Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-06-21
IRON the London %. W. Frees rreas
uoRRTBLE sUPERsTITION~WiTch
nuKNING IN CANADA

Unless actually demonstrated, it were haru
- ho,iova thA, 10 civilized dominion, 10 the
Dipstssnth century, any one could be found sun
embracing tho superstitious beliefs regeruing
sorosry aud witchcraft, which 80 much prevailed
in the middle ages. Yet SO 1t is' case &C.
CURED. not many days ago, in neishborhoOa
sho,t diataucs east Of Christian London tha'
might be characteristic Of English peasant LIE
four hundred years ago, but absurd and outrage
Gus now. A witch was burnt with hre' on
public highway, by an incensed old woman anu
bsr busbapdl The woman We alude to IL dran- |
nv Crif6tbs. a person Of dissipaiei habits ana
eccentric notions Of things in general Sone
months ago this old woman purchased Two young
pisu. which ip the course Of their growth became
possessed Of au oddness and singularity mol III
keeping with the swinish nature, and when 'ne
old dame attributed, with supersiitiOua instinct
TO the operation Of some evil genius.
One Of the animals was frequently seized Win
al impulse 10 beat HE snout perslS'en'Iy ana
heavily upon the floor, and an Irresistible 'n-
olpatiou al tImss, TO root the cooking stove oil
lie less and to topple it over, (bOth had the iree-
dou Of the house y But not content with these
fTeaEs he woald grunt savage exposlulahon II
anything went wrong 10 the dOmea'ic Circle anu
would not suffer his aUger TO be appeased un'h
mAttsTs assumed their normal condition. mat ~
perhaps condition more in consonance win
pOrcne habits. 10 fact his extravagances were
80 many that to enumerAte them would DC eA-
ceslugly difficult. The granny fretled from
day to day, but could get no solution OF the
strange hslluciuAtIou with which her pig wal
besst, Suddenly a light fell upon the sui Jec''
When maid, her unole's cattle bad all beer
beWilched in New York, and one night ule'
under it-at least all the neghborhood said ina
was The cause. Fully persuaded that the p
wOs similarly afflicted she began to admin'p'e
testoratives-- hrst, q gentle dram Of eideroerr
vine waa given, but without effect, piggy
puRnacious assaults on the floor were Fedonble
10 violence; then his frontal bone was lathere
aud shaven with razor, after which suou
mustard plaster WAS applied. AS may be ina
ined, nothing could then Withstand the FURY
the poor pig He ragged about the room IN
irenaied agony, humping that part OF me ne'
affected by the mustard upon the floor. lie 81
tered all the agOnies Of the bear who encounle
ed the bees 10 the fable, and lying down up
bis back sought to rid himself Of his tOrme'
by rubbing Of the plaster with his hoois'
Granny, in great tribula'ion' at once prepa'
apiggn Of Cruel for him, which he appeared
enjoy while il lasted, but again grew 'urnule
aud became an annoyance 10 all ABOUT
Surely, granny thought, he's bewitched' pOss'
ed Of devila, led away by evil spirits 80
determined to rid herself Of her paguey
according to the statute Of l54l, which deca
all wlcbcraft and sorcery to be felony WIN
benefit Of clergy Accordingly with her
bands assistance, she gathered q lot Of rag
and with them envelOped the bewilcheu
then, as the sun sank In the west, aacrinced
witch with Ere. While the pig roasted, anu
equeAls assembled with the smoke and names
bsldame howled an incarnation, and dal
about the pile in delight at having acoomp'i
agrsat work. Next day the other pig WI
tho point Of death, and granny, fearing le
also was bewltched, induced the old ma
butcher him, when she boiled the heart IN
COrdAnes with the ancient usage, having STU
pn 10 it, after which it was boiled with
4 mOby 30 far as we are aware, this Is the
case Of The kind tina. has ever TRANSFERRED II
neighbOrhood.
H.