
nickname, but my proper title is Becl Il
Bubb But why DO you call yourself wretcf
cd!"
"lIave you not lived long enough in III
! world to know!" replied she almost iicrcely
"There are grey hairs on your brow, and III
wrinkles on your face will number amo
mine. Is it not always wretched to be olt
But perhaps you have warm friends VIII
d. cheer you with their presence, and sustai
of you by their ove!" ........ -
IN She paused moment, as if waiting for
le reply. But the old man sat with his elbow
resting on his knees, looking s,eadiastly il
- to the fire with his cunning eyes. The o
We woman continued
I'D "Perhaps you do not know what it is
er outlive all the friends Of your youth, to wa
der away among strangers, and to he shunn