The Republican journal., 1885-06-04
Traditions of the Elders.
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NO. %


A belief in witchcraft seems to have had
some influence over the minds of our people as
late as 1915. About that time Capt. Samuel
Wardwell of the sch. Polly, desirous of excel
ling all his competitors in the number of trips
made between Penobscot and Boston in one
season, determined, although he was good
member of the Methodist church, to take ad-
vantage of the diabolical power said to be pos
sessed by Mrs. Thirza Leach by virtue of her
contract with the Devil and do IL larger busi-
ness than 1t would be possible to do without
the aid of the evil one, who according to the
popular belief controlled the winds. The Cap
tain went to the witch and offered to give her a
bushel of meal trip if she would give him Il
fair wind whenever he wanted it. TO these
terms Thirza agreed. Strange it may be for the
whole summer be had fair wind He made Il
trip per week, and in the fall faithfully paid
over the meal. He made a greater number of
trips than We're ever made before or since. But
conscience >mitten he refused to renew the con-
tract the next season and was constantly beset
with head winds and fog. To his diving day he
believed his Unprecedented fair winds were
owing to the good understanding between Mrs
Thrza Leach and the Devil
The following story will show that the peo-
pie believed in good a, ~ell rs evil spirits in
those days:
Joshua Bridges and his mother, who moved
here from York, give the following account of
the cause of one of his arms being no larger
than that of boy of tea. When Joshua was a
small boy he was afflicted with white swelling
on his arm between the elbow and shoulder In
those days L White swelling terminated fatally.
All the doctors said the boy mast die--and that
within a few days. At the close of Il chilly day
in Autumn Mrs. Bridges had dressed ;hc boys
sore, made him as comfortable lis she could and
went to the hoyel to milk their COW, the chiet
support of the poor woman and her three
children, When She returned to the house a
man completely clothed in white robes was
standing at the door, He gave the usual >uluta-
taton and she remarked the sweetness, beauty
and As she always expressed it. the angelic ma i.
esty of his countenaHcc. He told her in sweet
| thrilling tones he had come to heal her afflicted
boy. He entered the cottage with her and ,h,
offered him chair which he declined as he said
he could stop but few minutes. He went TO
the boy and much against the mothers will be
gan to remove the banda2es from the ann. Mrs
Bridges found herself unable to resist. The
stranger ordered hlr to take the rays aud cas1
them into the sea- She complied. The boy.
pains ceased aS soon the stranger Htid hand
on him. After manipulating the sole arm fol
something like an hour he called for cleal
linen, with which he wrapped the arm. aud
told Mrs. Bridges not to remove the bandagt
until the arm was we'll.
She said >he felt bound to obey. The arm
did heal and Joshua lived to 4 good Old age an
abe bodied man except the Short arm, When
asked who in her opinion the man was that did
this wonderful cure She always expressed the
belief that it was Jesus Chris; came to head hel
son because She was poor widow ana in hen
| prayers had always earnestly begged OF him Il
look down in pity on her dear son. Her fait
was further increased by The fact that the kin,
stranger dill not depart by the door, but APP
peared to vanish into air as he stood by the bee
| side.
| Il know not bow the trjlth may be,
say the tale a> twas said to me-
|