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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/44748-0.txt b/44748-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f6dfc7a --- /dev/null +++ b/44748-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1848 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44748 *** + +Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been corrected +without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have +been retained as printed. + +Words printed in italics are noted with underscores: _italics_. + +The Table of Contents was not present in the original text and has +been produced for the reader's convenience. + + + + +THE WITCH HYPNOTIZER + + +BY + +ZENA A. MAHER + + +PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR + + +SAN FRANCISCO +THE BANCROFT COMPANY +1892 + +COPYRIGHT, 1892 +BY +ZENA A. MAHER + +Issued from the Press of +THE BANCROFT COMPANY + + + + +_To My Husband, the Truest and Noblest of Men_ + + + + +THE WITCH HYPNOTIZER + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + +I. +II. +III. +IV. +V. +VI. +VII. +VIII. +IX. +X. +XI. +XII. +XIII. +XIV. +XV. +XVI. +XVII. +XVIII. +XIX. +XX. +XXI. +XXII. +XXIII. +XXIV. +XXV. +XXVI. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + + Let there be light. Genesis i, 3. + + Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good + works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. Matthew v, 16. + +In the world of imagination many Witches have lived and died since the +one of whose existence and wonders I am about to relate, came into +prominence. + +She lived quite alone in a little cottage on the outskirts of a large +city in America, of course, and why should not the free soil produce +all sorts when it is the dumping ground for all creation? + +Alone, with the exception of her dog and several cages of canaries +which, by the way, were a new departure in the line of pets, for the +old-time Witches were supposed to favor cats and parrots, she commanded +the respect of all, but there was something so very peculiar about her +that some of her more superstitious neighbors looked upon this woman as +a kind of good Witch. + +There was nothing remarkable about her personal appearance and the +peculiarity was not visibly noticeable. It was nothing tangible, but an +indescribable something which gave her influence over other minds, to +bend them to her will. + +Every one felt this more or less in her presence; a giving up of pet +hobbies, even, to her ideas, which fortunately were very liberal. + +There was that also about her sympathetic nature which invited +confidence, and many who were not given to complaining found +themselves, they hardly knew why, telling her their secret sorrows. + +For years this Witch or woman was herself unconscious of this power, +but when she fully realized it, her work to her conscientious heart was +laid out, and that must be in doing all the good possible through this +genius that was hers. + +She had always endeavored to do her best, ever ready to lend a helping +hand to any one in trouble. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +While attending to her birds one morning, the Witch was interrupted by +a knock at the door and a summons from one of her neighbors, who had +sent a child to ask if this good soul would come over. + +Yes, she would be there directly. + +Donning her sombre colored bonnet and shawl the Witch started for her +neighbor's. The unhappy little woman craved sympathy, and had sent for +her who knew so well how to render it. + +She told the oft-repeated story of a drunkard's wife. Her husband had +left home the previous evening and had not returned, and after these +prolonged sprees she feared his coming, who was the kindest of men when +himself, but very savage when under the influence of liquor. Then, too, +she was afraid that he would lose his position, which his employer had +threatened if he did not attend to work better. + +The Witch told her to be of good cheer; that all would be well with her +yet. + +She looked at the shabby furniture and still shabbier clothing of the +children. This family had once been in comfortable circumstances, but +were brought to this state of poverty through intemperance, the +prevailing evil. + + For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty. Proverbs, + xxiii, 21. + +And yet how much good these beverages might do if used in moderation, +but too many are with this, like all their other appetites over which +they have no control. The mind should be made to strive harder after +the knowledge of God in order to subdue these carnal desires. + + For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; + but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. + + For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is + life and peace. + + Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not + subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. + + So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. + + As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. + Romans viii, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14. + + Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may + follow strong drink, that continue until night, till wine inflame + them! + + Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to + mingle strong drink. Isaiah v, 11, 22. + + He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but + he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life + everlasting. Galatians vi. 8. + + All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth + with offense. + + It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything + whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. + Romans xiv, 20, 21. + + Whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. II + Corinthians v, 6. + + Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess; but be filled with the + Spirit. Ephesians v, 18. + + Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. + Galatians v, 16. + + Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, + righteously and godly in this present world. Titus ii, 12. + +About midday this fallen image of God came home partially sobered and +ferocious as a wild animal. The Witch mentally compared man with beast +and gave her dog the preference. + +He had commenced his wicked profanity, when a hand was laid on his arm +and reproachful eyes looked into his. + + Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whoever is deceived + thereby is not wise. Proverbs xx, 1. + + God created man in his own image. Genesis i, 27. + + Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of + God dwelleth in you? + + If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the + temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. I Corinthians iii, 16, + 17. + +After this he sat quietly for a long time apparently lost in thought; +then this truly penitent one arose, stood beside his wife and vowed +that in future he would be a better man, and their home should be happy +as in the old days before this false friend took possession. + +Tears of happiness were streaming from the little woman's eyes, and our +Witch withdrew, thanking God in her heart for this power he had given +her. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +On reaching home she found a neighbor waiting outside, who entered with +her, in the meantime pouring into the ever sympathetic ears her +trouble. + +She was bewailing over the downfall of her boy who heretofore had been +exceptionally dutiful, invariably spending his evening at home, but of +late all was changed. He had contracted the card disease with all its +adherent vices, which was rapidly developing into a mania. His salary, +which was the home support, was being sacrificed on the gambling altar. + +Here was more work. The only son and mainstay of a widowed mother fast +going to ruin. Yes, something must be done. + +Early the following evening the Witch made it her business to pay a +visit to the widow about tea time. The son was hurriedly finishing his +meal preparatory to starting out for the night, when somehow he changed +his mind and stayed at home instead, and our friend, the Witch, knew +that in future he would have sufficient strength of will to pass by his +old haunt and on home to his waiting loving mother with his earnings in +his pocket, which meant more home comforts, more books and evening +reading, and happiness to both. + + Turn not to the right hand nor to the left; remove thy foot from + evil. Proverbs, iv. 27. + +The Witch went home well satisfied with her day's work, and that night +thought and planned for the good of humanity. Why not venture further +into a wider range for action? + +She might peddle her songbirds from door to door, and in this capacity +gain access into houses where she could more readily acquaint herself +with those in need of her assistance. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +The next morning our Witch opened her Bible and read as she was wont to +do before any new undertaking. Her eyes rested on these lines: + + If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your + children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy + Spirit to them that ask him? Luke xi, 13. + +She knelt and prayed long and earnestly for an abundance of this Holy +Spirit to guide and help her. She took her birds and started out. + + I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my + statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them. Ezekiel + xxxvi, 27. + +Her first stopping place was at a dwelling that stood back some little +distance from the street and was surrounded by flowers. + +What drew her attention most was the appearance of a little child whose +innocent face reminded her that purity still existed. She entered the +grounds and rang the bell. + +A young woman opened the door and kindly invited her in. The Witch made +some remark about the pretty boy outside, when she saw an expression of +pain flit over the lady's face. Something wrong here, she thought. + +Yes, the child was hers; she had loved not wisely but too well, Her +betrayer, a prosperous business man who was as yet unmarried, was +allowed to move in the very best of society, but the finger of scorn +was pointed at her from all sides. + +She was the only daughter of parents who thought very fondly of their +lovable grandchild, still felt keenly the disgrace that had been +brought upon the hitherto spotless family name. + +Does the seventh commandment demand more obedience from one sex than +the other? It reads as if it was spoken to both alike. Our Witch +learned the man's name and business address, and departed. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +She was so in sympathy with this family that she felt in a hurry to get +to work, and so signalled a passing car to stop, and entered. It was +well filled, but two seats remaining unoccupied she seated herself in +one of them. + +Presently a little colored girl came in and took the other. A high-bred +dame sitting next elevated her aristocratic nose and pulled her skirts +aside as if fearing contamination. + + Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud; for the Lord hath spoken. + Jeremiah xiii, 15. + + There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! Proverbs xxx, + 13. + + Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord God of + Hosts. Jeremiah 1, 31. + + Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord. + Proverbs xvi, 5. + + I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low + the haughtiness of the terrible. Isaiah xiii, 11. + + The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men + shall be bowed down. Isaiah ii, 11. + +Why draw this color line so tightly? What of this outer covering? Have +not these people immortal souls which may be white as the whitest; and +in many cases, brilliant talents? + +The Witch remembered a circumstance where a king of oratory, holding a +high official position, was debarred from sitting at table with a +ship's crew on account of this same color, which was only a heavier +shading; and is not all creation a matter of shadow and coloring? + + And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all + the face of the earth. Acts xvii, 26. + +A shabbily dressed woman came in. The stamp of labor was on her +gloveless hands, and she looked weary, indeed. But no attention was +paid her whatever. + +Then came two flashily attired females. No less than five gentlemen +arose to offer seats. Were they more in need of rest than this poor +laboring woman? + +Ah, well! perhaps they were more heavily burdened with their follies +than she with her cares. + +For once the Witch was too busy with many thoughts to concentrate her +mind on any individual in particular, and passed on and out of the car +to finish her day's work. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +She went in to a business establishment and made her way to the office. +The proprietor, a busy man of the world, was at his desk. He looked in +surprise at the cage of birds; a rather unusual place, certainly, to +attempt the sale of a bird, the business house of a man without family. + +"I have no use for pets myself, and have no one to give them to." + +No one? Then memory stirred; he thought of the one whom he had so +cruelly wronged, and of his innocent child in disgrace. Why were these +new and better impulses taking possession of his mind? He did not know, +but the Witch did. + +She saw the result of her work a few days later when his marriage +notice was published in the paper. Another family put to rights. