Newark post., 1914-01-07
Maryland Folklore
The Haunted Lot

county, Maryland, near the east
bank of the Octoraro creek, close to
it's mouth, the surrounding country
was very rugged and to great
extent undeveloped. Although
farming was the main industry,
cultivation Of the land was attend
ed with great difficulties. Steep
hills, large rocks, timper Of huge
size, that stood thickly upon the
ground, together with unlimited
quantities Of small stones that cov-
cred the earth, afforded every rea-
son why here farming could not
possibly be very easy task The
farmers were mostly descendants
Of the original settlers who had
come into possession of the land by
grants made to them when leaving
England as emigrants under Will
lam Penn. These lands they had
supposed to be in Penn's domi-
MONS and part of the province Of
Pennsylvania
Considerable progress had been
made until the farms now afforded
comfortable and well-provided
homes. In most instances the orig
inal log house and barn had been
replaced by buildings Of more mod
ern design. These stand today
without having undergone much re-
pairing and testify to the worth of
the early mechanic and the super
iority Of the building material, es-
pecially the lumber Of that day,
over much that can be procured
now.
Contrary as it may seem, the
productiveness Of this section was
beyond question. The old-fashion-
ed orchards with the tomato, the
wine-sap, the Pennock, the rusti-
coat, the grindstone and the pip
pin-names for different varieties
Of apples, each one noted for the
palatable peculiarity Of the crisp,
mellow Juciness which accompan-
led its delicious flavor The apples
grew abundantly upon stately
trees Of luxurious growth, which
with little or no attention, in spite
of years of age, yielded annually
their abundance Of choice fruit in
manner that would make the mod
ern horticulturist admit that with
the Old-fashioned orchard is bur-
led laborsaving secret that this
modern horticulturist, with all his
scientific research has yet failed to
discover.
And these apples were only part
OF the fruitage-peaches, grapes,
plums, pears and cherries, not to
mention nuts, with which the trees
at this autumnal season, bended
low as if in thankfulness.
Preparations for a long, rigid
winter included list Of home-cur-
ed provisions, preserved fruits and
other substantial and dainty table
nlceties-hOme-made wines, apple
jack, cider, sweet and hard, etc, a
full description of which would re-
quire the skill of a Washington Irv-
ing. From such a supply these
farmers wives or their daughters,
at moment s notice, could pre-
pare a meal which would strip the
present high cost of living of all
its terrors, and for pure, genuine
wholesomeness would make the
dining room of the hotel DUPONT
look like thirty cents.
And there was the grandmother
After the day had closed she sat in
the corner by the open fireplace
with her clay pipe and a pair of
tOngs to extract live coal with
which to light the tobacco contained
in the bowl. There she sat, divid-
ing her energies between the pipe
which she putfed vigorously and
the knitting needles in her hands.
Near her was her successor (min-
us the pipe, but otherwise as indus
trious) listening to the fascinating
tales known to modern historical
associations as "folk-lore '-stor-
les which the grandmother was ever
ready to entertainingly divulge, on
the installment plan, in quantities
to suit the listener.
She is too far-removed from the
time to remember when men rode
on horseback from here to Phila-
delphia to secure from an immi-
grant ship a wife, who after the
marriage ceremony had been per-
formed, rode behind him on the
horse, to the new home. But she
as girl remembered how Grand
pappy' rode to Philadelphia and
secured from an immigrant ship