LOCAL WITCHCRAFT. 101 



The most ignorant, it is true — 



But which is not always, on my faith, 



Either the lowest or the poorest. 



One case more before closing the subject :— eo 



Not many years ago a good farmer 



Boasted that, in the shape of a hawk, 



He had just brought down the carrion 



Which set his family by the ears ; 



Which was bewitching all his cattle 



And pestering all his rooms with rats ; 



Making his horses grow lean in his stable, 



And preventing his pigs from growing ; 



Which had caused his crops to die off, or 



His cows to dry or degenerate ; 70 



Had rotted his honey in his hives, 



And made his chickens die in their shells ; 



With still a great many more mishaps ; 



So that his property was going to the dogs ; 



And that, at best, but two or three years 



Of such goings-on would have passed 



Before seeing him ending his worry 



In the Asylum or the Hospital ! 



" She came," said he, " howling from the chimney, 



Before the honourable company so 



Of all my neighbours and my friends, 



All respectable and well dressed, 



And come from a good mile round." 



" Yes," and he added " let the world 



Believe it or not, it is really true, 



I saw it with my two eyes, and believe it ; 



And then, of all this here is the proof : 



It is that, after all this long trial, 



The wicked spell is happily taken off, 



And that, of late, all with me has prospered ; 90 



While before that everything away 



Was going, inside out and at random." 



Upon that, I answered the neighbour 



Who had come to tell me all this : 



" That the spell had fallen, and is taken off, 



It is true, neighbour, there is proof 



To convince — at least one would think so— 



The most stubborn ; nevertheless, no ! 



For, as for me, before I believe it, 



I tell you, neighbour, I'll see it done." i 00 



