Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-08-21
THE V00D0O WOMAN.
GROOMING, IN HER CABIN, AsTRANGE,
UNCANNY TUNE.

The Mere Anatomy of Woman,
Nearly 100 Years oId-A Young Negro
Who Imagines He Has Been Con
! Jured''-Fee and Prescription.
A mile To the left Of the plantation a little
stream runs laZily through the woods. The
water Is black and umuviting, the whole
place noiSome and damp. On the brink of
this branch a little hut is pcrched, "A dilapi-
dated log structure, with mud and stick chin
, ney broken off two feet below the level of
, the roof This is the mansion of Aunt Polly,
! the voodoo woman. As late as it is, there is
smoke coming out of the chimney, and eager
| puffs Of air make weird music among the
, rutting shingles
Whatever cooking is being done the aroma
is not very Savory. hut like the curious com
! mingling of a ward caucus and an emigrant
car
a light wood fire is smoldering in the open
fireplace. Over it hangs a sooty. greasy ket-
tie. The perfume comes from that. Crouch
ing over il is Aunt Polly Grooming to herself a
strange uncanny tune. She is nearly orquite
100 years old, the mere anatomy of a woman,
but her large. deel-sct eyes glare with the
lurid fires of malevolence. Her skinny hands
are Clutched about her knees as she rocks her
self 10 and fro, or peers into the rank decoc-
ton she is cooking. She has but one tooth, a
long fang that protrldes over an inch out of
her mouth, and her struggling wool is long
and very white In a pan by her side are
herbs and roots part of a SIIake and a rabbits
head
Coming along the path leading TO the cabin
is a shuffling, trembling figure. Awe-struck
and yet r~Solute il halts about fifty feet away,
strikes a match and looks at its large brass
watch. 1t Is a young negro from the plants-
ton, who imRgines that ha has been con-
jurci The hands on his watch point TO
$50, which ASSURES him that it is now mid
night the time appointed for him to meet the
voo,loo.
THREE DOLLARS WORTH.
He strides bravely forward and knocks at
the door.
"Come in"
As he enters large gray owl snaps vicious
ly at him from perch above the door.
Aunt Polly glances at him savagely, then
in a sing song way commences:
e "Donc kunjud! Done kunju'd, Dey all
come to Aunt Pullyl Aunt Polly kin kill!
Aunt Polly kin sabc! kunjud, an he gal
pizuned ergin him" and she gives long,
cacklng laugh.
Has yer got tree dolla's, honey"
The young man gives it To her, she clutches
Il in her dirty claw-like hands, and hobblmg
to "A little cupboard, she takes out a rabbit
foot and two bottles, one much smaller than
the other, both filled with a black, thickish
liquid Handing them 20 him, she says:
Honey, take de Sma' bottle and berry hit
right in de paff ob de nigger what kunjah
YOU. When be break it, den de kunjah gone.
You drink half outen de big bottle an glib
half 10 de gal unbeknownst to her. Keep de
rabbit foot in yer pocket twell der spell AM
often you den BUN hit an frow de ashes agin
de do ob lie gals bedroom. Oats gwineter
make her hub you mo an YOU gwine merry
her 70 de year out Aunt Polly, she kin kilt
she kin Sabe! Dey all come TO Aunt Polly
now go long
The young man waits for no second bid
ding, but is Off like the wind, happy and ex-
Jay in The Detroit Free
Press.