100 LOCAL WITCHCRAFT. 



It is that, formerly, our country people, 



While minding their families well, 



And being, in fact, exceedingly pious, 



Were, I have heard, very superstitious ; 



And believed, almost one and all, 



In witches and other such like pests ; 



And that there was scarcely a house 



Without its ogre or its hobgoblin ; 



Or else its fairy and its scare, 



Or other devilry with tail, 



With horns, or claws, or cloven feet. 



To say nothing of ill-shaped neighbours 



Who threw spells, bearers of ill-luck, 



Accidents, death or sicknesses 



On the horses, cattle or pigs, 



Or on the little chickens, and ducklings ; 



Poisoning everything with vermin, 



People, victuals, and the clothing in drawers ; 



So that there never was an end 



To the conjurations and the gossip, 



Any more than to all the boilings, 



The dirty remedies, and the unbewitchings, 



The prayers around the white-deal fire 



To bring down the chimney, swoop ! 



Or to cause to enter by the key-holes, 



Or the cracks or holes in the partitions, 



The sybil or the mischief-maker 



Which caused all this confounded fuss, 



In the shape of a magpie, a white he or she-rat 



A crow, a monkey, or a black he or she-cat, 



Or of a bat, of a jackdaw or of an owl, 



To the stinking fumes of the (ahan) grass ; 



Or of the roastings, or the stewings 



Of snakes, or slow- worms, snails or frogs ; 



Or the heart of a weasel or of a bat 



Broiled at the fire, or stewed, or fried. 



And then when in the kitchen 



At last the vermin showed itself, 



Oh ! do you ask if it were closely followed 



With the bayonet or with the flail 



The poker, the gun or a fork 1 Or if it was struck 



With whatever thing came first to hand ; 



And if it were quickly run through, 



Smashed, bruised or otherwise massacred 



Against the back-part of the chimney, 



By the sprightliest of the gang 1 



If you think I have hitherto only prated 



Mere lies or imaginary croaking, 



You are much mistaken. I assure you, 



I say, simply, that which even now 



Is told me as having been done 



In the country, formerly ; if not done there 



Still in the blessed time that is passing ; 



I, of course, mean among that class — 



