The Osceola times., 1884-08-30
STRANGE SUPERSTITIONS.
Tho Blood -Curdiing Ghost stories of FIJI
ty Years Ago.
Providence Star.

hio'iuVncc cthr.
We frequently read of Salem witch
craft, or see reference to il as one of the
pecuiiarities of the age and place, when
and where ii existed. Few, however,
are aware of the widespread belief in it
at that time in the towns and hamlets
of New England. and more particularly
perhaps, in those of Massachusetts. The
writer, in his early boyhood, was brought
frequently into contact with elderly peo-
pie. those whose recollections dated
back to the middle of the last century,
and he has sat by the hour and heard
them rehearse thrilling tales of events
which either came under their own per-
sonal observation, or had been described
to them by their accestors. Some of
these were of character which would
hardly gain credence in this enlightened
age, but they were Ielieiously believed
by those who related them.
The belief in witchcraft was quite gen.
eraI among old people as late as the first
quarter of the present century, and there
were those who were believed to have
attained to supernatural power through
making a league with the devil' or
selling themselves to him body and
soul.
There lived in the town.of Swansea, in
Massachusetts, or in the neighboring
town Of Rehoboth, early in the present
century, man whose name / might
call, who was believed to be possessed
of supernatural powers, and was gener.
ally credited with having obtained them
through a compact made with the arch
enemy of mankind. He was in the
early part of his life devout member of
the Christian church and the owner of
a large farm. He did not prosper in
worldly affairs, and became financially
embarrassed. At length he withdrew
from his connection with the church,
and almost simultaneously his affairs
took favorable turn. He became an
avowed enemy of religion, so much so
that he would not be present at any re-
ligious service or ceremony whatever
At the same time he had gained repu-
tation as a "conjuror"-one who had
"made league with the devil" On the
occasion of a death in his family, his
wife insisted upon religious services,
at the interment. He acceded TO her
wishes, but would not be present at the
services, Withdrawing himself to a neigh
boring field and sitting down upon
log. He was observed sitting there by
one Of the attendants, who nudged his
neighbor and remarked to him:
whats that old devil sitting down
on that log for?"
The subject had gone from his mind
entirely, when, after the conclusion of
the ceremonies, the old man came up,
and, patting him on the shoulder, re-
peated the very words he had uttered
10 the other At another time man
living in a remote part of the town from
him. and a perfect stranger to him had
lost a COW, ard, being unable TO tnd it,
was directed by one of his neighbors to
the "conjurer.' He made journey OF
eight miles to his re,iIe zee, knocked at
the door, when the d,a he was seeking
presented himself, ani, Jefore a word
had been uttered, i,ina. ked to him.
"You may go home again; your cow
is found, hut she is spoiled"
Such incidents as these made and
sustained the reputation OF the man as a
"conjurer"
Stories of the existence "witchcrafr
in The towns of Swansea and Rehoboth
during the middle of the last century
were, as | remarked beio e, quit. COM
mon. In one instance the whole milk.
ing of family would sour Immediately
on being brought into the house. This
being repeated at every milking for
considerable time, way was suggested
TO the farmer to put stop to il. Ac-
cordingly, the next milking he brought
in, a bright fire was Burning III the fire
place. and he dashed the whole milking
behind the log. There was no further
trouble with the milk but an old hag in
the neighborhood, who had been re-
garded by the neighbors as a witch, was
noticed to have very sore mouth about
that time.
In another instance farmer went to
his hogpen in the morning, and found
an iron band fitted tightly around one
of his porkers, with a rivet on every
place visible where it was joined togeth-
er, and the only way it could be removed
was with file.
A whole family was disturbed night
after night with the sound Of a spin
ning-wheel in operation in the garret,
and on going up there the noise would
cease, to recommence Immediately on
their withdrawal.
One of the pastimes of young people
IN we oldenne tyne" was trying tricks"
when two or three had came together
an evening. One of these frolics, as
| used to hear old people tell it. came to
a tragic ending. Three young ladies
had met together in the house of anoth-
er, and resolved to "try trick" the re-
suit of which would be that there would
appear to each of them her future hus-
band. The conditions having been per-
formed, the noise ofa carriage approach
ing the house was heard, and directly
the sound as of box being brought up
stairs, and laid upon the table. One Of
the Young ladies, looking in, saw the
image of herself there, and the story
went that she died in six weeks from
that time.
Christian men and women in the rural
districts Of Massachusetts and Rhode
Island would sit whole evenings around
the hreslde of winter night, rehears-
Ing such blood-curdling stories of events
either witnessed by themselves or told
them by fba;r apoaotaro a,I p,apy q