The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-05-23

ticed their dark rites. Around the blazing fire
and the boiling kettle they with joined hands
| walked during the hours ofmoon-light, singing
| bubble! bubble bubblel and invoking the
| spirits of power-"blue spirits, black spirits,
| and gray" and ceased their orgies only when
there came to them the gifts of power in the
| exercise of which they satanically delighted.
The demonstration of the fact that they
who gathered in the Mine Old Fields by
moonlight were witches was that people in
the vicinity became sick in all sorts of ways,
falling into strange fits, crawling under beds
and cupboards, barking like dogs, mewing
like cats, bleating like sheep, lowing like cows
The doctors were sent for and they declared
that their patients were bewitched. (What
books did doctors read in those days y All
were superstitious. All believed in diaboli-
cal agency. Terror and CONSERVATION were in
every heart.
Living at that day on Deer Creek, one mile
east of the Mine Old Fields, in an humble
dwelling, was an aged woman, whose only
misfortune-if such it were-was that she
was poor and infirm. The other occupants of
the hut were an aged Indian woman, one of
the very few who remained after her people
had migrated Westward, and young man
OF the class of the "innocents," as the Swiss
mountaineers benevolently name such unfor-
mates as are not endowed at birth with the
San0 mems. Albert, as he was always tender
ly called by his aged mother, willingly labor
ed to provide sustenance for the household,
and the Indian woman, Maggy, having been
taught the art of weaving, contributed also
by her industry and skill to the support of
the family. OF the aged matron of the hum
BILE household it might have been said, "She
that is widow indeed, and desolate trust
eth i'll God, and continueth in supplication
night and day." and of her assistant, "She
hath done what she could" An Eden it was.
But the cruelties of suspicion were soon to
be felt by the hitherto unsuspecting and con-
fiting household. Trouble came from an I'M
suspected source.
Father G., q prominent man of the neigh
borhood, in conversation had said: "There
have been wizards and witches in all times
and that pious and learned man, Cotton
Mathcr, says, That if all the spectral ap-
pearances and molestations ofevil angels and
tricks of necromancy, and bodily apparitions
of Satan and his imps, could be collected and
counted, that are daily and nightly going on,
all righteous and godly mems hair would
stand on ends with horror In these parts"
continued Father G., "are Internal doings,"
and pointing significantly toward the cabin
i'll which the unsuspecting were abiding in
peace, ominously said: Satan may now abide
there" That was sufficient to create in all
minds suspicion that very soon ripened into
a conviction, that the aged and decrepit occu-
pant of the cottage, as also perhaps her faith
full assistant dealt with familiar spirits, and
that much, if not all the strange evils which
afflicted the community were to be attribu-
ted to their Vaccinations.
On the morning of the following day the
former habitation of the widow was but
pile of smoking ashes. The people said, "The
wretches who made compact with Satan,
and inflicted the evils we suffer have perish
cd. Give God the glory"
From the Mine Old Fields the witches have
departed. Their unhallowed rites have ceased;
the innocent are at rest. And Father G. has,
we hope, eXpiated his great wrong in the
light of knowledge free from cruel suspicion.
T. Il. w.