Putnam patriot., 1930-05-01

witches m q cave beneath Mount Dofn and fought. The Haddam witches practiced black magic and quarreled and fought the Moodus witches, who used white magic. A great carbuncle fastened to the roof of the cave fur nished the light. While they fought the ruler of Machimoddi or Machi- moodus fof which Moodus Is a fore shortening of the Indian name, mean ing "Place of Noises) sat in the cave from which the noises came. If the fights lasted too long, he raised his wand: then the light of the carbuncle went out. peals of thunder rolled through the rocky chambers. and the witches rushed into the air and dis appeared.
 Black Cats Witches Agents
 It was believed that a witch must be an old woman living in an old tumble-down house under wooded hill and must be frequently spinning near the door; she must have a black cat or two. two or three broomssticks, and an imp or two. "She must be so dry a nature that. if you fling her in- to a river. she will not sink: so hard then is her fate that. l. she IS to un- dergo the trial, if she does not drown is played upon by thron, pin, or needle pricked into their flesh and grieyously tortured if not burnt or hanged" 1t was said that Goody So- and-So had black cat for n familiar or close companion in mischief. A cat from time immemorial, has been the agent and favorite of witches. This superstitious fancy is pagan and very ancient. In Gays fable of the Old Woman and her cats one upbraids the witch as follows
 ."Tis Infamy to serve a hag;
 Cats are thought lmps, her Broom
 Nag;
 And boys against our lives combine.
 Because. 'tis said. your cats have
 nine"
 A witch we learn from a treatise entitled. Beware the Cat (l5S4), was permitted ito take on her catte's body nine times.
 At Haddam Dame Thus-and-So rode a broomstick on stormy nights and screeched and gibbered down the farm house ehimneys, and there were dances of old crones at Devils Hop Yard, Witch Woods, Witch Meadows, Giants Chair. Devils Footprint and Dragons Rock. (0f these we may hear laterl Farmers were especially afraid of bent, half starved suffer ing old creature who appeared in d red hood after dark and was often found crouched on doorsteps of late returners. Her undiscovered wrinkled cheeks proved beyond doubt that she was a witch with many imps. Her parted lips showed two yellow fangs and the light that shone from the evil eye of the envious person turned as 1t were to stone on all she looked. On stormy nights she was believed to drum and rattle at windows. and by the firelight and candle-light her face was seen against the panes.
 Chase evil Spirits away by dint Of Cickle. Horse-Shoes. hollow Flint.
 The Horse Shoe
 The common practice of mailing horse-shoes on the thresholds of doors was ito hinder the power of witches that enter into the house." 1t should be a horseshoe that one tinds.
 From Gays Fable of the Old Wom- an and her Cats-The witch conn plains-"Crowds of boys
 Worry me with eternal noise;
 Straws laid across my pace retard, The Horse-shoe's nailed leach thres-
 holds guard)
 The stunted Broom the Wenches hide, For fear that l should up and ride
 Among the good wishes of long ago we find. That the Horseshoe may never be pul'd from your threshold". This fashion was designed to keep witches in as well as to keep them out and likens this custom to one of the Romans--driving nails into the walls of cottages to avoid the plague. Did not most of our New England ancestors belief in the charm of the horseshoe?
 At Chapman Falls there were pot holes in the rocks, where dozen Had dam witches met to brew poisons. cast spells and talked in harsh rasping voices with the Prince of Devils, who sat on the edge of the ravine to com mand the devils that appeared in the shape of goats, dogs and cats.
 He's such a horri6 creature; eleven footed, black, saueer-eyed, his nostrils breathing fire, his tail against his shoulder like a sceptre lying, his horns upraised. his voice like a lion roaring, made fearful the shadows.
 In Devils Hop Yard was huge oak that never bore leaves or acorns with in the memory of living men for it has been enchanted. At this time one of the witches took the form of a crow and perched on the very tip top of the graceful tree. 1t looked to the four points of the compass, and then flew away. That night the leaves feli off, the branches and twigs shrivelled, and moss began to form on the limbs. !