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +Next, a respectable looking place that might belong to the occupants, +for there was not that unkempt appearance about it that is peculiar to +rented property. + +Our Witch opened the gate and went in. A scowling woman came to the +door who looked daggers at the unwelcome peddler, and said she would +not have one of those noisy birds in the house. + +About this time her tired-looking husband came home from work, and +judging from the tirade of abuse heaped upon him, it was evident that +she certainly would not tolerate any noise about the premises that she +could not make herself. + +It was only a matter of time when this quiet, hard-working man would +tire of his home life. Husbands with such life partners are not so much +to blame if they do prefer the company of other women, the gambling +dens and saloons, or any place rather than their homes. + + It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop than with a + brawling woman in a wide house. Proverbs xxi, 9. + +How many wives, instead of trying to make home attractive, drive +happiness away with their cruel tongues? + + Who have said with our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own + who is lord over us? Psalms xii, 4. + + Hold thy tongue. Amos vi, 10. + + The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. + + It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. James iii, 6, 8. + + A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger. + + A wholesome tongue is a tree of life; but perverseness therein is a + breach in the spirit. Proverbs xv, 1, 4. + + Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil + speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: + + And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one + another, as even God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians + iv, 31, 32. + +The Witch is yet at her work. She proceeded on her way, thankful that +she has made one less shrew in the world. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +On her way along she observed a boy sitting on the walk near some +shrubbery. He seemed very intent on whatever he was doing. She +approached nearer and saw a poor butterfly denuded of its wings lying +quivering in his hand, and he was looking at it with the most intense +satisfaction. + +"My lad, do you know that-- + + The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the + good. Proverbs xv, 3. + + Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and + whether it be right. Proverbs xx, 11. + +"Understand that it is sinful to torment any living thing." + +The boy slunk away, realizing for the first time that it was wrong to +torture anything so small as a butterfly. + +The disposition to torture seems to be inherent with many boys and if +allowed to grow on them will in time predominate over all good +impulses, and prompt them to commit the most terrible crimes. + + For the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of + violence. Ezekiel vii, 23. + +If they were taught to cultivate will power to subdue these evil +impulses what a blessing would be derived! How prone to wickedness is +all human nature, and how much we need to pray for help to overcome it! + + Watch and pray. Matthew xxvi, 41. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +The Witch noticed a girl in the regulation uniform of white cap and +apron marshalling several children. How oft seen in the want column: "A +nurse girl who will wear the cap." Why was this headgear exacted as a +badge of servitude? Why ape the Old World customs? + + Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down; + for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your + glory. Jeremiah xiii, 18. + + Thus saith the Lord God: Remove the diadem and take off the crown; + this shall not be the same; exalt him that is low, and abase him + that is high. + + I will overturn, overturn, overturn it; and it shall be no more + until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. Ezekiel + xxi, 26, 27. + + And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. Isaiah ii, 11. + +Was not this government founded on the principle of equality? Did not +the Pilgrim Fathers estimate one good as another if their righteousness +was equal? And the distinction was made only between good and evil +doers. + + A nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of + their God. Isaiah lviii, 2. + + And ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight in + proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbor; and ye had made a + covenant before me in the house which is called by my name: + + But ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his + servant, and every man his handmaid, whom he had set at liberty at + their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be + unto you for servants and for handmaids. Jeremiah xxxiv, 16, 17. + +Then, again, should it not be more essential for these mothers to look +more after the morals of the persons who were to be companions for +their children and to be less watchful of Mrs. Grundy's edicts? + + For the customs of the people are vain. + + They are altogether brutish and foolish; the stock is a doctrine of + vanities. + + They are vanity, and the work of errors; in the time of their + visitation they shall perish. Jeremiah x, 3, 8, 15. + +The Witch recalled an instance where a distinguished political leader +married a sewing woman, and his bride was ostracized from society when +it leaked out that she had labored for a livelihood. Had all these +aristocrats as clean a record? + +Am afraid one's hands would be somewhat soiled by too close +investigation. + + Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth + your hearts. Luke xvi, 15. + + For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; neither + hid, that shall not be known. Luke xii, 2. + + For God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret + thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes xii, + 14. + + The just Lord is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity; + every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not. + Zephaniah iii, 5. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +One day when passing the jail our Witch was moved with an impulse to go +inside. The warden allowed her to pass in. Her heart ached for these +poor wretches whose faces from behind the bars looked so hopeless and +unhappy, and whose blasphemous language chilled her. She longed for the +time when: + + Every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. II + Timothy ii, 19. + +Who knew but these criminals were as innocent in the light of God's +All-Searching Eye as those who less tried have committed less evil? + + For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans iii, + 23. + + If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth + is not in us. John i, 8. + +Some have better childhood memories of good influences brought to bear +on their susceptible innocence, and would not humanity, begot and +reared in iniquity, have a natural inclination to evil, and +consequently be pardonable for greater crimes than those of a healthier +nourishment? And would not those stronger ones with great mental gifts +have more to answer for accordingly than those of weaker natures? Well, +it is beyond any human comprehension to execute perfect justice. + + Then hear thou from Heaven, thy dwelling place, and forgive, and + render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou + knowest; for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men. + II Chronicles vi, 30. + + I, the Lord, search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every + man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his + doings. Jeremiah xvii, 10. + + The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. Psalms + xix, 9. + + But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why doth thou set at nought + thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of + Christ. Let us not therefore judge one another any more; but judge + this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to + fall in his brother's way. Romans xiv, 10, 13. + + Thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art, that judgest; for + wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself. Romans ii, + 1. + + Judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye shall + not be condemned; forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Luke vi, 37. + + Therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord come, who + both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will + make manifest the counsels of the hearts. I Corinthians iv, 5. + +But crime will come to an end in that happy time when we will know each +other's innermost thoughts. + +What a grand and awful time will be the day of judgment, when the +Spirit quickens the dust of centuries! Grand for those who have +sincerely tried to serve the King! + + Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh + righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of + oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that + stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from + seeing evil: he shall dwell on high; his place of defence shall be + the munitions of rocks; bread shall be sure. Isaiah xxxiii, 14, 15, + 16. + + Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with + the whole heart. Psalms cxix, 2. + + They that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord + hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written + before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his + name. + + And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I + make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own + son that serveth him. Malachi iii, 16, 17. + +Awful for the hypocrites when God's magnetic eyes burn into their +souls. In this way the world of sin will be dissolved, but space, in +which we move and have our being, will never be destroyed. + + One generation passeth away and another generation cometh; but the + earth abideth forever. Ecclesiastes i, 4. + + For this hath the Lord said: The whole land shall be desolate, yet + will I not make a full end. Jeremiah iv, 27. + + Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; + for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall + wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in + like manner; but my salvation shall be forever, and my + righteousness shall not be abolished. Isaiah li, 6. + + Who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he + appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire. Malachi iii, 2. + + Every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare + it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try + every man's work of what sort it is. I Corinthians iii, 13. + + For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews xii, 29. + + The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved; I bear up + the pillars of it. Psalms lxxv, 3. + + All the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. + Zephaniah iii, 8. + + Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, + and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue + shall consume away in their mouth. Zechariah xiv, 12. + + As wax melteth before the fire; so let the wicked perish at the + presence of God. Psalms lxviii, 2. + + Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned and few men left. + Isaiah xxiv, 6. + + All the hosts of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall + be rolled together as a scroll. Isaiah xxxiv, 4. + + Woe unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour + widow's houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore ye + shall receive the greater damnation. Matthew xxiii, 14. + + For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire + shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. Job xv, 34. + + I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will + I plead with you face to face. + + And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein + ye have been defiled; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own + sight for all your evils that ye have committed. Ezekiel xx, 35, 43. