The Newtown bee., 1900-12-07

the road with an ox-load of hay. They were returning from Lower Stepney. Hannah Cranna was in her garden, gath ering bouquet of tiger lilies, of which she twas pAssionately fond and which grow luxuriantly, to this day, in the old yard. Stopping the oxen one of the men called out, ''Halloo! old witch, canst give us an texhibitlon of thy Doasted power?" Hannah Cranna's temper was variable and the tone, more than the words, aroused her ire.
 "Before you pass wonder tree," said she, extending weazened hand and
 pointing skinny Anger at giant oak few rods before them, and speaking in shrili, reedy voice, ''you shall have evil dence of that which you 80 ironically ask"
 Then she disappeared inside her house. Laughing at her angry retort the y start ed the oxen forward, but though it was
 a pronounced d0wDgrade and though the
 load had been hauled up several steep
 hills in the last miie. the oxen were now and hauled, and braced, throwing their immense weight and strength against the
 yoke. Urged by voice and goad they did their utmost, but without result. From one side of the road to the other the heavy load was twisted, but 1t moved not an inch. Finally, one wheel of the cart slid into the gutter and over the whole mass turned, the action loosening
 the cart tongue from the yoke ring and
 swinging 1t, like mighty club, against
 the broad side of one of the oxen. With
 an aftrighted below, the animal raced
 off, dragging his fellow with him, clear ing the fence near by and disappearing from view, both going at full speed, ,dowa steep side-hiil. It was all 30 palpsbly
 supernatural that the two men, with one glance of mQtual terror toward Hannah's domicile, took to their heels down the road toward Stepney at record breaking speed. A sardonic, blood chilling chuckle from their rear still further nastened their footsteps. One of the oxen was discovered the next day, peacefully gra zing, with the remnants of a broken yoke upon his neck, while the other was
 piercing his chest. Neither the cart or
 hay were ever removed and the only thing recovered from the wrecked outfit
 was gallon demijohn, half full of some kind of fluid, which was found, weeks
 later, beneath the hay, by an adven. turous juvenile explorer.
 Hannah was seldom seen away from home. Occasionally, however, she
 would make ptgrimages into the dense forests extending, at that time, in every direction. Her cat, Grimalkin, popular ly supposed to be actuated by preter- natural impulses, always accompanied
 her. 9rimalkin, by the way, was ever fat and sleek and cheerful yisaged. This
 was regarded by the people roundabout as . palpable effect of a very strongly suspected cause. In fact, Grimalkin on. | oyed the doubtful distinction of being che champion chicken embezzler in ali
 that region, either four or two legged. As no one was ever able to actually
 catch him in any unlawful act, however,
 his contented spirit was not at all dis turbed thereat.
 While trudging home one day, return.
 ing from one of her pilgrimages, Hannah was overtaken by man named Parme-
 lee, who lived ln Hattertown, 8 small village few miles north of Stepney. It was near where Westey Edwards no v lives. Parmelee had been to the mill and was returning home with bag of corn. He was on horseback and as was the
 custom in those days, had the corn slupg
 across the horse's back. Gathering up