Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-01-18

YORI
one hand, while the other undid th'
entrance, Mother Blonay admitted he
visitors.
$50, you have been young once
mother?" said Humphries, while en-
| tering.
| The old woman darted a glance up
on him-a steadfast glance from hel
little grey eyes, and the stout ant
fearless trooper felt chill go through
his veins on the instant He knew
the estimate put upon her Throughout
the neighborhood, as one possessed o.
the evil eye, or rather the evil mouth
one whose word brought blight among
the cattle, and whom the negroes fear
ed with a superstitious dread, as able
to bring sickness and pestilence-s
gnawing disease that ate away silent
| ly, until, without any visible com.
plant, the victim perished hopelessly
Their fears had been adopted in par
Dy lne WHITES VI tiiC io"oi SieASS -
the same region, and Humphries
though a bold and sensible fellow, had
heard Of too many dreadful influences
ascribed to her. not to be unpleasantly
startled with the peculiar intensity Of
the stare which she put upon him
Though a soldier, and like his fellows
without much faith of any kind. he had
not altogether survived his supersti-
tions
Young" said she, in reply: "yes.
have been young, and l felt my youth
l knew 1t, and / enjoyed 1t. But
have outlived II, and you see me now
You are young, too, Bill Humphries;
may you live to have the same ques-
ton asked you which you put to me-
"A cold wish, Mother Blonay; bit
ter cold wish, since you should know
by your own feelings how hard 1t will
be to outlive activity and love, and
the young people that come about us
It's q sad season that, mother, and
may I die before 1t comes. But talk
ing of young people. mother, reminds
me that you are not so lonesome as
you say. You have your son, now
Google"
"If his eye is blear, Bill Humphries
it's not the part Of good manners to
speak Of 1t to his mother. The curse
Of blear eye. and a blind eye, may
fall upon you yet and upon yours
ay, down to your children's children
for any thing we know"
That's true, mother-none Of us
can say. l meant no harm, but as
everybody calls him Google"
THE redbug be upon everybody that
so calls him! the boy has a name by
law"
well, well. mother do not be an
cry. and wish no sores upon your
neighbors' shins that you can't wish
off. The redbugs and the June-fiies
are bad enough already, without or
ders: and people do say you are quite
free in sending such plaques upon
them, for little cause. or for no cause
at ALL"
"It's q blessing that I can do 1t, Bill
Humphries, or idle rowdies such as
yourself, would harry the old woman
to death for their sport. It's a bless
Ing and appreciation that / can make
the yellow jacket and the redbug leave
their poison stings in the tender flesh
so that the jester that laughs at the
old and suffering shall learn some
suffering too"
quite a hard punishment for such
an offense. But, mother, they say you
can do more: that you have the spell
Of the bad mouth, that brings long
sickness and sudden death, and many
awful troubles: and some that don't
wish you WE'LL say you love to use It,
do they say so?-then they say not
amiss. Think you. Bill Humphries
that l should not fight with him who
hates me, and would destroy me II he
could? | do: and the bad mouth OF
Mother Blonay upon you. shall make
the bones in your skin ache for long
months after tell you."
II beg. for Gods sake, that you will
not put your mouth upon me then
good mother" exclaimed Humphries
with rudicrous rapidity, as If he half
feared the immediate exercise OF heI
faculty upon him.
The old woman seemed not displeas-
ed with this tacit acknowledgment OF
her power, and she now twisted hei
chair about so as to place herself d.
rectly in front of Singleton. He, mean
while, had been closely scrutinizine
the apartment, which was in no res
poets better than those Of the COM
monest negro houses of the low coun-
try. The floor was the native soil
The wind was excluded by clay, loose
" thrust between the crevices Of the
logs: and an old scaffolding of poles
supporting q few rails crossing each
other, sustained the mattress OF moss
upon which the woman slept. She
dwelt unassisted, seemingly, and en-
tirely alone. A few gourds, or Gala
bashes. hung from the roof, which was
scantily shingled; these contained
seeds of various kinds, punches Of dried
thyme. sage, and other herbs ant
plants: and some which. by a close
analysis of their properties. would be
found to contain a sufficient solution
of the source from whence came hel
spells of power over her neighbors
whether for good or evil.
(To be Continued.)
FISH BY WAGON LoAD.-Residents