Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-11-19
For The vHRsOSr FARprR.
Witches.


Almost every child has heard great deal
about 1.-THE witches" Either from the ser.
wants. or from some other quarter, children
have learned that all the missing shears and
thimbles must have been carried of by the
witches that all Of the strange, uuaocounta.
BILE sounds are produced BY 1.-THE witohes.p
Many years ago, in my erandmo,her's
family, one Of the older sisters was lcft. one
winter evening, with the care Of the smaller
children. There were q great many Of them,
and they all gathered around the big Ere.
place, for warmth and entertainment Then
the older sister began to ransack her mem.
DRY for stories, and most anything to keep
up the interest. Finally, she told the chill.
dren to shut up their eyes very tightly and
she would "call up the witches" The
smaller ones drew up closer 10 the sister,
and all shut their eyes. Suddenly, there
was terrible rafting racket against The
door. The little ones hardly dared to open
their eyes, bat thinking their sister able 10
shield them, opened them very slowly and
peered around into the shady corners, where
the bright light of the fire scarcely yentured.
They could see nothing; they did not expect
To-, and they felt very thankful that witches
we're not like children, "who must be seen
and not heard !" thankful that witches were
heard, and not seen. After a while, the
older boys found qual tity of beans scat.
tered about the door that had been thrown
against it when their eyes we're closed.
My own experience with witches seemed a
little more real. When very little girl I
was sent to the "square room" for something
that laid fright on the table under the look
ing-glass." Being always very timid aud
on the lookout for something 10 the corners,
| went slowly through the long hall that
was dimly lighted by the glass over the door,
turned round by the balustrads, aud opened
the parlor door, when, instantaneously, there
was such clamorous, squeaking, kissing,
and yet mufiied sound, that the door was
closed very suddenly. stood outside and
listened all was perfectly still, so | tried
again. Just the moment the door.knob
began to rattle, the chorus began inside.
Then back | ran and told the big sisters.
20, it Is nothing but your imagination y
said one Of them "run back, for am In 9
hurry" A little curiosity impellsd me back
and thinking to be very brave aud look hard
for the cause, threw the door wide open
this time (though the chance for running
was reserved, by standing on tho threshold)
The same was repeated as before, then al
was still. The dark blinds we're closed, bu
every part Of the room was visible excep
under the "parlor bed" that looked yer,
prim and undisturbed. alt is the witches,
l thought "it can be nothing else !" Bach
to the sisters ran, with an excited descrip
tion Of the whole, and back again to IN,
parlor; and this time with counsel. Al
soon as sister opened tho door, she was
little startled, but tried not to show il. Sh,
stood moment making calculations, thel
ratified the door and listened Then sh,
went across the vide "squRre room" to the
little Fireplace, took down the 6re-board q
summer arrangement, aud there, more noisy
than ever, were the-little chimney swal
lows. The dear mother swallow hat
miscalculated, somehow, and when the littl,
birds began to grow heavy the nest loosened
and down they fell into the ashes and wer
crying for help.
Perhaps some Of the children would lik
to know what became Of the little BIRDS
whether they lived or died. This part
have often tried to recall, but cannot remem
Der any further. and must answer them a
my father used TO when the children inquiries
into story further than was warrantable, =
This is the end Of the story :" and this
all know about witches r. l.. HOPKINS