The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1875-08-05
MISCELLANY.
DLABOLTCAL.
Some Animals Touched With the spir-
ia OiE Nick.

Dor gray, sandy, or tabby cat, the te-
line familiars of the broomstick riders be-
ing ever black as Erebus, and big enough
to put the prize winner at cat-shOw out
of concert with himself But when witch
es or wizards avail themselves of their
power of self tranSformation-and ac-
cordlng to popular notions they are COM
PEELED 10 do so four times a year-they
don beastial guise of innocent white. 4
lane IN BridgeWatcr, England, obtained
an unpleasant notoriety By reason of a
strange white rabbit, taking a constitu-
tlonal therein every evening, vanishing be-
yond human ken whenever dogs or men
lnterieTed with its even-tide run One
evening the mysterious creature was de-
tectected taking a siesta in a cabbage
garden having only one way of exit-a
narrow pasSaye between two cottages, A
guard was placed in the entry, while d
party of would be wltch-catchers, ventur-
ed among the cab0ages A bold fellow
seized the rabbit and bore it in triumph
toward his waiting friends. He or rath-
or tavorlte pig Of his, had suffered from
the Vaccinations of white witch, and
thinking of this, he cave the struggling
captive kick, and, hey, presto it
slipped through his hands and never was
seen again by mortal eyes, but the white
witch kept her bed for three days after
wards disabled, Of course, by the pig
owners kick.
Botingbroke castle ives in olden time
the abiding place of a witch-hare. In
one OF the Har.eian manuscripts we read
''One thing Is not to be passed by, affirm
ed as 4 certain truth by many of the IN
habitants Of the town upon their own
knowledge, which is, that the castle is
haunted by a certain spirit, in the like
ness of hare, which at the meeting of
the auditors doth usually run between
their legs, and sometimes overthroWs
them, and so passes away They have
pursued it down into the castle yard, and
seen it look IN at a CRATE into a low cellar,
and have followed it thither with light,
when, notwithstanding that they did
most narrowly observe it, and that there
was no other passage out but the door or
window, the room being all above framed
of stones within, not having the least
chlnk or creFice, yet they could never
find It. And at other times it hath been
seen to run in at the iron CRATES below,
unto other Of the grottoes, as there be
many of them, and they have watched
the place, and sent for hounds, anu pu.
IN after It, but after awhile they have
come crying out.
The Bolngbroke hare was more fortu.
nate or more cunning than large one
that, not many years ago, much exercised
the jewellers IN a certain Cornish village,
by overturning the swiftest dogs, and re-
ceiying many bit Of cold lead with sub
lime Indifference. Puss. however, was
one unlucky day discovered by party
of sportsmen determined to bring her
down if there was any virtue In powder
shot and perseverance. She led them
pretty dance for some miles, although APP
parently hit again and again, keeping on
her way untired. At last some one sug-
geSted the trial Of silver charge. \ few
coins were converted into slugs and sent
after the game. She faltered, then sud-
denly disappeared round the brow Of a
hill. After long search her pursuers
came to a shelving rock. under which,
painting and exhausted, lay-not the hare
but one old Molly, long suspected of
unrighteous doings; and from that hour
the dame walked with limp.
Some five miles from Burnley, In Lam
cashire, may be seen few stones mark
irg the site of Bernshaw Tower, once up
on 2 time the home of fair dame, the
Lady Sybil who, not content with being
young, beautiful and rich, bartered her
soul to become a veritable Lancashire
witch. Among the many lovers who
argued and sued in vain for the wilful
beauty was Lord William of Hopton Tow
CT. In his desperation he sought the aid
Of Mother Helston, renowned dealer in
the black art She directed him to hunt
near Eagles Craig on the coming eve of
All-hailows. He did so. and started a
mlk-white doe. which led him and his
hounds for hours, until coming round
again TO the crag, strange hound, which
Lord William recognized SIS the witch's
fayOrlte, Joined in the chase, and quickly
gaining or the doe. caught her by the
throat and held her till Lord William
rode up to throw an enchanted silken
leash around the captiye's neck, and take
her in triumph to his owner. In the dead
of night an earthquake shook that strong
hold TO its foundations, at the same time
shaking the Lady Sybil out Of her doe
ship into her own proper shape; and, a
few DAYS after the transformation. she be-
came the wife Of he man who had hunted
her down For awhile all went well with
destined 10 justify the poets writing:
''The vi e that was cat may keep the house
But, faith, 1 would not trust her with mouse. y
Before she mad been wife a twelve.
month Lady Sybil longed TO return to the
nocturnal diversions Of her maidenhood
and soon gratifed the longing. One
morning the friSky matron was founc
half dead in her bed. Her anxious lord
had not to wait long for an explanation
ofthe mysterious attack, for his serving
man, Robin, walked in with ladv'S hanC
bearing on one Of the fingers his mistress
siEnet ring. Watching in the open the
previous night, the too oficiouS Robin
had caught sight of beautiful white cat
frolicing about in a manner unbecoming
a mouser of decent habits, and, trying /
capture her. only succeeded in cutting Of
paw with his whIttle, the said nav
changing st oook'crow into the hand h,
presented tG ais master. 43y soas gagi
al surgery ths ss7efaa laeaE4F SEES 70