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +The Witch was not a regular attendant at any house of worship of any +set creed, but preferred ones of lesser grandeur, feeling that she met +with more sincerity within. But one Sabbath morning her steps led to +one of the largest and most fashionable churches in the city. The +ushers were busy seating the well-dressed throng. She slipped along and +took a seat by the side of a sumptuously dressed lady who shifted and +spread her drapery a little more as a hint to the intruder that her +presence was undesirable. + +Many haughty glances of derision were shot at the poorly clad stranger +who had presumed to come in their midst. She looked about her on the +throng. + + All is vanity. Ecclesiastes i, 2. + +Richly attired matrons, conscious only of their extreme style; fair +young girls, not a whit less extravagantly garbed than their elders, +with cramped waists and all the accoutrements belonging to devotees of +fashion. + +A pity that such fair flowers like the rose could not remain longer in +bud, for both fall into decay all too quickly after maturity. But Dame +Fashion seems in a hurry and holds to artificial development. + + Make not my Father's house a house of merchandise. John ii, 16. + +What more was this great display of finery than one way of advertising +goods? + + Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; + the new moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot + away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. + + Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from + before mine eyes; cease to do evil. + + Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the + fatherless, plead for the widow. + + Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your + sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow; though they be + red like crimson, they shall be as wool. + + If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. + + But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured. Isaiah i, 13, 16, + 17, 18, 19, 20. + + Their land also is full of idols; they worship the works of their + own hands that which their own fingers have made. Isaiah ii, 8. + + The daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth + necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a + tinkling with their feet. + + In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling + ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires + like the moon. + + The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers. + + The bonnets, the headbands, and the earrings. + + The rings. + + The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantels, and the wimples, + and the crisping pins. + + The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the veils. + Isaiah iii, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. + + That women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness + and sobriety; not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or + costly array; + + But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. I + Timothy ii, 9, 10. + +The eloquent and eminent divine preached a flowery discourse with no +reproof pointing to the vanity and frivolity of the hour. + + They are shepherds that cannot understand; they all look to their + own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Isaiah lvi, 11. + + Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard; they have trodden my + portion under foot. Jeremiah xii, 10. + + The pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord. + Jeremiah x, 21. + + Woe unto you, ye blind guides. Matthew xxiii, 16. + + Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching + things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. Titus i, 11. + + Ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at + the law. Malachi ii, 8. + + Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, + rebuke, extort with all long suffering and doctrine. + + For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; + but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers + having itching ears; + + And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be + turned into fables. + + But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an + evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. II Timothy iv, 2, 3, + 4, 5. + +The great organ reverberated through the building. The choir sang of +God's love to all creatures alike. Two women sat side by side, and the +one of loftier mien bowed her head, and for the first time in her life +felt the love of God in her heart; and the Witch went out from church +happy, knowing that through her influence one soul was redeemed this +Sabbath morning. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +Marching along the road came the Salvation Army. A crowd of juveniles +bent on hilarity followed in line, mimicking and ridiculing them. The +crowd on the sidewalk jeered, and a high dignitary in church affairs +joined his voice with the rest, remarking that this rabble never ought +to be allowed to parade the streets Sunday. Who knows how many degraded +lives have been elevated by this much ridiculed religious body who do +good work in the slums where religion is most needful, and in so doing +follow more closely in the footsteps of the Christ than those who spend +their energy in striving among themselves for precedence in the public +schools and everywhere? + +Why all this contention? Should not real Christian worshippers work in +harmony? + + Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us? Malachi + ii, 10. + + And there was also a strife among them which of them should be + accounted the greatest. + + But ye shall not be so; but he that is greatest among you, let him + be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. + Luke xxii, 24, 26. + + Do all things without murmurings and disputings. Philippians ii, + 14. + + Shun profane and vain babblings. II Timothy ii, 16. + + Be at peace among yourselves. I Thessalonians v, 13. + + Seek peace and pursue it. Psalms xxxiv, 14. + + Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory. Philippians ii, + 3. + + Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and + of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. + + From which some having swerved have turned aside into vain + jangling. I Timothy i, 5, 6. + + Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own + selves. + + Be of one mind, live in peace. II Corinthians xiii, 5, 11. + + Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and + strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. Titus + iii, 9. + + For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil + work. James iii, 16. + + Now I beseech you brethren by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, + that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no division + among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same + mind and in the same judgment. I Corinthians i, 10. + + I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, + without wrath and doubting. I Timothy ii, 8. + + Behold, ye fast for strife and debate. + + Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of + wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go + free, and that ye brake every yoke? + + Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the + poor that are cast out to thy house? + + When thou seest the naked that thou cover him; and that thou hide + not thyself from thine own flesh? + + Then shall thy light break forth as the morning; and thy + righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be + thy reward. + + Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, + and he shall say: Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of + thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking + vanity; + + And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry and satisfy the + afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy + darkness be as noonday; + + And the Lord shall guide thee continually. Isaiah lviii, 4, 6, 7, + 8, 9, 10, 11. + + Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep + his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes + xii, 13. + + He hath showed thee, O Man, what is good; and what doth the Lord + require of thee but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk + humbly with thy God? Micah vi, 8. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +The Witch resumed work Monday morning. There was more stir in the +streets than usual. On every corner were groups of excited men. Nothing +but whisky and election would cause so much commotion. + +The carriages of the different candidates were out scouring the town +for voters. + +Some of these aspirants for office had almost impoverished themselves +by daily treating the crowd of loafers who are always ready to trade +their votes for whisky. + +They go about electioneering for themselves. Bosh! if a man has the +elements of greatness he will find his place without all this +self-praise. + + For men to search their own glory is not glory. Proverbs xxv, 27. + + For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he + deceiveth himself. Galatians vi, 3. + +Election day and no mistaking it; the saloons are supposed to be +closed, but there is a back door to some of them. + + It is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: + Lest they drink and forget the law and pervert the judgment of any + of the afflicted. Proverbs xxxi, 4, 5. + +Is it any wonder that the women of our land clamor for a voice in the +affairs of state and nation? + +But a woman's place is not at the polls. She can do more good at home +in training the minds of her sons, the future voters, and in making her +husband's home-coming pleasant, that he may prefer it to haunts of +vice. And it is to be hoped that man through debauchery will not become +altogether inefficient and make it necessary for woman to take the lead. + + But I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the + man, but to be in silence. I Timothy ii, 12. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +In the evening at that most entrancing hour between daylight and dark, +when all creation seems in a dreamy mood, the Witch found herself at +the entrance of a gilded palace of sin. A number of the inmates were +flitting about the flower-laden, well-kept grounds. She approached one +of exquisite beauty of person whose face was not yet passion-scarred. + +She was dressed in some soft, flowing, white material which gave her +more of a seraphic appearance than one of sensualism. The Witch asked +what brought her to this stage of immorality. The woman's reply was +that she had been reared in wealth, but her father through some unlucky +speculation lost everything. She had never learned to work, but had +been taught that any labor was most degrading, and she had not +qualified herself to teach any branch of learning, never having made +allowance for the swift wings of vanishing wealth. + +When thrown on her own resources she was at a loss to know what to do, +when a wealthy gentleman friend came to her assistance at the sacrifice +of her honor. + +He soon tired of her, however; her father had died broken-hearted, and +her mother was staying with a distant relative who had kindly offered +her a home. + +The Witch persuaded her to leave this life of disgrace, to learn honest +work and brighten her mother's remaining years. + + Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not + to be ashamed. II Timothy ii, 15. + +She said that it would be hard for her to face the world with this +stigma of shame on her character; that all those bearing any claim to +respectability would scorn her. + +The Witch told her that God was judge and not the people, and their +lives were not altogether blameless. + + God is the judge. Psalms lxxv, 7. + + He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at + her. John viii, 7. + +The woman was undecided, but the better mind prevailed and she +accompanied the Witch home, and the next day found respectable +employment. + +And still the good work goes on. + +Reader, I am only narrating a small portion of this woman's work which +she found as the days went by to be illimitable. _Vice versa._ If +one possessing this mysterious power was inclined to evil rather than +good, what a great amount of wickedness might be accomplished through +it. God only knows how much of the good and evil that has been done in +the world may be attributed to this hidden force. + +Was the famed enchantress of the Nile gifted with this secret to a very +great extent, and many other characters of history celebrated in their +day for the influence they exercised? + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +The Witch heard of a murder trial that was going on in court and +arousing intense interest, owing to the high social standing of all the +parties concerned. She acted on impulse to a certain extent and, +leaving her birds at home, started at once for the court-house. + +On her way there she turned her attention to a case of street pugilism. +A crowd of boys, ranging in age from seven to twenty, had congregated. +Two small urchins were fighting; their faces were scratched and +bleeding, and the crowd was urging them on to do each other more +injury. + +These young ruffians made a study of wickedness which is more than +mischief, and this element is on an increase the world over. + + Yea also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil. Ecclesiastes + ix, 3. + +No wonder when they have for examples men in high places who take such +interest in prize fighting. + +It would be more in keeping with their positions if their minds could +aspire to something more elevating. They are ready enough to censure +the Spaniards for their bull fights, but are themselves not far in +advance when they will encourage this barbarous sport which seems to be +gaining popularity. + + The wicked walk on every side when the vilest men are exalted. + Psalms xii, 8. + + For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are + led of them are destroyed. Isaiah ix, 16. + + These are the men that devise mischief and give wicked counsel in + this city. Ezekiel xi, 2. + +If they would exercise the spiritual nature more and the animal less +they could take no pleasure in such brutish doing. + + For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against + the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other. Galatians + v, 17. + +Even the Press takes a hand in it, and devotes whole columns of the +papers to explaining in minutest detail the movements of the +combatants. + +Our Witch was wrapped in thought, but did not forget her work, and in a +few moments after she appeared among them the shamefaced crowd +dispersed. