morning, and found his poor cattle had walked up to the top of the
scaffold; and how could they do that unless they were bewitched?"

"Did they truly do it? I know what the scaffold is; it is a high place
where you look for hen's eggs."

"Yes; I believe the cows did really walk up there; but this was the way
it happened, Alice: They were not properly fastened into their stalls,
and being very hungry, they went into the barn for something to eat. The
barn floor was covered with hay, and there was a hill of hay which led
right up to the scaffold; so they could get there well enough without
being bewitched."

"Did your mother--my great-grandma--believe in witches?" asked Prudy.
"What did she say to Mr. Palmer?"

"O, no! she had no faith in witches; thy great grandmother was a sensible
woman." She said to him, "Friend Asa, thee'd better have some good strong
bows made for thy cattle, and put on their necks; and then I think
thee'll find they can't get out of their stalls. Thee says they are as
lean as Pharaoh's kine, and I would advise thee to feed them better.
Cattle that are well fed and well cared for will never go bewitched."

"Did Mrs. Knowles know what people said about her?" asked Prudy.

"Yes; she heard the stories, and it made her feel very badly."

"How did she look?"

"A little like thy grandmother Parlin, if I remember, only she was