Ellsworth American., 1877-11-29
Miseellzneous. g
Burning q Witch on q Southern Plan
tatiop.

This was in slave times II was also i'm
mediately after dinner, and the gentlemen
had gone TO the east piazza. Mr.. Smith
WAS walking back and forth. talking some
what excitedly for him, while DR.. Ruther-
ford sat with his feet on the railing thou 2 ht-
fully cutting his nails. DIR. Rutherford
was an old friend OF Mr., Smith, who had
been studying surgery in Philadelphia,
and now, on his way back 10 South Caro-
lima. had ,arried to make us a visit.
You see, Mr.. Smith was saying. about 4
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 demoralized.
You never saw anything like it.
Many a time, said DR.. Rutherford. and
calmly cutting his nails.
There is not negro on the place, con-
tinued Edward, who does not lie down at
night in terror of the Evil Eye, and 90 to
his work Ia the morning paralyzed by
dread OF what the day may brig. Why,
there is perfect panic among them.
They are falling about like a Set OF ten
pins. This morning l sent for Wash to
see aboN setting out tobacco plants. and
behold Wash curled up under haystack
gettiag ready 10 die. So as soon as you
came this morning. plan entered nv
head for putting stop TO this Thing. II
will be necessary 10 acknowledge that two
or three OF them are under the spell. and
1t Is better TO select those who really fancy
themselves SO. Rosalie! | appeared at
the window. Are any of the house-ser-
wants 'witched?
Mercy is, said |, and presume NANNY
is going TO be. ] saw her make a curtsey
to the black cat this morning.
Well, what's your plan? inquired DIR.
Rutherford.
MIR. Smith seated himself on the pGzza
railing. and proceeded TO develop his idea.
| was called of at the moment, and did
not return for an hour or two. As | did
SO heard DR.. Rutherford say, All right! !!
blow the horn; aud the overseer down IN
yard obeyed. In less than ten minutes
all without exception had come pell-msil,
helter-skelter, running to the house.
Mothers had gathered up their children OF
both sexes, and grouped them In little
terrified companies about the piazza steps.
Edward was DOW among them, endeav-
oriDg to subdue the excitement, and, hav-
ing 10 some extent succeeded, he made q
signal to DR.. Rutherford who came for
ward TO address the negroes. He threw
his shoulders back, looked imposngly
around. and repeated; | am the great DIR =.
Rutherford. the witch-doctor OF Boston
NY Dlack cat Tells me tnat the WHICH 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 !;
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
pat and shuttle and dance. but yon sit
down in the corner with your heads on
your hands, and would go to sleep, hut you
know that as soon as you shut your eyes
she will cast hers OF you through the
chunks in the cabin-wali.
OATS me said Mercy-dat certny is me !!
Gret day 10 de mornin', mas witch-doc-
tor! How do you know? Is You been
tricked? inquired Martha. who. having
been reared on the plantation was unac-
quainted with the etiquette observed at
lectures.
Doctor, inquired Edward in loud
voice. can you tell who is cODjnred and
who is nOt2
csnuot tell unless robed in the bland.
ishments Of plagiarism aud the satellites
OF hygienic art - expunged by the gyra-