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +When the chief witness against the accused was called to give his +testimony there was one among the throng of spectators whose eyes never +left his face. + +He started in a resolute manner, then wavered a little, and finally +broke down in the midst of it and confessed his own guilt. He was the +murderer. + + Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Exodus xx, + 16. + + Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another. James + v, 16. + + He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth + and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Proverbs xxviii, 13. + + If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our + sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. John i, 9. + +There was a hush like the hush of death in the courtroom while he was +speaking. When the crowd passed out, a plainly garbed figure went out +also unobserved. The Witch had done her work for the day. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +She looked on the cars gliding over the electric road. What of this +occult power? And what of her own? Eventually would electricity impel +the entire universe? + +Had this always existed and was yet to be brought out by masterful +minds? Was this the connecting link between God and man? Then it was +wisely said in ages past: + + How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? Proverbs i, 22. + + The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his works + of old. + + When he prepared the heavens I was there; when he set a compass + upon the face of the depth. Proverbs vii, 22, 27. + + He ruleth by his power forever. Psalms lxvi, 7. + + In the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. Isaiah xxvi, 4. + + Take hold of my strength. Isaiah xxvii, 5. + + Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you + from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundation of + the earth? Isaiah xl, 21, 22. + + For my people is foolish; they have not known me; they are sottish + children, and they have none understanding; they are wise to do + evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. Jeremiah iv, 22. + + Understand, ye brutish among the people, and ye fools, when will ye + be wise? Psalms xciv, 8. + + O ye simple, understand wisdom; and ye fools, be ye of an + understanding heart. Proverbs viii, 5. + + Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for + understanding; + + If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid + treasures; + + Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the + knowledge of God. Proverbs ii, 3, 4, 5. + + He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world + by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his + discretion. + + When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the + heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the + earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind + out of his treasures. Jeremiah x, 12, 13. + + The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his + handiwork. + + Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth + knowledge. + + There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. + + Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to + the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, + + Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth + as a strong man to run a race. + + His going forth is from the ends of the heaven, and his circuit + unto the ends of it, and there is nothing hid from the heat + thereof. Psalms xix, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. + + The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory + thundereth, the Lord is upon many waters. + + The voice of the Lord is powerful. Psalms xxix, 3, 4. + + The thunder of his power who can understand? Job xxvi, 14. + + With thee is the fountain of life; in thy light shall we see light. + Psalms xxxvi, 9. + + The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the + Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk ii, 14. + + Who is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall + understand. Psalms cvii, 43. + +At the resurrection, when the Lamb of God will rule the world as the +center of gravitation like the sun, who among us can study mischief in +secret when mind meets mind in one common thoroughfare of thought which +cannot be divided by land or sea? + + As the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the + west; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew xxiv, + 27. + + And the city hath no creed of the sun, neither of the moon, to + shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is + the light thereof. Revelation xxi, 23. + + The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness + shall the moon give light unto thee; but the Lord shall be unto + thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. + + Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw + itself; for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light. Isaiah lx, + 19, 20. + + There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and + unjust. Acts xxiv, 15. + + As the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them, even so the + Son quickeneth whom he will. John v, 21. + + Ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O + my people, and brought you up out of your graves. + + And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live. Ezekiel xxxvii, + 13, 14. + + The dead men shall live together; with my dead body shall they + arise. + + Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust; for thy dew is as the dew of + herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Isaiah xxvi, 19. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +One morning when near a handsome residence the Witch stopped at the +sound of a musical instrument. The music ceased and a lady of forty or +thereabout answered her ring. + +She was surrounded with every luxury, but our Witch soon learned that +here, too, was trouble. Yes, another mismated couple. + +The lady said that her husband and herself had never lived very happily +together after the first few months of married life; and recently +another woman had come between them, and her husband, desirous of a +separation, was about to commence proceedings for a divorce from her. +As for herself it mattered little, but for the sake of her children she +had rather it would not be. + +Presently the husband came. He was a fine-looking man of pleasing +address and unless appearance was deceiving he would do very well if +started on the right track. + +Here was more work for the ever busy brain. + + Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but + they have sought out many inventions. Ecclesiastes vii, 29. + + Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed; how then + art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto + me? Jeremiah ii, 21. + +He sat down facing the Witch, and after a little time was conscious of +a new train of thoughts. His better spirit moved. Would it not be as +well to live the remainder of his life with the mother of his children +whom he dearly loved? + + What therefore God hath joined together let not man put asunder. + Matthew xix, 6. + +Contract marriage is most suitable for the present age. That leaves the +contracting parties on a grade with the cattle and admits of their +changing companions whenever and as often as they like without breaking +God's holy vows. + + And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the Lord with + tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he + regardeth not the offering any more, or receive it with good will + at your hand. + + Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy + youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously; yet is she thy + companion and the wife of thy covenant. + + And did not he make one? yet had he the residue of the spirit. + + Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously + against the wife of his youth. + + For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away. + Malachi ii, 13, 14, 15, 16. + + If a man put away his wife and she go from him, and become another + man's, shall not that land be greatly polluted? Jeremiah iii, 1. + +When a marriage is solemnized by the word of God, then no law on earth +is justifiable for breaking it; and when a couple truly love each other +what but death can separate them? For misfortune of any kind only binds +the tie of sympathy more closely. + +If this tie was not so easily broken more persons would consider whom +they were marrying and what they were marrying for, and if less +deception was practiced beforehand, there would be fewer marriages +which prove such dismal failures. + + The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; + who can know it? Jeremiah xvii, 9. + +We will be done with all this in the resurrection. + + In the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, + but are as the angels of God in heaven. Matthew xxii, 30. + +When the Witch left this pair she was happy in the thought that they +would live together on better terms, and be like a re-united family. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +Later in the day our Witch was in another part of the city; while +walking through an alley, she saw a Chinaman carrying a large basket +full of clean clothes that he was returning to the owners. The Witch +also noticed several half-grown boys and heard one of them remark: + +"Say we take a shot at that heathen." + +So with one accord they commenced pelting him with everything +available. Their victim tried to defend himself to the best of his +ability, but the half dozen boys pounced on him, and in the fracas the +clothes were upset into the street. + +It was hard to tell how far they would carry their vicious work, which +they considered a capital joke, when some one appeared among them who +was also at work. Very soon they all left off, not knowing why. The +Witch stood near while he gathered up the clothes, which necessarily +must be washed over again. + +Then she tried to solve in her mind this Chinese problem: + +These Mongolians are in a measure obnoxious, but as a rule are +peaceable and industrious, which is more than can be said of many other +people. + +They have few opportunities for making a living in their own +over-populous country, but perhaps when they have become more +thoroughly Christianized, the race will be less prolific, which would +be beneficial to their own nation and others. + + Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth. Psalms xcvi, 10. + +For the more a man leans to divinity the less he cleaves to his animal +nature; and what is true of the Chinese applies to other densely +populated countries. + + For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; + but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. + Romans viii, 5. + + Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should + obey it in the lusts thereof. Romans vi, 12. + + For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust + of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of + the world. + + And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth + the will of God abideth forever. John ii, 16, 17. + +Her mind reverted to an incident which she witnessed in a cemetery. It +was the Sabbath and she was walking about in there as she often did on +this day, for what more forcible sermon can be delivered than a +thinking mind can feel while moving about among the dead? + +After a time she was conscious of a disturbance of some kind going on +at one corner of the enclosure. A promiscuous crowd had gathered and +ere long there came a Chinese funeral train and stopped at the open +grave. + +Then the crowd mocked them, and by this time it was evident that they +had gathered there to have sport at the expense of the mourners. + +The children were cutting up all manner of antics, and the parents +stood by highly amused at the proceedings. It was almost impossible to +conduct the burial rites on account of the confusion made by the mob. + +To be sure it was a peculiar ceremony, but some respect ought to have +been due the feelings of these sorrowing ones at such a time. These +children were wholly undisciplined in the matter of right and wrong; +their behavior was like so many young savages. + +What were their parents teaching them? To selfishly enjoy the +discomfort of others, and this was all, never trying to encourage the +finer and better feelings in their natures. + +Our Witch did not wait till the ceremony was over. Thoroughly disgusted +with human nature, she left the cemetery. