Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-03-10
WITCH HAZEL.


Massachusetts, is the region bordering Mil
ler's rivera mad little stream which runs
frothing amid ragged rocks, and lies dark
ling in sullen pools shaded by dense and
tangled vegetation. 1t joins the COnnec-
ticut by leaping riotously down a stair
case formed of jagged crags and the ruins
of broken dam, forming striking con-
trast to the lake-like expanse of the noble
river in which it quiets it's troubled spirit.
4 Life on the borders of MilIer's river fifty
years ago found it's prototype in the saving
character of nature about it. Tragic his
tories are told of families who for genera
tion after generation never wanted sui
eide. Religion was replaced BY supersti-
ton; the vices of mankind grew lush and
rank. and even wOman's nature was war
ped and deformed by it's demoralizing en-
vironment. Long after the belief in witch
craft had been stamped out of Boston and
Salem, a baleful after-growth sprang up
and fiourished here, and though there were
no executions for witchcraft, there was
gross credulity and infatuation, ostracism
and persecution. Riding one day through
this tract of country, and emerging from
a dense and dreary wood of butternut and
pine. we found ourselves in little clearing
still more desolate than the gloomy forest.
A deserted house stood before US, backed
by the angry river; little orchard Of neg
lected crab-apples, grown into sthicket
with hedgerows of tangled barberries,
fanking its further side; aud blasted elm
felled by lightning, and partly stripped by
the woodcutter barred the front gateway.
The house itself presented a most 70 rbid-
ding aspect. Its curtainless Windows were
riddled as by the firing of sharrsheoters.
Some were boarded up, few stuffed with
parti-colored rags; hardly pane was left
unbroken. Originally the front of the
house had been economically ornamented
with yellow paint, but the weather had re-
moved nearly the last vestiee of color and
reduced the whole to uniform and mel
ancholy gray. My companion, more IA
miliar with the region than myself, eyed
me curiously as we approached, to notice
what impression the scene would make
upon me. Involuntarily I touched her
arm and exclaimed, "a real haunted
housel''
She laughed lightly. 1.-THE old people
about here daclare that it is haunted. My
aunt could tell you many strange story
about it. I remember when I was child
how she would make the cold shivers creep
along my spine by her story of Witch Ha-
eel, the old woman who lived here.''
'Would SIZE tell me 7" asked.
II don't know; we can ask her at least.
She used to teach school here when girl"
And my friend pointed to chimney which
rose from dense mass of bushes, soi-
tary monument to the fact that house
had once occupied the spot. ''That was
the school house. She boarded at that
farm house opposite, where my grandma
,ther lived; it is the only house between the
Hazels' and Durkee's tavern, at the juno
ton of Miller's river with the Connecti-
cut. It was lonely spot for young girl
to live In. She must have been glad and
thankful enough when my grand-uncle
married her and brought her away to
Mortified farms.'
/ II Aunt Wealthy was an old lady of mar
yellous activity and keenness; her hair un-
der her widows cap was white as snow,
hut her eyes were black and piercing. Her
form was thin to emaciation, but her
health was good, and her mind unimpair-
cd by age. She wore black silk dress,
shiny and limp, and unadorned with mod
ern ornament of jet or pleating, but it was
enthusiastically black silk, and a slender
gold chain held her husbands heavy silver
watch at her belt. She sat IN stuffed,
high-backed rocking-chair, rocking swiftly
back and forward, knitting interminable
carriers, and singing as We approached, in
q high cracked voice, hymn which argu-
led little for her admiration of manhood:
keE False are the men Of high degree;
h. The baser sort OF vanity;
Laid in the balance, both appear
Light as Puff Of empty air."
"You don't seem to haYe high opinion
[of men. Aunt Wealthy p'' I remarked.
''That's because I've had experience,
child" she replied.
Uncle Gershom was a gentleman, y
said my friend; twas he false, Aunt
Wealthy ~
II have no tales to tell against Gershom
NOW that he is dead. said Aunt Wealthy,
placing her lips firmly togeth er and hum
ming the tune with much EXPRESSION.
AUNT Wealthy" said my friend coax
ingly, 1--WE want you to tell us some stories
about the witches
1.-The witches 20
''Yes, old Witch Hazel, whose husband
danced on her grave when she died."
your grandmother could tell you more