Devil; Witchcraft -- Great Britain; Witchcraft -- United States
‘Next _Mary Martin_, Mrs. _Pain’s_ servant, went to stir the kitchen fire,
she got to the right hand side of it, being a large chimney, as is usual
in farm houses, a pestle and mortar that stood nearer the left hand end of
the chimney shelf, jumped about six feet on the floor. Then went
candlesticks and other brasses; scarce anything remaining in its place.
After this, the glasses and china were put down on the floor for fear of
undergoing the same fate, they presently began to dance and tumble about,
and then broke to pieces. A tea-pot that was among them, flew to Mrs.
_Golding’s_ maid’s foot, and struck it.
‘A glass tumbler that was put on the floor jumped about two feet, and then
broke. Another that stood by it, jumped about at the same time, but did
not break for some hours after, when it jumped again, and then broke. A
china bowl that stood in the parlour jumped from the floor, to behind a
table that stood there. This was most astonishing, as the distance from
where it stood was between seven and eight feet, but was not broke. It was
put back by _Richard Fowler_, to its place, where it remained some time,
and then flew to pieces.
‘The next thing that followed was a mustard pot, that jumped out of a
Closet, and was broke, A single cup that stood upon the table, (almost the
only thing remaining) jumped up, flew across the kitchen, ringing like a
bell, and then was dashed to pieces against the dresser. A candle stick,
that stood on the Chimney shelf, flew cross the kitchen to the parlour
door, at about fifteen feet distance. A tea-kettle, under the dresser, was
thrown out about two feet, another kettle that stood at one end of the
range, was thrown against the iron that is fixed to prevent children
falling into the fire. A tumbler with rum and water in it, that stood upon
a waiter upon a table in the parlour, jumped about ten feet, and was
broke. The table then fell down, and along with it a silver tankard
belonging to Mrs. _Golding_, the waiter in which had stood the tumbler and
a candle stick. A case bottle then flew in pieces.’
The food took to flying about, and it must have been heartbreaking for the
ladies to witness the destruction of their property, which must have been
aggravated by the conduct of Mrs. Golding’s servant. ‘At all the times of
action, she was walking backwards and forwards, either in the kitchen or
parlour, or wherever some of the family happened to be. Nor could they get
her to sit down five minutes together, except at one time for about half
an hour towards the morning, when the family were at prayers in the
parlour; then all was quiet; but in the midst of the greatest confusion,
she was as much composed as at any other time, and, with uncommon coolness
of temper, advised her mistress not to be alarmed or uneasy, as she said
these things could not be helped. Thus she argued, as if they were common
occurrences which must happen in every family.’
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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