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +She thought still less of it that night when awakened from sleep by a +gang of boisterous picnickers who, full of liquor, were returning home +from a day of revelry. Women's and men's voices mingled together in +singing vile songs. + +How wholly depraved are some natures, and how necessary that these lewd +minds should be purified by a closer communion with more spiritual +intellects! + +When there are seven days in a week and our King only exacts from us +the Sabbath it does seem as if He is entitled to that, but where people +are confined to employment every day in the week but one, it is hardly +probable that the kind Father would object to their having an outing on +their one day of liberty out of a week of unremitting toil, if they +would conduct themselves properly. + + Not in rioting and drunkenness; not in chambering and wantonness. + But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the + flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof. Romans xiii, 13, 14. + + My Sabbaths they greatly polluted. + + I am the Lord your God; walk in my statutes, and hallow my + Sabbaths. Ezekiel xx, 13. + + Thus saith the Lord, keep ye judgment, and do justice. + + Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth + hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth + his hand from doing any evil. Isaiah lvi, 1, 2. + + If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy + pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy + of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own + ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: + + Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee + to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the + heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken + it. Isaiah lviii, 13, 14. + +But ere long a few cannot monopolize all the comforts, nor the masses +be obliged to struggle hard every hour for the bare necessities of +life, for who can defraud his neighbor when all minds will be a unit? +and if honesty was practiced to the letter, the good things of life +would not be so unequally divided. + + The profit of the earth is for all. Ecclesiastes v, 9. + + Yet ye say, the way of the Lord is not equal. Is not my way equal? + Are not your ways unequal? Ezekiel xviii, 25. + + For every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to + covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest, every one + dealeth falsely. Jeremiah viii, 10. + + Their tongue is an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit; one speaketh + peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in heart he layeth + wait. Jeremiah ix, 8. + + As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit; + therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. Jeremiah v, 27. + + Behold these are the ungodly who prosper in the world; they + increase in riches. Psalms lxxiii, 12. + + Thus saith the Lord, execute ye judgment and righteousness, and + deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor; and do no + wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the + widow. Jeremiah xxii, 3. + + Be renewed in the spirit of your mind; putting away lying, speak + every man truth with his neighbor; for we are members one of + another. Ephesians iv, 23, 25. + + That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in + thee, that they also may be one in us. John xvii, 21. + + Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell + together in unity! Psalms cxxxiii, 1. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +Ever on the alert to do good the Witch stopped at a rickety tenement, +with nothing to recommend it but a climbing rose-bush, set out by some +flower-loving tenant a number of years before, and which twined its +long branches in full bloom over one end of the dilapidated structure; +it was an illustration of extremes meeting, this perfectly beautiful +rose-bush and the unsightly old porch. The landlady did not care to buy +a bird, and none of the occupants of her rooms were at home during the +day, except one, who poor boy, was always in, and a visitor would be +sure to cheer him up a bit, though it would be useless to try and sell +a bird there. She led the way up a flight of stairs to the room where a +little cripple was amusing himself with a few marbles that he was +rolling about on the table by which he was sitting. + +He was delighted with the birds, but knew that his sister could not +afford to buy him one. He said she was employed up town in a store, +naming the business block of a well-known and very wealthy merchant, +and he could not go out and play like other boys, and the days seemed +very long sometimes. + +Yes, thought our Witch, a day must be a long time to this poor weakling +with little to amuse him. + +She gave him his choice of the birds, and after promising to bring it +back in the evening with a new cage which she would buy for him, the +Witch took her leave. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +A little way down the street in advance of her was a heavy wagon drawn +by one patient horse that looked as though it might have seen better +days, but now one could numerate every rib in its worn frame. + +The driver was beating the poor animal unmercifully. It doubtless had a +history, and if allowed speech would tell of a gradual decline, of +careful nourishment and little to do in its prime, but when strength +and beauty began to wane, of a harder life, and now in old age when +attention was most needful, must fall in line with the great majority +of overworked, under-fed beasts of burden, and some day when no longer +able to hold up the harness, would be taken out and shot. + +Our Witch could hear in her mind's ear the rebuke of old: + + What have I done unto thee, that thou has smitten me these three + times? Numbers xxii, 28. + +She watched the man intently for a few seconds, and then his arm +dropped to his side. Why this sudden sympathy so foreign to his +hardened nature? + +The All-seeing Eye must often look down in tenderest pity on this +ill-treated animal creation, which is more deserving of His regard than +these inhuman beings, who by their cruelty place themselves far below a +level with the lower animals. + + The Lord is good to all; and His tender mercies are over all His + works. Psalms cxlv, 9. + + Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father is also merciful. Luke vi, + 36. + + The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel + troubleth his own flesh. Proverbs xi, 17. + +Surely the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is one of +the noblest organizations of modern times, and for good work stands +second to no religious denomination that has ever existed, or ever will +exist. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +Her next stopping place was not in a rookery part of the city, but was +where wealth abounds. It was just before the noon hour when she entered +the palatial home of a many times millionaire and was ushered into the +library where he was busy with some papers. "Would you care to buy a +bird, sir?" + +"I have no time to talk with you this morning, madam." He looked at her +uneasily, and mentally resolved to administer a reproof to the servant +for allowing these tramping peddlers to enter the house. + +The magnetic power was again brought into requisition. + +The Witch might have used this influence for her own financial +advantage, but was too conscientious for that, and furthermore money +was not her aim in life. + +Gradually there came stealing into this rich man's brain new thoughts; +was he doing right with his boundless wealth? He could not understand +why he was just waking up to the fact that he had not. + +How many needy ones had he passed by? + + Withhold not good to them to whom it is due, when it is in the + power of thine hand to do it. Proverbs iii, 27. + +To endow some charitable institution at his death, as a monument to his +own memory, would hardly atone for neglected duty. Would God hold him +responsible for this neglect and bar him from the Kingdom? + + Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Daniel v, + 27. + + Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his + chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbor's service without wages, + and giveth him not for his work. Thine eyes and thine heart are not + but for thy covetousness. Jeremiah xxii, 13, 17. + + Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your + gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a + witness against you and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye + have heaped treasures together for the last days. Behold the hire + of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you + kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which reaped are + entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. James v, 2, 3, 4. + + Who so stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he shall cry + himself, but shall not be heard. Proverbs xxi, 13. + + Let not the rich man glory in his riches. Jeremiah ix, 23. + + Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them + in the day of the Lord's wrath. Zephaniah i, 18. + + Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not + high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, + who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. That they do good, that + they be rich in good works, ready to distribute. I Timothy vi, 17, + 18. + + He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that + honoreth Him hath mercy on the poor. Proverbs xiv, 31. + + As a partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that + getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of + his days, and at his end shall be a fool. Jeremiah xvii, 11. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +Faithful to her promise, the Witch purchased a cage, and early in the +evening returned to the cripple's abode and was joyfully greeted. + +"O, but you are a good lady to think of me, only a cripple boy!" + +She felt that it was indeed more blessed to give than to receive (Acts +XX, 35) when one could do God a service at the same time. + + As ye have done it unto the least of these ye have done it unto Me. + Matthew xxv, 40. + + He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth to the Lord. Proverbs xix, + 17. + +In a short time the sister came. His face brightened up with pleasure +when he told her of the present he had received; now he would have a +companion all through the long days. + +She was also in a happy mood. The head of the firm where she worked had +raised the salary of all his employes, and she was very thankful for +her good luck because of her brother who needed more books and toys, +for the poor child had to amuse himself the best he could during the +day. The Witch returned home. She saw the progress of her work many +times after in this millionaire's acts of benevolence which were so +liberal as to excite press comment. + + Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him + in time of trouble. Psalms xli, 1. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +Our Witch read of the doings in the old world and was sorry that +distance and sea prevented this influence from being brought to bear +upon some of the crowned heads, who, born to almost absolute power, +showed no mercy to a religious sect, who according to Holy Writ are the +chosen people of God. But one alone cannot revolutionize the earth, +unless that one be omnipotent. + +Some day this persecution must come to an end. + + For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, + and set them in their own land, and the stranger shall be joined + with them. Isaiah xiv, 1. + + Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. Amos iv, 12. + + The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly. + Zephaniah i, 14. + + Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the + Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand. Joel, ii, 1. + + But of that day and hour no man, no not the angels of heaven, but + my Father only. Watch, therefore, for ye know not what hour your + Lord doth come. Matthew xxiv, 36, 42. + + Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto + thee, so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live. + Jeremiah xxxviii, 20. + + Return ye now every one from his evil way and make your ways and + your doings good. Jeremiah xviii, 11. + + And to wait for his Son from heaven whom he raised from the dead, + even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. 1 + Thessalonians i, 10. + + Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other + name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts + iv, 12. + + There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ + Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans + viii, 1. + + Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you; + + Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double + minded. James iv, 8. + + Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, + and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, + and he with me. Revelation iii, 20. + + I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely. Hosea xiv, + 4. + + Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be + blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the + presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before + was preached unto you. Acts iii, 19, 20. + + If ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly + execute judgment between a man and his neighbor; + + If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and + shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other + gods to your hurt; + + Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land I gave to + your fathers, for ever and ever. Obey my voice and I will be your + God, and ye shall be my people. Jeremiah vii, 5, 6, 7, 23. + + Therefore, turn thou to thy God; keep mercy and judgment, and wait + on thy God continually. Hosea xii, 6. + + Depart from evil and do good, and dwell for evermore. Psalms + xxxvii, 27. + + The redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come singing unto Zion; + and everlasting joy shall be upon their head; they shall obtain + gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. Isaiah + li, 11. + + And it shall come to pass that he that is left in Zion, and he that + remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy, even every one that is + written among the living in Jerusalem. When the Lord shall have + washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have + purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit + of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. Isaiah iv, 3, 4. + + Behold, I come quickly. And the Spirit and the bride say, come; and + let him that heareth say, come; and let him that is athirst come; + and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. + Revelation xxii, 7, 17. