Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-08-10
WITCHES AND wITCHcRAFT.

Ihad been three weeks ii the cottage, |
when Jane walked into my room.
g Please, SIR, there's boy outside
wsnts to see you"
i. See me?" asked surprised.
YES, sir; I think they want doc
tor, sir; mother told them you was one"
hurried out, and found the boy stand
ing at the door.
What's your name?"
Phil Wish. yer honor."
" Please, sir, Ellen's tux worse, and her
mother don't think as boF she'll live
much longer, she's quite scrammed, sir"
] wondered who Ellen was, and
what scramned meant, but contented
myself with signing 70 him TO lead the
way. We walked on in the bright ear
y morning, everything looking fair and
beautiful Phil whistled tune which
was quite unknown to me, and walked
along, idly thinking, and occasionally
plucking an ear of corn and putting it to
my mouth. The grass beneath our feet
rustlsd softly as We trod, and the air was
laden with The perfume of wild flowers
and the swee, songs of birds, The busy
whirof athreshing machine mingled with
the notes from time TO time and then q
distant shout from the already wearied
reapers brought TO my mind the days Of
childhood, when, "boy among boys,
i chased the butterflies in the fields,
while nv pretty sister (ssbat a strange
old creature she was now CLEANED for
the children of the poor. We at last
came to the brow of hill. and looking
down into the valley, bathed in brightest
sunlight / saw a few white cottages dot
ted here and there. Phil informed me
that "EIlen lived in one Of these,
pointing out the identical one with bis
finger.
What is the matter with Ellen ?" ]
asked.
Dunno, sir" in tone which, if j
failed TO imply he didn't care, at leas
proved be was not disposed to be com
municative. wondered what the mys
tery could be, but thinking whatever
was, it would soon be solved, walke'
on in silence. We at last arrived at
cottage veay small and very low, literal
IL covered with honyesuckles. A bir
in wicker cage hung outside the doOl
Possessed with a contrary demon t
mine, it sang loud and ineessantly, il
little mouth open like yawning sepulchr'
feathers ruffied, and body positively di.
tor,ed with its unearthly efforts. Heal
ing footsteps, the old woman appeare
and beekoned me inside. / enteret
stepping low as / did so. A small room
avery small room, but everything scrJ
pUlously neat aud clean. a little girl, al
pareEtly about three years old, W;
seated on the floor, telling her doll in a
undertone, mot to make a noise becau.
her mother was ILL., A workman's b
and coat hung on one corner, with
cheap photograph of their owner Il dor
know why felt certain it was his) su
pended over Them. The shutters of Il
lattice windows were half closed produ
ing quiet subdued light. walk
towards the bed. and softly drew the CT
tain. The small face, half hidden in t
pillow, seemed very young and girli;
the eyes closed, the breath short a
hurried. The bird was literally shrie
ing-I signed to the woman, and $
covered the cage. All was quiet
lifted the pale hand from the coverlid a
felt for the pulse-Gone.
How long has she been so?' l asket
Since daylight, SIR
sAh! she can't last long.
The professional phrase escaped
voluntarily, started as ! uttered it 3
dropped the hand the movement roui
her. The heavy eyelids unclosed
drew back.
Is Jack here, mother"
No, darling
.An forgot
A moments pause. Then, IN On
hurried tone, as if the thought was
impressed upon her mind
Mother am l dying?
A sob was the only answer. Anot
pause, longer than the first; then
arm was placed under the pillow f
moment, and drawn forth again.
Give this to Jack when you see b
She tried TO move her hand along
bed, and pass the hidden contents to
woman weeping by her side; but,
she could do 50, the will that direcse
grsw weaker still, and left It idle wi
1t lay. ! unclossd the al1aost rigid