The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-24
How Ham was Cured.

neuialcIy dlter ulnner, ana Inc gentleman
had gone to the east piazza. Mr.. Smith
was walking back and forth, talking some
what excitedly, while DIR. Rutherford sat
with his feet on the railing, thoughtfully
executing the sentimental performance of
cutting his nails Dr. Rutherford was
an old friend Of Mr.. Smith, who had been
studying surgery in Philadelphia, and now,
on his way back to South Carolina, has tar
ried to make us a visit
g You see,' Mr.. Smith was saving,
" about week ago one of our old negroes
died under the impression that he was
'tricked or bewitched, and the consequence
has been that the entire plantation is de-
moralized. You never saw anything like
it."
Many a time says DIR. Rutherford,
calmly cutting his nails.
There is not a negro on the place."
continued Edward, who does not lie down
at night in terror of the Evil Eye, and 90
to his work in the morning par alyzed by
dread of what the day may bring. Why,
there is perfect panic among them. They
are falling about like set of ten pins
This morning | went for Wash (best hand
on the place, to see about setting cut to-
bacco plants, and beheld Wash cured up
under haystack getting ready to die. It's
enough TO- SO as soon as you came this
morning plan entered my head for put
ting stop to the thing. 1t will be neces-
sary to- acknowledge that two or three of
them are under the shell, and it is better
to select those who really fancy themselves
so. Rosaie! appeared at the window.
"Are any of the house servants witched."
Mercy is said ], land | presume
Nanny Is going to be. l saw her make
curtsey to the black cat this morning"
Well, what is your plan? inquired
DR.. Rutherford.
Mr. Smith seated himself on the piazza
railing, dangling his feet thereaganst,
rounding his shoulders in the most attrac-
tive and engaging manner. as you see men
do. and proceeded 10 develop his idea.
| was called off at the moment and did
not return for an hour or two. AS | did
so heard DIR. Rutherford say "All right
blow the horn and the overseer down
in the yard
Blow blast as loud aud shrlll
AS the wild boar heard on Temple Hill
all event which, at this unusual hour of
the day, produced perfect CONSERVATION
among the already excited negroes. They
mp doubt supposed it to be the musical
performance of the angel Gabriel on the
Day of Judgment, and in less than ten
minutes all without exception had come
pell nell heller SHELTER. running TO ''the
house " The dairy-maid left her churn
and the housemaid put down her broom;
plows stood still, and when the horses
turned their heads around to see what was
the matter they found themselves without
drivers; she also who was looking for the
hands ''fled from the path of duty no (Ca-
sabianca nonsense for her!), leaving the
"middlngs" to sputter into blackness and
the corn-pones to share its fate. Mothers
had gathered up their children of both
sexes, and grouped them in little terrified
companies about the yard and around the
piazza steps.
Edward was now among them, endeav-
oring to subdue the excitement, and having
| to some extent succeeded he made signal
to DR.. Rutherford, who came forward to
| address the negroes. Throwing his Shout
| ders back and looking around with dignity,
| he exclaimed: " | am DR.. Rutherford
the witch doctor of Boston | was far
away in the North hundreds of miles from
here, and saw a spot on the sun and it
looked like the Evil Eye. And found it
was great black smoke. Then I knew
that wltch-lires were burning in the noun
tains and witches were dancing IN the val
legs; and the light of the Eye was red !
am the great Dr. Rutherford-the witch
doctor of Boston l called my black cat
and told her to smell for blood, and she
smelled, and she smelled, and she smelled
And she smelled, and she smelled, and she
smelled ahd presently her hair stood up
like bristles, and her eye shot out like fire,
and her tail was as stiff as IRON lie
threw his shoulders back, looked imposing
ly around and repeated :" | am the great
DR.. Rutherford-the witch doctor of Bos-
ton My black cat tells me that the witch
is here, that she has hung the deadly night
shade at your cabin doors, and your blood
is turning to water You are beginning to
wither away; you shiver in the sunshine (;
| you don't want to eat; your hearts are
heavy and you don't feel like work and
when you come from the field you don't
take down the banjo and put and shuttle
and dance, but you sit down in the corner
| with your heads on your knees and would
go to sleep, but you know that as soon as
you shut your eyes she will cast hers on
you through the chinks in the cabin
wall "
"Dats me, said Mercy" dat certny is
me-"
"Gret day in the mornin, mas witch
doctor. How you know. Is you been
tricked ," inquired Martha, who, having
been reared on the plantation, was uuac-
|
lectures.
Wash groaned heavily and shook his
head from side TO side In silent com
mendation of the Doctors lore.
My black cat tells me that the witch is
here; and she is here " Immense sensa-
ton among the children of Ham, "But, "
continued he, with ma estc wave of the
arm, "she can do you no harm for also
am here, the great doctor Rutherford the
witch-dOctor of Boston"
doctor" inquired Edward in a loud
voice, "can you tell who is conjured and
who is not?
~ cannot tell unless robed in Ithe blan-
dishments of plagiarism and the stated
litss of hygenic art as eXpunged by the
gyrations OF nebular hypothesis. Await
ye."
He and Mr.. Smith went into the house
The negroes were very much impressed
They have an excessive reverence for grand
Eloquent language, and the less they under
stand of it the better they like it,
"What dat he say, honey" asked Nam
my, " caa't hear like | used ter,
"He says he will he back soon, Mann
my, and tell if any of you are .ricked," |
said; and Just then Edward and the Doctor
reappeared, bearing between them pine
table On this bable were arranged
about forty little pyramids of whitish look
ing powders, and in their midst stood a
bottle containing some clear liquid like
water. DR.. Rutherford seated himself be-
hind the table robed in the black gown he
had used in the dissecting room and
crowned by a conical headpiece about two
feet high, manufactured by Edward and
himself, and which they had completed by
placing on the pinnacle thereof human
skull. The effect of this picturesque cos
tune was heightened by two large red
circles around the Doctors eyes-whether
obtained from the juice of the pokeberry
or the inkstand on Edwards desk, need
not be determined.
In front of the table stood the negroes
men, women and children. There was the
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