Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-07
WITCHCRAFT AS A TRADE.
People who Prey Upon the Supersti-
lions of Poor Colored Women.

The old colored woman in the yellow shawl
and bandanna turban stopped at the third gate
on the right of the alley and gave three knocks.
When the portal was opened a crack by thin
and nervous female of mulatto complexion the
visitor inserted her foot unobtrusively into the
gap, as to effectively prevent the shutting of
the door, if it had been attempted, and said:
Honey, didn't some myster Gus sign tell you
dat stranger would come visitin' you today"
'Dar was sumpin' queer-lookin' in de coffee
grounds dis mornin; but 1 done thought de
long row of black birds meant muffin but de
funeral on de mex square," replied the woman
inside the gate.
No, honey; dem black birds was misfortunes
comm You'se had a-deal er trouble in yo'
life: you can't keep it hid from me, case Use
a witch an knows ebberyting. A deal er trouble
you'se had"
"Yes, indeedy, dats fac" admitted the
other, somewhat awestruck; "What a wise
woman you lis, to be sho."
Use awful wise, honey; and lots mo- troubles
an miSfortunes am comm Oh. You'se got an
enemyI'
'Me,'
Yes, an awful bad one. You nebber saw
her, but she's got a spite against you cause
her grandpop hoodooed by an aunt Oh
yourn one time, SO dat de ole man . wool all
come out an he swole UP like a balloon. Don't
y = j
my Lawd, yes"
Il know you had Once in a while ak YOU
a queshun, SOS to see if you tell me de trufe
Now I'll tell you de reason for dem palms, Dis
enemy of yourn is berry wicked; she is berry
tall, an has pop eyes an freckles. Once in a
while when she's bakin', maybe, she makes
leetle image out oh de dough an bakes il in de
oven, not berry crusty. De image is you. And,
when she has time, she takes de image an
sticks pins into it; den, OBJ course, you feel
pains an aches"
.sakes alive! What's q po' critter like me
to dor"
Oats what came to tell you. Didn't say
I was witch, honey? I'll show you how to
fix yo' enemy, SOS she can't do you no hurt no
mo-; but it'll cost you sumpin."
Use only got fifty cents.''
"Well, dat'll do. Give it to me, chile You'se
sho' it's good silver piece? Now listen: When
You are bakin' next, take a bit oh dough an
make an image oh de wicked woman. Just
make it long an thin an it'll do. Den set it to
raise, wild de udder bread, after tyin' a piece
oh thread round its neck pretty tight. When
it's done raised de thread will hab de neck
mos cut in two; bake it careful dat way, berry
crusty, an put it away on de pantry shelf in a
tin box. De wicked woman will be SO choked
dat she can't do you any hurt for a year; den
you kin make anudder image in de same
way"
lis dat all?'
'No, dere's, sumpin else awful serious; but
it costs mo- money to know it"
but amt got no mo-"
Not two bits? Desc are hard times in de
witchery business"
mot nickel"
swell, I'll come again. Dere's q pusson 1
know of OATS land sumpin down 'gainst you.
an, if don't tell you how to fl it, it IL bring
all sorts er bad luck. Good-day, honey; and,
if you kin git any ole cloes from yo' missus,
dey'n go a long way wild me, stead er money"
And the old woman in the yellow shawl, with
drawing her ponderous foot from the crack of
the gate turned and pursued her way along the
alley to the rear entrance of the next house.
person who knows about such things told a
STAR reporter that there we're a good many
shrewd negro women in Washington who made
an excellent living by preying in this way upon
the superstitious fears Of the lower class among
the colored population.