Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1862-07-03
THE sorCERER OF ANTWERP.

..- THE soRCERER OF ANTWERP
More than 400 years ago, there stood, in one
ofsthe principal streets of Antwerp, a large Old
house, whose master had the reputation among
the citizens of having dealings with the devil
No enc knew how the rumor, which gave MN
this character, had got abroad, but all the oid
women in Antwerp, and good many OF the
men, believed that Herman Baerclay was no bet
ter than he should be. But the only evidence
that the good people could bring forward fol
their belief amounted to this-that though call
ing himself {. physician, Baerclay admitted nc
one into his house, and never quilted it himself
except for an evenings walk withshis wife AMI
that the only other occupant Of the house wal
his man Fritz who alone made the necessary
purchases Of food. i 1t was remarked that the
Frau Barclay never seemed to grow older, al
though she had lived in. Antwerp with her hus
band for ten years.a-1t was noticed by the fey
men who were inclined to- speak and think vel
OF the physician, that the women who suppose
the Frau retain her yonthfulness SO remarka
bly,, were much the most bitter reyilers Of til,
wizard, and had indeed been the prime mover
in an attempt to persuade the town council *
prosecute him, which had been made without
With this preamble, we shall proceed with
our story, which has to do with the inside OF the
house md its inhabitants, and not with the good
burghers. On the evening of hot summer DAY
In August, Herr and Frau Baerclay were seen
walking through the gates as II returning from
o stroll in the country. Now they had not been
seen before for nearly three months; they had
not been observed to 20 out on the walk from,
which they were, as it seemed, returning. The
most careful watching, however, detected moth.
ing peculiar in the manner in which they walked
q through the streets to their own house, though
they were stared at till Fritz admitted them
AS they entered, the spn was shining in the
Streets but Fritz carried . lighted lamp, made
necessary by the darkness Of the house, which,
through from the street it seemed only to have
the curtains constantly drawn, was from the IN.
side seen to have every window closely blocked
up. Fritz glanced at his master, and looked ear
nestly at the Frau, as she threw OF her hood,
and looked curiously about her, showing US she
did 90, the face Of apretty peasant glfl, VINO
might, from her appearance, have been seven
teen or eighteen years old, instead Of being q
wife Of ten years. standing. The doctor spoke
three words, in grave, quiet voice Bring sup
per, Fritz'-and then led the way to large
room, at the back of the house, where stills and
retortsand Strengthening instruments unknown
to cur modern chemists, which showed the ma
ture of the doctors studies, as the numerous
great books which lay about might be supposed
to show their extent. Now Barclay and his
wife had, in fact, been absent from the house for
three months, and Fritz had no notice that they
would return at the time we describe, so that the
walk int town, and simple order for supper
were rather strange proceedings. Not less
strange was the way in which Fritz stared at
his mistress, and his mistress looked at him and
about her, as if he had forgotten her, and she
had forgotten him and the place with three
months absent. The doctor took no notice Of
either of them, but placing great book before
him, began to read and eat leaving them to eat
or not, as they pleased. The Frau seemed hun
CRY, and sat down to the table, and Fritz seat
ing himself by her side, helped her and himself
but not one word did he speak throughout the
meal. When they had all done, Baerclay, who
seemed to know the fact by instinct, got up, and
motioned to Fritz to take the things away. At
nine o'clock, Baerclay advanced towards clock
which stood in the corner, wound it up with q
key which he took from his pocket, aud then
turned to his wife, and with the single word,
Come led the way into the bed chamber the
door of which was Immediately secured on the
inside with what seemed to be very complicated
bolts. 80 . e7!k n III S'f 80 q
As the clock in the room pointed to six next
morning, the bolts were unfastened, and the doc
tor came out and sat down to read. And he
sead throughout the day, till at six in the eve
ming, he and his wife walked through the town,
and out into the fiat, well titled fields and back
and, as the clock in the room pointed to eight,
Fritz brought in. supper; and when it came to
nine, Barclay rose as on the first night and
again said Come to his wife. and fastened the
bedroom door with the peculiar bolts. But the
clock was not wound up after the first night, for
it was clock that went for whole year, and
each day it showed on the front of it, in large
letters, the day of the week and of the month
And every day the same things were done at the
same time and the Frau Baerclay sat by the
side of the doctor, and worked while he read, or
looked on as he did strange things with the re-
torts and the stills with colored liquids and, ex
cept to walk out with her husband in the eve
ming, she never left the large room in which her
husband sat, but to go into the bedroom or the
room beyond, which was her room. Now. in
neither of these rooms was there window, or
any door but that which led into the great room
where the clock was. And when the doctor sat
down to read, he seemed like man in the prime
Of life; but as he read, his face wrinkled and
furrowed, and he sank more and more in his
chair, SO that when he had been reading some
hours, he looked like very old man, withered
and decreped. When, however he put away his
books, the wrinkles left his face >and his body
grew firm and strong, and he became young
again. But however closely ho was re- ding, il
the Frau moved, his eye was on her, not with
affective, not1with pleasure, but calmly obsery-
ant. And Fritz cleaned the house, and brought
up the. meals which he had cooked and when
the doctor worked, he blew the bellows of the
great furnace, and held the bottles. and washed
them and he put fresh oil in the lamps--for in
each room lamp was always kept burning, and
once in each day he took money from box in
sthe great room, and went out to buy food, never
troubling the doctor about it, but taking what
he chose, and bringing what food he thought
proper. .A,.-.,*g,. "a "a
And 90 the time went on till the great clock
showed the date May 49, and on that day, eve
tor sat at his book throughout the evening, and
did not 60 out to walk. Now in all these months
& Fritz had never spoken once; bat on the next
day, while he put oil ia the lamp 10 the inner
room, which was her room. and the Frau was
there, he whispered to her.. Speak truly, 10 the
name Of God, when were you married ? Now
she thought him mad to ask so strange CUES
ton, but she was clad to hear him speak, for
her life had become wearsome to her, especially
during the last day on which she had not been
for walk; 50 she answered, very softly, tOn
last st. Wolfnus day. slagi +: ,s.s8 b
Now St. Wolfrau's day WIS the LIST Of August,
and Fritz said no more that day, and the Frau
was glad for the sound of her own voice had
startled her it was as strange to her as that Of
a.. HIA L-l