164 THE WITCH OF SMOKY HOLLOW 
required, and the farmer's only daughter fair-haired, 
blue-eyed Annie carried the produce to Smoky 
Hollow. The lonely woman always gave her a warm 
welcome, and soon won Annie's confidence, so that 
she told the lady all her little private affairs, and 
used to look fonvard to the day when she paid her 
weekly visit, the refined and gentle conversation of 
the stranger being a great treat to the country girl. 
A poor young girl, who had been what is termed 
unfortunate, whose little one was ill, and had been 
given up by the doctor, went one day to the farm to 
ask if Annie would get the lady of the hollow to see 
her babe, as she had heard she was good and wise 
and could cure complaints. Annie bade her go to her 
at once herself, and take the child ; she was so kind 
she would turn no one away. 
On the way there the girl met her and told her of 
her trouble. Lifting the light covering off the child's 
face, the lady looked intently at it for some time, and 
then said : 
' He will not live. It is better so, for he will go 
to our Father. Before the week is over he will be 
with Him who said, " Suffer the little children to come 
unto me/' ' 
Crying bitterly, the poor mother, who was only a 
girl in years, turned to go ; but the lady stopped her, 
