Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-07-29
How the Witch was Saved.

Look after the little one carefully
to-day, Elspeth; there is too much of
heat in her hand, and her head is too
heavy to please me well, said DR..
Endicott, anxiously, as he Yearly
picked up his soft, broad hat.
Master, you cannot mean -
Hush! Not word TO the child,
but keep her close by the house and
in the warm sunshine. Above all, she
must suffer no alarm or suspicion Of
my fears" And the doctor strobe
away with hurried footsteps but a
fearful heart.
For many days the fever had ragged
in Salem town. The stricken inhab-
itants thought little in giving it "A
filter name, for day by day heads
dropped. eyes grew wild in delirium,
hearts cold in death, and loved forms
were laid in the shady church-yard,
where row after row Of unsodded
mounds mutely told the terrors OF the
plague.
Thin and worn under the strain Of
sleepless nights and toilsome days;
faithfully going the round OF duty,
unwearied. thoughtless of self, with
tender hand and sympathetic word
tightening the suffcrings of rich and
poor, DIR. Endicott, with something
very like chill of despair, thought
OF the flushed face and dropping head
Of his little Margaret, his own darling,
his daisy. And his memory Travelled
back TO the sweet May morning. some
seven years ago, when upon his door
step he had found Tiny baby girl,
with faded little white field daisy
clutched tight in her chubby hand.
Into lis heart and his empty home he
had taken the little stranger, and the
home was empty no longer, for baby
smiles and baby kisses, lisping words
and the patter OF little feet woke
sweet echoes in the long oaken corri-
dors, driving away the shadow OF
loneliness. And now the fever. he
fastened on.
Scarcely less troubled was old Els
peth, who had given the child all she
had known of IL mothers care. But
Elspeth had Il foolish tongue, and
lived in Salem town in days when
superstitions were many and horrible;
when fires burned for witches, and no
one was safe from the attacks OF the
terrible Town Council; and when she
bade the child stay near the house,
forgetful of the doctors command,
she said:
Stray not from the garden, dearie,
or the witch will find thee and
give thee the fever, and make the
blood in thy veins burn hot as the
fires on Witch's Hill
The morning wore away. Little
Daisy tried to play with her kitten,
but some way her head seemed very
dizzy and strange. She commenced
TO make a ball OF her namesake
flowers. but their little white faces ap-
peared to nod and sway as she tried
TO pluck them. Her hands refused
to do her bidding; she was very, very
hot. and oh. so thirsty? The tired
head fell forward on the grass, and
the eyelids closed in feverish sleep
Suddenly in her dreams she cried
out: "Oh, Elspeth, Elspeth, | am
afraid" and sob gathered in her
throat. But Elspeth was nodding
over her knitting and did not hear
At the cry the gate was opened, and
strange-looking woman, who with
bent head had for long hour paced
the walk outside the high garden wall,
entered quickly, and bending with
outstretched arms beside the sleeping
child. murlnured, with streaming
tears: My baby, my baby
At the sound Daisy's eyes opened
heavily and gazed straight into those
above her. For moment only.
Then. with terror the child tore her
hand from the OBTAINING grasp OF the
woman. and scream after scream
awoke the echoes of the quiet gar
den.
The witch, the witch! | ain burn
ing: she has given me the fever.
From every side people came run
ing; Elspeth, the neighbors, the
passers-by, but for a moment all
feared to approach the pair under the
apple tree. Lite Daisy crouched on
the grass. the fever look they all
knew 30 well in her face; and the
woman-she stood back against the
tree. her knees trembling, her eyes
wild with terror, her dark hair. with
threads of silver interviewer, blown
loose and disheveled. Truly strange
figure. Elspeth, grown brave for the
child's sake, gathered Daisy in her
arms. and the town constable, boIder
than his fellows, with rough hands
seized the terriiedwoman and dragged
her away at the head Of yelling
mob.
Burn the witch :"
She is the one who has brought
the fever 10 our town; burn her and
,ba favar with her -