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + +The Witch did not go about her work the next day, nor the next, for +somehow she contracted a severe cold which completely prostrated her, +and then pneumonia clutched her throat. + +One morning, when the first golden rays of the sun glanced over the +sleeping city, they rested in benediction on her death bed. A neighbor, +whom in time past she had befriended, was at her side. + +She knew that the end was near. + +Will this influence stop here? or will it go on and on through all the +ages to come? + + Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, + saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their + works do follow them. Revelation xiv, 13. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Witch Hypnotizer, by Zena A. Maher + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44748 *** diff --git a/44748-h/44748-h.htm b/44748-h/44748-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1907917 --- /dev/null +++ b/44748-h/44748-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3067 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> +<title>The Witch Hypnotizer, by Zena A. 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MAHER +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="33" height="38" src="images/star.jpg" alt="star"></div> + +<p class="ctrsmall"> +PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="33" height="38" src="images/star.jpg" alt="star"></div> + +<p class="ctrsmaller"> +SAN FRANCISCO<br> +THE BANCROFT COMPANY<br> +1892 +</p> + +<p class="ctrsmaller"> +COPYRIGHT, 1892<br> +BY<br> +ZENA A. MAHER +</p> + +<p class="ctrsmaller"> +Issued from the Press of<br> +THE BANCROFT COMPANY +</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="33" height="38" src="images/star.jpg" alt="star"></div> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="263" height="66" src="images/dedication.jpg" alt="To My Husband, the Truest and Noblest of Men"></div> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="33" height="38" src="images/star.jpg" alt="star"></div> + + + + +<h2> +CONTENTS +</h2> + + +<p class="ctr"> +CHAPTER +</p> + +<ul> +<li><a href="#I">I.</a></li> +<li><a href="#II">II.</a></li> +<li><a href="#III">III.</a></li> +<li><a href="#IV">IV.</a></li> +<li><a href="#V">V.</a></li> +<li><a href="#VI">VI.</a></li> +<li><a href="#VII">VII.</a></li> +<li><a href="#VIII">VIII.</a></li> +<li><a href="#IX">IX.</a></li> +<li><a href="#X">X.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XI">XI.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XII">XII.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XIII">XIII.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XIV">XIV.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XV">XV.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XVI">XVI.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XVII">XVII.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XVIII">XVIII.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XIX">XIX.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XX">XX.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XI">XI.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XXII">XXII.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XXIII">XXIII.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XXIV">XXIV.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XXV">XXV.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XXVI">XXVI.</a></li> +</ul> + +<hr class="med"> + + +<p class="booktitle"> +THE WITCH HYPNOTIZER +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="I"> </a> +CHAPTER I. +</h2> + + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Let there be light. Genesis i, 3. +</p> + +<p> + Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good + works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. Matthew v, 16. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +In the world of imagination many Witches have lived and died since the +one of whose existence and wonders I am about to relate, came into +prominence. +</p> + +<p> +She lived quite alone in a little cottage on the outskirts of a large +city in America, of course, and why should not the free soil produce +all sorts when it is the dumping ground for all creation? +</p> + +<p> +Alone, with the exception of her dog and several cages of canaries +which, by the way, were a new departure in the line of pets, for the +old-time Witches were supposed to favor cats and parrots, she commanded +the respect of all, but there was something so very peculiar about her +that some of her more superstitious neighbors looked upon this woman as +a kind of good Witch. +</p> + +<p> +There was nothing remarkable about her personal appearance and the +peculiarity was not visibly noticeable. It was nothing tangible, but an +indescribable something which gave her influence over other minds, to +bend them to her will. +</p> + +<p> +Every one felt this more or less in her presence; a giving up of pet +hobbies, even, to her ideas, which fortunately were very liberal. +</p> + +<p> +There was that also about her sympathetic nature which invited +confidence, and many who were not given to complaining found +themselves, they hardly knew why, telling her their secret sorrows. +</p> + +<p> +For years this Witch or woman was herself unconscious of this power, +but when she fully realized it, her work to her conscientious heart was +laid out, and that must be in doing all the good possible through this +genius that was hers. +</p> + +<p> +She had always endeavored to do her best, ever ready to lend a helping +hand to any one in trouble. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="II"> </a> +CHAPTER II. +</h2> + + +<p> +While attending to her birds one morning, the Witch was interrupted by +a knock at the door and a summons from one of her neighbors, who had +sent a child to ask if this good soul would come over. +</p> + +<p> +Yes, she would be there directly. +</p> + +<p> +Donning her sombre colored bonnet and shawl the Witch started for her +neighbor's. The unhappy little woman craved sympathy, and had sent for +her who knew so well how to render it. +</p> + +<p> +She told the oft-repeated story of a drunkard's wife. Her husband had +left home the previous evening and had not returned, and after these +prolonged sprees she feared his coming, who was the kindest of men when +himself, but very savage when under the influence of liquor. Then, too, +she was afraid that he would lose his position, which his employer had +threatened if he did not attend to work better. +</p> + +<p> +The Witch told her to be of good cheer; that all would be well with her +yet. +</p> + +<p> +She looked at the shabby furniture and still shabbier clothing of the +children. This family had once been in comfortable circumstances, but +were brought to this state of poverty through intemperance, the +prevailing evil. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty. Proverbs, + xxiii, 21. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +And yet how much good these beverages might do if used in moderation, +but too many are with this, like all their other appetites over which +they have no control. The mind should be made to strive harder after +the knowledge of God in order to subdue these carnal desires. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; + but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. +</p> + +<p> + For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is + life and peace. +</p> + +<p> + Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not + subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. +</p> + +<p> + So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. +</p> + +<p> + As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. + Romans viii, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14. +</p> + +<p> + Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may + follow strong drink, that continue until night, till wine inflame + them! +</p> + +<p> + Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to + mingle strong drink. Isaiah v, 11, 22. +</p> + +<p> + He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but + he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life + everlasting. Galatians vi. 8. +</p> + +<p> + All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth + with offense. +</p> + +<p> + It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything + whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. + Romans xiv, 20, 21. +</p> + +<p> + Whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. II + Corinthians v, 6. +</p> + +<p> + Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess; but be filled with the + Spirit. Ephesians v, 18. +</p> + +<p> + Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. + Galatians v, 16. +</p> + +<p> + Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, + righteously and godly in this present world. Titus ii, 12. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +About midday this fallen image of God came home partially sobered and +ferocious as a wild animal. The Witch mentally compared man with beast +and gave her dog the preference. +</p> + +<p> +He had commenced his wicked profanity, when a hand was laid on his arm +and reproachful eyes looked into his. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whoever is deceived + thereby is not wise. Proverbs xx, 1. +</p> + +<p> + God created man in his own image. Genesis i, 27. +</p> + +<p> + Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of + God dwelleth in you? +</p> + +<p> + If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the + temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. I Corinthians iii, 16, + 17. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +After this he sat quietly for a long time apparently lost in thought; +then this truly penitent one arose, stood beside his wife and vowed +that in future he would be a better man, and their home should be happy +as in the old days before this false friend took possession. +</p> + +<p> +Tears of happiness were streaming from the little woman's eyes, and our +Witch withdrew, thanking God in her heart for this power he had given +her. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="III"> </a> +CHAPTER III. +</h2> + + +<p> +On reaching home she found a neighbor waiting outside, who entered with +her, in the meantime pouring into the ever sympathetic ears her +trouble. +</p> + +<p> +She was bewailing over the downfall of her boy who heretofore had been +exceptionally dutiful, invariably spending his evening at home, but of +late all was changed. He had contracted the card disease with all its +adherent vices, which was rapidly developing into a mania. His salary, +which was the home support, was being sacrificed on the gambling altar. +</p> + +<p> +Here was more work. The only son and mainstay of a widowed mother fast +going to ruin. Yes, something must be done. +</p> + +<p> +Early the following evening the Witch made it her business to pay a +visit to the widow about tea time. The son was hurriedly finishing his +meal preparatory to starting out for the night, when somehow he changed +his mind and stayed at home instead, and our friend, the Witch, knew +that in future he would have sufficient strength of will to pass by his +old haunt and on home to his waiting loving mother with his earnings in +his pocket, which meant more home comforts, more books and evening +reading, and happiness to both. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Turn not to the right hand nor to the left; remove thy foot from + evil. Proverbs, iv. 27. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +The Witch went home well satisfied with her day's work, and that night +thought and planned for the good of humanity. Why not venture further +into a wider range for action? +</p> + +<p> +She might peddle her songbirds from door to door, and in this capacity +gain access into houses where she could more readily acquaint herself +with those in need of her assistance. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="IV"> </a> +CHAPTER IV. +</h2> + + +<p> +The next morning our Witch opened her Bible and read as she was wont to +do before any new undertaking. Her eyes rested on these lines: +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your + children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy + Spirit to them that ask him? Luke xi, 13. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +She knelt and prayed long and earnestly for an abundance of this Holy +Spirit to guide and help her. She took her birds and started out. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my + statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them. Ezekiel + xxxvi, 27. