The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-08-22
Witches, . A whltInsham, Vi, Legend

untoward happening was promptly
laid to the presence of witches. Near
the year 1905 Mrs. Nathan Green of
Nottingham, VT, one baking day
made batch of nut cakes dough
nuts). A pot or kettle OF hot fat
hung on the crane over the fireplace.
When she placed cake in the fat
1t hoped oat onto the hearth split
open and turned black She tried to
fry others, but they refused to stay
In the Kettle and hoped out onto
the floor. Mr. Green came in at this
time. He was so vexed that he used
rrcfane Language 1t was supposed
that steel would drive witches away.
He placed horse shoe in the kettle,
the fat arose up, sputtered, and the
horse shoe flew out, dripping grease
over the floor and went up onto the
side OF the house and left it's i'm
print there The kettle of fat was
set,away and the cakes were baked
Almost every house at that time had
q horseshoe fastened above the doors
TO ward off the presence of witches
The Hop of the Nut Cakes and the
Print OF the Horseshoe.
This is the story as handed down,
A century old, from Nottingham
town;
Where the nut cakes hoped, and the
great horseshoe
From the kettle of fat to the case
ment flew.
In the airy kitchen of Farmer Green,
Where neatness and order reigned
supreme
The mother was busy, twas baking
day,
And on the table in neat array
Stood -four, milk and sugar. fresh
eggs and such,
To be transformed by her magic
touch,
To food that was fine, delicious and
sweet,
And fit for king or a queen to eat.
| will not attempt to describe the
pies
or pumpkin and apple of goodly size,
Only 10 say that the golden hue
OF the. luscious pumpkin was sweet
to view,
AS it dubbed and baked in the oven
wide,
That was built of brick by the
chimney's side.
or the loaves of wheat, of Indian
and rye,
That were sweet to the taste, ana
fair 10 the eye.
But OF all the food she was wont
to make,
BY far the best was the fried nut
cake.
How the tho't of such cakes comes
now TO mind,
Double and twisted. large and fine.
With a wedge OF cheese and a cup of
tea,
One of that kind is enough for me.
Made with eggs and cream. salt sug-
ar and -four.
With allspice and cinnamon poundee
fine,
In mortar with pestle full half
hour
The usual custom in that far time
All thoroughly mixed with pearl-ash
and milk,
The dough 1t shone like a mass of
elk
She would cut a piece with the strict
est care,
A half n pound in weight or less,
Twisting and coling with deftness
TO nus cake shaped like the letter
How good was their taste. delicious
and hot,
As they were skinned from the fry
pot:
No stale. nut cakes for me, | say,
We must eat them sure by the sec.
ond day.
They were light as the flakes of fall
ing snow.
They were large and fine with a
chestnut glow,
Aye as good as ever were tasted or
seen,
Were the big nut cakes OF Madam
Green.
Filled with sugar and eggs ano
cream.
And sweet as the tale of fairy
dream:
Such were the nut cakes of that far
time,
Nearly half a pound in weight or less
Double and twisted with chestnut
shine.
And made in the form OF the letter
S.
The iron kettle hung high on the
crane,
Containing lard as white as the
snow:
1t sputtered and melted over the
flame,
Made by the wood that was laid
below.
Adown in the fireplace large and
wide,
Where two great frelogs stood each
side.
Then Madam Green, with steady
hand.
Laid a cake with care in the boz
Ing lard;
II sputtered loud. and understand,
The cake hoped out to the hearth
stone hard,
Grew black and broke like a piece
OF shard
Another nut cake was placed in the
fat,
It caused IT to siss and sputier the
Louder and louder it rnuttcred and
F.. .at a."