Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1914-04-23
"Moll Dyer"

There are many traditions in old
st. Mary's connected with the early
settlement of the State and with
times of later date, which if col.
lected and published, would be oi
great interest and pleasure to oul
people. Hardly a neighborhood
bat has its old story to be recounted to
the timid children by some old dame
of past generation. The old peo.
pie are passed away and these old leg.
ends with them. The new genera
tion looks to other things than te
the fireside stories of the olden time
IL would be we'll, while yet time,
for some lover of legendary lore,
however, poor and humble his eff.
forts may be, to gather these old
legends and preserve them from
irretrievable loss. The forms, al
least, should be preserved, if bul
in moulds of clay that, hereafter
some great master may make thos,
forms divine. An Irving would
have found in them rich materia
out of which to weave many beauti
fal legends. But for some humbl,
chronicler, the great Wizard o.
tine North could not have gives
to the world his masterpieces ol
fiction.
The following story has otter
been heard by the writer and man,
are the believers in its authenticity
Many, many years ago, a centur,
perhaps, when witchcraft was NOR,
believed i'm than now and whea Cot
ton Mather held sway in the land o.
the Puritans, there lived in an ole
hut at a place about one mile south
eas: of the County Aims House al
old hag who bore the reputation o
being a witch. In those days whel
believers in the occult science wer,
many, witch was the bane of an,
locality. There were those VIII,
were fearful of mourning her enmi
ty and those who fearfully teste'
her powers in discovering their hid
den fate. She was known far an,
wide by the name of Moll Dyer, an,
more than this, no one knew wit
any positive knowledge. Sh
was of tall and commanding fig
ure, as all witches are expected L
be, but, it is said, through tn
wreck of years, one could see glimp
ses of q former beauty.
Her history no one knew, bu
there were stories told of her in an
other day and in another countr
where her lot was different an
where all that was refine d and beau
tiful waited on her every step.
Her tattered dress would at time
reveal patches of an embroidere
kerchief or 4 bit of faded lace, whic
might recall far off Summers whe
the banquet hall rang with Oh
music of her laughter and courtl
men worshipped at the shrine of HI
loveliness.
Some great sorrow which crushe
hope and love out of her young lii
came upon her and with hate fs
her kind in her heart, she sought
distant shore to live out, alone an
unloved, the remnant of her mis-.
rable existance.
These were only stories of hs
life. not, however, gathered frol
her, for, whenever an allusion ,
her former life was made she woul
at once cease conversation and r,
main silent for many days and q
such occasions, it was thought IL
most evil effects Of her witchcra
were felt.
II The hut in which she lived serve
her with shelter during the col
Winter months, but in Summer 81
would roam the country arour
gathering simples for her meant
tions and living upon the aims
the people who were afraid of o
, Tending her by denial.
Moll Dyer was q name too ofts
used in those days to hush the cri