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Her first stopping place was at a dwelling that stood back some little +distance from the street and was surrounded by flowers. +</p> + +<p> +What drew her attention most was the appearance of a little child whose +innocent face reminded her that purity still existed. She entered the +grounds and rang the bell. +</p> + +<p> +A young woman opened the door and kindly invited her in. The Witch made +some remark about the pretty boy outside, when she saw an expression of +pain flit over the lady's face. Something wrong here, she thought. +</p> + +<p> +Yes, the child was hers; she had loved not wisely but too well, Her +betrayer, a prosperous business man who was as yet unmarried, was +allowed to move in the very best of society, but the finger of scorn +was pointed at her from all sides. +</p> + +<p> +She was the only daughter of parents who thought very fondly of their +lovable grandchild, still felt keenly the disgrace that had been +brought upon the hitherto spotless family name. +</p> + +<p> +Does the seventh commandment demand more obedience from one sex than +the other? It reads as if it was spoken to both alike. Our Witch +learned the man's name and business address, and departed. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="V"> </a> +CHAPTER V. +</h2> + + +<p> +She was so in sympathy with this family that she felt in a hurry to get +to work, and so signalled a passing car to stop, and entered. It was +well filled, but two seats remaining unoccupied she seated herself in +one of them. +</p> + +<p> +Presently a little colored girl came in and took the other. A high-bred +dame sitting next elevated her aristocratic nose and pulled her skirts +aside as if fearing contamination. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud; for the Lord hath spoken. + Jeremiah xiii, 15. +</p> + +<p> + There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! Proverbs xxx, + 13. +</p> + +<p> + Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord God of + Hosts. Jeremiah 1, 31. +</p> + +<p> + Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord. + Proverbs xvi, 5. +</p> + +<p> + I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low + the haughtiness of the terrible. Isaiah xiii, 11. +</p> + +<p> + The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men + shall be bowed down. Isaiah ii, 11. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Why draw this color line so tightly? What of this outer covering? Have +not these people immortal souls which may be white as the whitest; and +in many cases, brilliant talents? +</p> + +<p> +The Witch remembered a circumstance where a king of oratory, holding a +high official position, was debarred from sitting at table with a +ship's crew on account of this same color, which was only a heavier +shading; and is not all creation a matter of shadow and coloring? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all + the face of the earth. Acts xvii, 26. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +A shabbily dressed woman came in. The stamp of labor was on her +gloveless hands, and she looked weary, indeed. But no attention was +paid her whatever. +</p> + +<p> +Then came two flashily attired females. No less than five gentlemen +arose to offer seats. Were they more in need of rest than this poor +laboring woman? +</p> + +<p> +Ah, well! perhaps they were more heavily burdened with their follies +than she with her cares. +</p> + +<p> +For once the Witch was too busy with many thoughts to concentrate her +mind on any individual in particular, and passed on and out of the car +to finish her day's work. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="VI"> </a> +CHAPTER VI. +</h2> + + +<p> +She went in to a business establishment and made her way to the office. +The proprietor, a busy man of the world, was at his desk. He looked in +surprise at the cage of birds; a rather unusual place, certainly, to +attempt the sale of a bird, the business house of a man without family. +</p> + +<p> +"I have no use for pets myself, and have no one to give them to." +</p> + +<p> +No one? Then memory stirred; he thought of the one whom he had so +cruelly wronged, and of his innocent child in disgrace. Why were these +new and better impulses taking possession of his mind? He did not know, +but the Witch did. +</p> + +<p> +She saw the result of her work a few days later when his marriage +notice was published in the paper. Another family put to rights. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="VII"> </a> +CHAPTER VII. +</h2> + + +<p> +Next, a respectable looking place that might belong to the occupants, +for there was not that unkempt appearance about it that is peculiar to +rented property. +</p> + +<p> +Our Witch opened the gate and went in. A scowling woman came to the +door who looked daggers at the unwelcome peddler, and said she would +not have one of those noisy birds in the house. +</p> + +<p> +About this time her tired-looking husband came home from work, and +judging from the tirade of abuse heaped upon him, it was evident that +she certainly would not tolerate any noise about the premises that she +could not make herself. +</p> + +<p> +It was only a matter of time when this quiet, hard-working man would +tire of his home life. Husbands with such life partners are not so much +to blame if they do prefer the company of other women, the gambling +dens and saloons, or any place rather than their homes. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop than with a + brawling woman in a wide house. Proverbs xxi, 9. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +How many wives, instead of trying to make home attractive, drive +happiness away with their cruel tongues? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Who have said with our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own + who is lord over us? Psalms xii, 4. +</p> + +<p> + Hold thy tongue. Amos vi, 10. +</p> + +<p> + The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. +</p> + +<p> + It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. James iii, 6, 8. +</p> + +<p> + A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger. +</p> + +<p> + A wholesome tongue is a tree of life; but perverseness therein is a + breach in the spirit. Proverbs xv, 1, 4. +</p> + +<p> + Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil + speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: +</p> + +<p> + And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one + another, as even God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians + iv, 31, 32. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +The Witch is yet at her work. She proceeded on her way, thankful that +she has made one less shrew in the world. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="VIII"> </a> +CHAPTER VIII. +</h2> + + +<p> +On her way along she observed a boy sitting on the walk near some +shrubbery. He seemed very intent on whatever he was doing. She +approached nearer and saw a poor butterfly denuded of its wings lying +quivering in his hand, and he was looking at it with the most intense +satisfaction. +</p> + +<p> +"My lad, do you know that— +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the + good. Proverbs xv, 3. +</p> + +<p> + Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and + whether it be right. Proverbs xx, 11. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +"Understand that it is sinful to torment any living thing." +</p> + +<p> +The boy slunk away, realizing for the first time that it was wrong to +torture anything so small as a butterfly. +</p> + +<p> +The disposition to torture seems to be inherent with many boys and if +allowed to grow on them will in time predominate over all good +impulses, and prompt them to commit the most terrible crimes. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + For the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of + violence. Ezekiel vii, 23. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +If they were taught to cultivate will power to subdue these evil +impulses what a blessing would be derived! How prone to wickedness is +all human nature, and how much we need to pray for help to overcome it! +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Watch and pray. Matthew xxvi, 41. +</p> +</div> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="IX"> </a> +CHAPTER IX. +</h2> + + +<p> +The Witch noticed a girl in the regulation uniform of white cap and +apron marshalling several children. How oft seen in the want column: "A +nurse girl who will wear the cap." Why was this headgear exacted as a +badge of servitude? Why ape the Old World customs? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down; + for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your + glory. Jeremiah xiii, 18. +</p> + +<p> + Thus saith the Lord God: Remove the diadem and take off the crown; + this shall not be the same; exalt him that is low, and abase him + that is high. +</p> + +<p> + I will overturn, overturn, overturn it; and it shall be no more + until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. Ezekiel + xxi, 26, 27. +</p> + +<p> + And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. Isaiah ii, 11. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Was not this government founded on the principle of equality? Did not +the Pilgrim Fathers estimate one good as another if their righteousness +was equal? And the distinction was made only between good and evil +doers. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + A nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of + their God. Isaiah lviii, 2. +</p> + +<p> + And ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight in + proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbor; and ye had made a + covenant before me in the house which is called by my name: +</p> + +<p> + But ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his + servant, and every man his handmaid, whom he had set at liberty at + their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be + unto you for servants and for handmaids. Jeremiah xxxiv, 16, 17. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Then, again, should it not be more essential for these mothers to look +more after the morals of the persons who were to be companions for +their children and to be less watchful of Mrs. Grundy's edicts? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + For the customs of the people are vain. +</p> + +<p> + They are altogether brutish and foolish; the stock is a doctrine of + vanities. +</p> + +<p> + They are vanity, and the work of errors; in the time of their + visitation they shall perish. Jeremiah x, 3, 8, 15. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +The Witch recalled an instance where a distinguished political leader +married a sewing woman, and his bride was ostracized from society when +it leaked out that she had labored for a livelihood. Had all these +aristocrats as clean a record? +</p> + +<p> +Am afraid one's hands would be somewhat soiled by too close +investigation. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth + your hearts. Luke xvi, 15. +</p> + +<p> + For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; neither + hid, that shall not be known. Luke xii, 2. +</p> + +<p> + For God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret + thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes xii, + 14. +</p> + +<p> + The just Lord is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity; + every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not. + Zephaniah iii, 5. +</p> +</div> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="X"> </a> +CHAPTER X. +</h2> + + +<p> +One day when passing the jail our Witch was moved with an impulse to go +inside. The warden allowed her to pass in. Her heart ached for these +poor wretches whose faces from behind the bars looked so hopeless and +unhappy, and whose blasphemous language chilled her. She longed for the +time when: +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. II + Timothy ii, 19. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Who knew but these criminals were as innocent in the light of God's +All-Searching Eye as those who less tried have committed less evil? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans iii, + 23. +</p> + +<p> + If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth + is not in us. John i, 8. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Some have better childhood memories of good influences brought to bear +on their susceptible innocence, and would not humanity, begot and +reared in iniquity, have a natural inclination to evil, and +consequently be pardonable for greater crimes than those of a healthier +nourishment? And would not those stronger ones with great mental gifts +have more to answer for accordingly than those of weaker natures? Well, +it is beyond any human comprehension to execute perfect justice. