Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-03-30
WITCH OF BEN.Y.cLOE-

Unc0TtnIy 6G1nB WAO ASA@-- -
Evil Doing.
The most formidable, perhaps, OF the
unearthly beings who people the deer
forests, at all events in the central dis
tricts of Scotland, was the witch OF
Ben-y-Gloe, which is the highest peak
in the forests of Athole. This amiaDle
enchantress, whose diet consisted prin-
cipaIly of live snakes, delighted In ev-
cry kind of evil doing, but none more
than in assisting mortals in gratifying
the passion of revenge. Upon one oc-
casion her aid was invoked by the Earl
of Athole's cupbearer, whose son, a
robber, had been executed by the Earl.
The witch promised to abet his schemes
of vengeance in three days. She pre-
sented him with certain herbs, which.
If given to his masters horse, would so
madden the animal that 1t would dash
out its riders brains. She further gave
him deadly poison to put In the EarPs
cup, and lastly she undertook, falling
in these devices, to conceal the cup
bearer in the Eari's bedroom so that he
might stab him in his sleep. She
clinched the matter by vowing the
most horrid vengeance upon any one
who, having heard her secret. should
venture to disclose 1t before st. An.
drew's Day.
The Earrs page had happened to
overkear what was passing, and was
much puzzled how to save his master
on the one hand and how to elude the
witch on the other If he dared to di-
yulge the plot. King James V. and his
court, 1t should be said. were paying a
visit to the Earl at the time, who en-
tertained them with what Captain Cos
tigan called "princelee hospitalitees,"
and, indeed, had built palace especial.
ly for their reception. On the follow
ing day the cupbearer, as usual. prof
fered the Earl his morning"
"Holdr' exclaimed Willie, the page,
"and pray to the saints that their bless
ing may attend the days sports" The
Earl accordingly fell on his knees,
when, to his great astonishment, the
goblet Instantly broke into a thousand
pieces. But, the King being mounted,
there was no time for commentary or
delay. The Earrs fiery steed is brought
round; he makes ready to mount, but
scarcely has he set foot In stirrup.
when the twang Of a bowstring is
heard. and the horse falls dead, pierced
to the heart by the pages arrow. The
natural annoyance of the naughty no
BILE at such an occurrence Is not sens
IDLY diminished by Willie's somewhat
lame excuse that he had been shoot
ing at an eagle and missed his mark,
and 1t might have gone hard with the
boy but for the timely Intervention of
the Queen mother.
The cupbearer was now left, so to
speak, with but one string to his bow.
That night at the banquet, the King
was summoned to the south to meet
the English foe, and set out forthwith,
bidding his host follow in the morning
with his tail" The Earl was on the
point of retiring to his room, where the
cupbearer and his friend. the witch,
were carefully concealed, when the
page, at his wits end how to avert the
dreaded catastrophe, made the brill
liant, though somewhat extravagant
suggestion that the palace should be
set on fire by way Of providing the
King with bonfire or beacon to guide
his steps through the darkness. The
Earl, like a loyal vassal, jumped at the
idea, which was promptly put into ex-
ecution. The cupbearer perished mis-.
erably in the flames; the witch escaped
uttering loud execrations. In column
of smoke: and the page, when st. An.
drew's Day had come and gone, told
everything. and was suitably reward
ed with an estate and bride. The las,
year in which the witch of Ben-y-Gloe
is known to have held converse with
men was 1773, the very same in which
DIR. Samuel Johnson safely accomplish.
ed his celebrated tour of the Hebrides.