The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-01-24
THE OLD aAG.
M. 4. STONE.

~ M. 4. STONE.
lean remember ever since was .
very little girl, hearing the people of my
native village make this remark, (when
anything happened out Of the usual
order) ''As queer as the old hagr' 1t
puzzled me at first, but soon solved the
meaning.
The school house stood quarter of a
mile outside our little village, and the
first time my youthful feet wcnded their
way toward it, was enlightened by my
sister Alice and another girl, who were
leading me.
"You must be good girl to-day, Met
ta,'' said Alice, land not whisper, or the
old bag will get you tonight. See" land
she pointed to log hut in the middle of
I field) "that's where she lives"
eyes, that she wlll!' exclaimed the
other girl; "she's a witch, and snce turned
little girl, who was naughty in school,
into a great big stone, folks say.
Jim Greasy, he's seen it with his own
eyes; says 'she keeps it for door,
step"
I was very much alarmed at this har-
rangue, and scarcely breathed loud word
during the whole day. And for months
afterward, if had committed the slight
est misdemeanor in school, I would run
past the old hut on my way home at
night.
But, as the years rolled by, gradually
lost all faith in the witch story, and be-
came possessed with the desire to behold
this human being, so isolated from the
world, upon whom mankind had bestow-
ed the hideous appellation Of told hag."
had often had stray glimpses Of q
bent figure, hobbling around the hut.
Twas rare, indeed, that she ever ventur.
ed beyond her domain, which was in
closed by an old tumble-down rail fence,
while dared risk no nearer approach,
not relishing the idea of being turned in
to-perhaps hearthstone for an old
witch to boil her porridge-k kettle on.
l have remarked that, as the years
rolled by my fears subsidized, while my
curiosity increased. Aud one bright Sat-
urday afternoon I started out with the
secret determination, olive or de-"
would make heroic attempt to get a
nearer view of the ''old hag," before the
day was done.
I took the path through the woods, and
after short walk found myself emerging
from the leafy covert, in exact range with
the hut, which stood about forty rods
distant in the field. Here I stopped and
INDUCED in several swooping surveys of
the lanpscape, to discern if the coast was
clear. No one being in sight, I boldly
struck out, and by making swift transits
to friendly raspberry bushes, which grew
at intervals all along, felt tolerably GER
tain had not been observed. Yet it was
with q shaky feeling around my heart
that crept into the shadow of a clump
of elders and peered through the rails.
My perseverance was not to go unre
warded for soon the door opened, and she
Appealed on the threshold. Oh, what q
sight! to my dying day 1 shall never for
get my first look at her. A poor, bent
figure, carrying great burden on her back,
as if the burden of lite were not enough.
One shoulder being higher than the other
gave her queer, one-sided look, as il
just ready.to totter over. Her long gray
hair hung in struggling locks around
the pale, haggard face, which was furrowed
and seemed with the marks OF age or sor-
row. On her left temple just above the
eye, as if to brighten the wierd affect, was
plainly marked fiery red cross. I can
remember this thought dimly presenting
itself to my childish imagination: "Was
it not q symbol of her life?"
She glanced sharply around her as ii in
ooopoh nf
into the shadows in momentary fear Of
of her keen vision penetrating
through the thick bushes, to my
hiding place. 1. was certain she had
discovered my approach and had come
out for the express purpose Of
searching for me. There lay trembling
and mealtating on rash plans of escape
vainly wishing sister Alice was with me
orsthat l was anywhere else, whenl1 heard
allow, musical voice exclaim-"H How are
you to-day, my sweets?"
All! here was discovery, indeed
Company9 had never known a single
soul who visited her. Who could it bel
At the period Of immediate discovery ]
could not resist the temptation to peep.
Poor, lone SOUL looking out Of you,
wretched tenement. Yes, poor, lone
soul! whom all the world had forsaken
You were seeking comfort in the Masters
lowly gifts.
There she was, the wretched old hag
kneeling in the long grass, caressing Low.
ingly the wild flowers that grew in great
luxuriance about the hut.
heard her say-"Oh, my sweets; my
nRoffv nrirncNn 0lnVorc h,,ffor o,,,,s md
daisies. You're all out to-day, full
blown. saw you the first thing this
morning shaking your bonny heads il
j 1.-The sunshine, as the winds went tossing
by. And you're here for a whole sum:
mer, my precious ones; how came you tc
come and blossom SO sweet just to please
old Margery' but you amt afraid Of her
oh, no! Msrgery wouldn't hurt you, fol-
the world! She only looks at you, and
you kinder help her from being all alone
You don't know, my pretties, what al
all alone, with no one to care whether yor
lived Or died. No, you can't know how
- 1t il, when you're gone and the wind
howls around the hut, or how keep pray.
ing the good Lord to hasten the summer
and send you back. Twas always so; NJ
one could ever bear old Margery; he,
poor old shoulder and the great hump OF
her back were always against her.
"The old hag," they call me, even thu
little children; my sweets. wish the,