River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-01-24
THE OLD HAG.
NJ. e. STONE.

l.
can remember ever since | was a
very little girl, hearing the people of my
native village make this remark, when
anything happened out of the usual
ORDER Gas queer as the old hagr' II
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 wendell their
way toward it, l was enlightened by my
sister Alice and another girl, who were
leading me.
sYou must be a good girl to-day, Met
ia, said Alice, "and not whisper, or the
old bag will get you tonight. See" land
she pointed to log hut in the middle of
field "that's where she lives"
eyes, that she wlllr' exclaimed the
other girl; "she's a witch, and once turned
little girl, who was naughty in school,
into a great big stone, folks say.
jim Cressy, he's seen it with his own
eyes; says she keeps it for door
STEP
| 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, | 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 sold hag"
had often had stray glimpses of a
bent figure, hobbling around the hut
Twas rare, indeed, that she ever yentur.
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 a hearthstone for an old
witch to boil her porridge-kettle on.
| have remarked that, as the years
rolled by my fears subsidized, while my
curiosity increased. Aud one bright Sat-
urday afternoon | started out with the
secret determination, "live or die" |
would make heroic attempt to get a
nearer view of the ''old hag," before the
day was done.
| 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 stopped and
INDUCED in several swooping surveys of
the lanpscape, to discern if the coast was
clear. No one being in sight, | boldly
struck out, and by making swift transits
to friendly raspberry pushes, which grew
at intervals all along felt tolerably GER
tain | had not been observed. Yet it was
with shaky feeling around my heart
that crept into the shadow of clump
of elders and peered through the rails.
My perseverance was net to go unre
warded for soon the door opened, and she
appeared on the threshold. Oh, what a
sight to my dying day l 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 a queer, one-sided look, as if
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. | can
remember this thought dimly presenting
itself to my childish imagination: "Was
it not symbol of her life?"
She glanced sharply around her as il ii
search Of some one. / drew back deeper
into the shadows in momentary fear of
of her keen vision penetrating
through the nick 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 nleelltating on rash plans Of escape
vainly wishing sister Alice was with me-
orsthat was anywhere else, whenEI heard
a low, musical voice exclaim-" How are
you to-day, my sweets3'
ALI here was a. discovery, indeed
Companv2 / had never knswn single
soul who visited her. Who could it be-
At the period of immediate discovery
could not resist the temptation to peep.
Poor, lone soul! looking out of your
wretched tenement. Yes, poor, lone
soul whom all the world bed forsaken.
You were seeking comfort in the Masters
lowly gifts.
There she was, the wretched old bag,
kaeeling in the long grass, caressing low
ingly the wild flowers that grew in great
luxurianee about the hut.
| heard her say-"Oh. my sweets; my
pretty crimson clovers. butter-cups and
daisies. You're all out to-day, full
blown. l saw you the first thing this
morning shaking your bonny heads in
the sunshine as the winds went tossing
by. And you're here for whole sum +
mer, my precious ones; how came you to
come and blossom so sweet just to please +
old Margeryl but you amt afraid of her,
oh, no. Margery wouldn't hurt you, for .
the world She only looks at you, and I
you kinder help her from being all alone. {
You don't know, my pretties, what an
awful thing it is to be all alone; always
all alone, with no one to care whether You
lived or died. No, you can't know how
ii is, when you're gone and the wind
bowls around the hut, or how | keep pray
ing the good Lord to hasten the summer
and send You back. Twas always 50; no
one could ever bear old Margery her
poor old shoulder and the great hump on
her back were always against her.
1.-The old hag," they call me, even the
little children, my sweets. | wish they
wouldn't for love them so why, Grim
son cioverI would be ready to die to-mor
row for very JOY il one would come and
kiss me, and say "how dye do, Margerys"