The Delta independent., 1889-12-10
HEROIC MEASURES.

HEROIC MEASURES.
How the Spell Was Removed from
Uncle Billy's Horses.
Gross superstition il generally allied to
ignorance. The man who seriously be-
lieves in witchcraft and silver bullets is
likely to contend that the world can not re-
volve every twenty-four hours, because it
does not empty the water out of his well
Uncle Billy, as an old pioneer we wot OF
was Familiarity termed, was one of this
class. He knew there was such beings as
witches-old women who had made q
league with the devil-because he had had
some sad experiences In his younger days.
"You see," said Uncle Billy, 81 amt .
man Of larnipg-I never went to school
day in my life-I don't know how to write
my name or even read word Of print
but, for all that, knows as much about
witches, and can tell you as much about
'em, as the next.
81 settled out " est here after the Injins
had all been druy OF, and 30 me and my
wife hadn't nothing to fear from them; but
there was other critters about In these hero
diggings nigh as bad, as I'm gwine TO tell
you about,
"You must know that sfter I'd got thing.
fixed up to suit me, I TUX to raising bosses,
having Q material incline for that ere animal.
I've knowed hoss ever sence was old
enough to know any thing. Nobody couldn't
fool me in a hoss. After two or three years
l got things jogging in the right kind of
style, and was doing purity decent bust
ness for Q man Of my means and edicatiop
"But then come my fust trouble. An old
woman, called the Widder Groat, living
about two miles off, come over TO my house
one day to borrow o peck OF Injin meal. Ny
wife she let her have it, aud the old witch
she went OF good-nater'd enough. A week
went by, and she didn't fetch it back, but
come agin for another peck, telling some
kind Of q story about being disapp' 'inted and
SO on. Howsomever, my wife she didn't be-
lieve her, and wouldn't let her have no
more till she paid up, and this time she went
away mad, and said that rich people that
wouldn't help poor folks wouldn't git along
none too well, and that we might look out
TO see the Lord pay US on for our meanness
in way we'd feel it. II she'd Q said Satan
instead Of the Lord reckon she'd . come
nearer the mark.
to see after my hosses and found Ave Of 'em
sick in way I'd never seed hosses afore;
and the minute looked at 'em lknowed
Mother Groat had begun her de'ilish work,
and I didn't have much hope to cure 'em,
though went in for trying what thought
was best It didn't do no good, though
they all died in great distress-and then
some more Of 'em was TUX in the same way.
/ Igot q hoss-d doctor to come and sec 'em, but
he couldn't tell what allied 'em, no moron
me, and they died, too. But when the third
lot was TUX thought 1t high time to try
so'thing else; and, backing my saddle-hoss,
rid thirty miles TO see woman that told
fortins and sich. She was a big, fat thing,
with . purity sharp eye, and knowed
heap.
"sYou've come on important businessP
says she, As leaped down from my pant
ing hoss. and hurried into her house.
Thas,' said L; what IL itP
"'So'thing's happened to you Of late
that's kind Of awful and mysteriousr she
said.
"sYes,' said /, that's true,' wondering
all the time how she could know,
"sYou've lost,' said she; and there she
stopped, and looked right curious into my
eye&
"T have; but can you tell me whati,
81 did that Jest TO try her, like.
"'I can tell you,' said abe, but 1t might
take me some little time TO git at all the
particulars, and every minute il 20 precious
10 the success of what you're after.'
"'It is,' SAID 1; and went on to tell her
I'll about the bosses,
"They're bewitchedr she said, right off,
without stopping 70 think minute.
"That's itp cried. 4 knowed it,
"There's an old woman in the scraper
she said,
".Exactlyp replied.
"sLet me seep she sort o. mused; sheI
name is-'
"'Groatp said.
"'The very same,' said she; and I'm glad
you know 1t yourself, for now you'l be ready
TO act a. tell you.'
s'It's wonderful, sir, what that 'ar fortin-
teller knowed She catched at the name
Of Grost the minute spoke IL; jest as II
she'd knowed the old witch all her life,
and s'psct she'd never sot eyes on hei
puther.
"well, she told me to go and git some
tausy, some dogwocd roots, and mix 'em
with some yarbs she Civ me, and put 'em in
pot, along with lot Of pins and needles,
and bile 'em all together for two hours, call.
ing out the name Of the witch every minute
or so. and I'd lind 1t 'ud make hersick, or at
least put her into great distress, oven
though she mightn't let on; and II that
didn't take the spell Oh Of nv hosses, to
come back to her, aud she'd tell me so'thinG
else as would. / wanted her TO tell me the
other thing then-bekase thirty mile wns no
small bit to ride-but she slid as how it 'ud
break the spell to tell me the second afore
the fust was tried; and 30 had to 20 home
with whatd I'd got, which ! paid her i've
dollars for
"Well, sir, rode home, and tried the
yarb spell Is soon ~ could git all the
things together, which was the next day,
and aftcr I'D done 80 startod over to the
Wilder Groat's, on pretcnse to ask her
about her health and the corn meal; but
really, you see, sir, to find out how the
thing worked. The old woniar lived in a
log hut about . milo on; and when got
there saw at once as how the charm was
doing the business beautiful. Things didn't
look thrifty round about, and tho shanty
vas kind Of shut up like. I knocked on the
door, Jest for forms sake, and q faint voice
told me TO come In. went in, and therc
lay tho old woman, stretched out on her
bed, grunting with pain.
"'Ohx' she sniveed out, - soon ~ she
saw me; cts you, are It, Uncle Bulyf I'm
glad to see anybody, for Is feared I'd die
here all alone
"'Whai's the matter, Mother 0roAtp !
asked, jest ~ II didn't know.
"'I'm nearly dead with the Yheumatics
and Starvation said she. with another
grunt. 4 hain't had mouthfui 10 cat since
yesterday mornIng Didn't you fotch me
over so'thing to eatr she asked.
4 Tt.rA AAA