Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-12-09
The WITCH OF HARPSWELL.

The feathery branches of the hem
locks that stood, tall and sombre, be-
side the path along Harpswell Neck
soughed softly in the November wind
and the funeral train that wended its
slow way, with frequent haltings,
through the woodland track might
hear also the monotonous sound Of
the surf on the rocks out of sight, yet
not far away.
1t was a singular procession. Six
brawny fsh-wives carried the rude
bier, upon which rested coffin un-
painted and clumsy, while behind
came tall, pale girl. supporting the
steps of man who seemed too feeble
for the task of walking at all. After
these two mourners, to whose faces
the effort of REFRESHING emotion had
lent an expression of cold sternness,
came handful of women, who strag-
gled irregnlarly forward, avoiding the
rough places in the forest path with a
administrative sense that comes from
familiarity.
Now and then the bearers were in
silence relieved of their solemn bur-
den, and with stolid impassiveneSs the
train moved on. The quaint dresses
of the women, the cold light filtering
through the tossing boughs of pine
and hemlock, the mournful bier, com
bined to produce sad and strange
effect. Even the stolid fsh-wives who
were thus accompanying Elkniah Sto-
ver's second wife to her last resting
place were not wholly unconscious OF
the wildness of the circumstances, and
although they had few words in which
to express their feelings, they now
and then mutlered, half to themselves
and half to each other, some comment
which indicated the establishment lit
lie short of stupefaction oil people used
to the most commonplace round OF
life who find themselves suddenly
taking part in remarkable and start,
ling occurrences.
The last century was not far past
its noon. Harpswell Neck, now a
long cape almost bare of trees, stretch
ing out Into Oasco bay in unattractive
barrenness, was then still thickly
wooded and only path through the
primeval forest connected the fishing
settlement at its end with the small
village gathered about the graveyard
and the old square church, still stand
ing, where Parson Eaton, or, as the
country people universally called him,
Priest Eaton, broke the bread of life
to his sea. faring flock.
There had been grave doubts how
Priest Eaton might feel about per-
forming the last rites over the body
that the women, angrily deserted by
the men of the settlement, were wear
lily bearing to her grave. Hannah
Slower had not only been Quaker,
causing great scandal by refusing to
be present at the services in the old
square church, but there were ahoat
rumors of wilder and darker char
acter concerning her. To the step
daughter, Mercy, who had been on
the day previous to ask him, Priest
Eaton Mad, however, given his prom
Use, perhaps somewhat reluctantly, to
overlook all short. comings in view OF
the vel established godlineas of Elk
riah Stover's family; and her sor.
rowing husband hoped that no allu-
sion to the religious wanderings OF
his dead wife might add to his pain.
While the women by their presence
and by taking the office of bearers
gave testimony to the worth Of the
departed they were not without more
or less conscious willingness that the
occasion should be improved to their
spiritual edifcation by some contrast
ing of their own steadfastness in the
faith with the errors Of the deceased.
They had labored zealousl y with her
living and their characters were too
hardy to yield all opposition simply
because Goodwife Slower could no
longer reply. They had braved the
anger Of the husbands that had for
hidden them to be present at the fu-
neral Of one to whom popular maIlg-
nifty gave the name of witch, name
in those days of terrible import but
righteousness, and perhaps especially
feminine righteousness, is seldom I'M
willing to hear itself commended, even
at the expense of the unanswerinR
dead.
AS the forest began to grow thinner,
and there were signs that the village
was near, certain subtle air Of ex'
pectation made itself evident by faint
siona. The hearera walked with a