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Then hear thou from Heaven, thy dwelling place, and forgive, and + render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou + knowest; for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men. + II Chronicles vi, 30. +</p> + +<p> + I, the Lord, search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every + man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his + doings. Jeremiah xvii, 10. +</p> + +<p> + The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. Psalms + xix, 9. +</p> + +<p> + But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why doth thou set at nought + thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of + Christ. Let us not therefore judge one another any more; but judge + this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to + fall in his brother's way. Romans xiv, 10, 13. +</p> + +<p> + Thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art, that judgest; for + wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself. Romans ii, + 1. +</p> + +<p> + Judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye shall + not be condemned; forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Luke vi, 37. +</p> + +<p> + Therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord come, who + both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will + make manifest the counsels of the hearts. I Corinthians iv, 5. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +But crime will come to an end in that happy time when we will know each +other's innermost thoughts. +</p> + +<p> +What a grand and awful time will be the day of judgment, when the +Spirit quickens the dust of centuries! Grand for those who have +sincerely tried to serve the King! +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh + righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of + oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that + stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from + seeing evil: he shall dwell on high; his place of defence shall be + the munitions of rocks; bread shall be sure. Isaiah xxxiii, 14, 15, + 16. +</p> + +<p> + Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with + the whole heart. Psalms cxix, 2. +</p> + +<p> + They that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord + hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written + before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his + name. +</p> + +<p> + And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I + make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own + son that serveth him. Malachi iii, 16, 17. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Awful for the hypocrites when God's magnetic eyes burn into their +souls. In this way the world of sin will be dissolved, but space, in +which we move and have our being, will never be destroyed. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + One generation passeth away and another generation cometh; but the + earth abideth forever. Ecclesiastes i, 4. +</p> + +<p> + For this hath the Lord said: The whole land shall be desolate, yet + will I not make a full end. Jeremiah iv, 27. +</p> + +<p> + Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; + for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall + wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in + like manner; but my salvation shall be forever, and my + righteousness shall not be abolished. Isaiah li, 6. +</p> + +<p> + Who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he + appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire. Malachi iii, 2. +</p> + +<p> + Every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare + it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try + every man's work of what sort it is. I Corinthians iii, 13. +</p> + +<p> + For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews xii, 29. +</p> + +<p> + The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved; I bear up + the pillars of it. Psalms lxxv, 3. +</p> + +<p> + All the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. + Zephaniah iii, 8. +</p> + +<p> + Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, + and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue + shall consume away in their mouth. Zechariah xiv, 12. +</p> + +<p> + As wax melteth before the fire; so let the wicked perish at the + presence of God. Psalms lxviii, 2. +</p> + +<p> + Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned and few men left. + Isaiah xxiv, 6. +</p> + +<p> + All the hosts of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall + be rolled together as a scroll. Isaiah xxxiv, 4. +</p> + +<p> + Woe unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour + widow's houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore ye + shall receive the greater damnation. Matthew xxiii, 14. +</p> + +<p> + For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire + shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. Job xv, 34. +</p> + +<p> + I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will + I plead with you face to face. +</p> + +<p> + And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein + ye have been defiled; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own + sight for all your evils that ye have committed. Ezekiel xx, 35, 43. +</p> +</div> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XI"> </a> +CHAPTER XI. +</h2> + + +<p> +The Witch was not a regular attendant at any house of worship of any +set creed, but preferred ones of lesser grandeur, feeling that she met +with more sincerity within. But one Sabbath morning her steps led to +one of the largest and most fashionable churches in the city. The +ushers were busy seating the well-dressed throng. She slipped along and +took a seat by the side of a sumptuously dressed lady who shifted and +spread her drapery a little more as a hint to the intruder that her +presence was undesirable. +</p> + +<p> +Many haughty glances of derision were shot at the poorly clad stranger +who had presumed to come in their midst. She looked about her on the +throng. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + All is vanity. Ecclesiastes i, 2. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Richly attired matrons, conscious only of their extreme style; fair +young girls, not a whit less extravagantly garbed than their elders, +with cramped waists and all the accoutrements belonging to devotees of +fashion. +</p> + +<p> +A pity that such fair flowers like the rose could not remain longer in +bud, for both fall into decay all too quickly after maturity. But Dame +Fashion seems in a hurry and holds to artificial development. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Make not my Father's house a house of merchandise. John ii, 16. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +What more was this great display of finery than one way of advertising +goods? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; + the new moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot + away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. +</p> + +<p> + Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from + before mine eyes; cease to do evil. +</p> + +<p> + Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the + fatherless, plead for the widow. +</p> + +<p> + Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your + sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow; though they be + red like crimson, they shall be as wool. +</p> + +<p> + If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. +</p> + +<p> + But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured. Isaiah i, 13, 16, + 17, 18, 19, 20. +</p> + +<p> + Their land also is full of idols; they worship the works of their + own hands that which their own fingers have made. Isaiah ii, 8. +</p> + +<p> + The daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth + necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a + tinkling with their feet. +</p> + +<p> + In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling + ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires + like the moon. +</p> + +<p> + The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers. +</p> + +<p> + The bonnets, the headbands, and the earrings. +</p> + +<p> + The rings. +</p> + +<p> + The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantels, and the wimples, + and the crisping pins. +</p> + +<p> + The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the veils. + Isaiah iii, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. +</p> + +<p> + That women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness + and sobriety; not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or + costly array; +</p> + +<p> + But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. I + Timothy ii, 9, 10. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +The eloquent and eminent divine preached a flowery discourse with no +reproof pointing to the vanity and frivolity of the hour. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + They are shepherds that cannot understand; they all look to their + own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Isaiah lvi, 11. +</p> + +<p> + Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard; they have trodden my + portion under foot. Jeremiah xii, 10. +</p> + +<p> + The pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord. + Jeremiah x, 21. +</p> + +<p> + Woe unto you, ye blind guides. Matthew xxiii, 16. +</p> + +<p> + Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching + things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. Titus i, 11. +</p> + +<p> + Ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at + the law. Malachi ii, 8. +</p> + +<p> + Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, + rebuke, extort with all long suffering and doctrine. +</p> + +<p> + For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; + but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers + having itching ears; +</p> + +<p> + And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be + turned into fables. +</p> + +<p> + But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an + evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. II Timothy iv, 2, 3, + 4, 5. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +The great organ reverberated through the building. The choir sang of +God's love to all creatures alike. Two women sat side by side, and the +one of loftier mien bowed her head, and for the first time in her life +felt the love of God in her heart; and the Witch went out from church +happy, knowing that through her influence one soul was redeemed this +Sabbath morning. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XII"> </a> +CHAPTER XII. +</h2> + + +<p> +Marching along the road came the Salvation Army. A crowd of juveniles +bent on hilarity followed in line, mimicking and ridiculing them. The +crowd on the sidewalk jeered, and a high dignitary in church affairs +joined his voice with the rest, remarking that this rabble never ought +to be allowed to parade the streets Sunday. Who knows how many degraded +lives have been elevated by this much ridiculed religious body who do +good work in the slums where religion is most needful, and in so doing +follow more closely in the footsteps of the Christ than those who spend +their energy in striving among themselves for precedence in the public +schools and everywhere? +</p> + +<p> +Why all this contention? Should not real Christian worshippers work in +harmony? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us? Malachi + ii, 10. +</p> + +<p> + And there was also a strife among them which of them should be + accounted the greatest. +</p> + +<p> + But ye shall not be so; but he that is greatest among you, let him + be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. + Luke xxii, 24, 26. +</p> + +<p> + Do all things without murmurings and disputings. Philippians ii, + 14. +</p> + +<p> + Shun profane and vain babblings. II Timothy ii, 16. +</p> + +<p> + Be at peace among yourselves. I Thessalonians v, 13. +</p> + +<p> + Seek peace and pursue it. Psalms xxxiv, 14. +</p> + +<p> + Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory. Philippians ii, + 3. +</p> + +<p> + Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and + of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. +</p> + +<p> + From which some having swerved have turned aside into vain + jangling. I Timothy i, 5, 6. +</p> + +<p> + Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own + selves. +</p> + +<p> + Be of one mind, live in peace. II Corinthians xiii, 5, 11. +</p> + +<p> + Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and + strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. Titus + iii, 9. +</p> + +<p> + For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil + work. James iii, 16. +</p> + +<p> + Now I beseech you brethren by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, + that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no division + among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same + mind and in the same judgment. I Corinthians i, 10. +</p> + +<p> + I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, + without wrath and doubting. I Timothy ii, 8. +</p> + +<p> + Behold, ye fast for strife and debate. +</p> + +<p> + Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of + wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go + free, and that ye brake every yoke? +</p> + +<p> + Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the + poor that are cast out to thy house? +</p> + +<p> + When thou seest the naked that thou cover him; and that thou hide + not thyself from thine own flesh? +</p> + +<p> + Then shall thy light break forth as the morning; and thy + righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be + thy reward. +</p> + +<p> + Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, + and he shall say: Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of + thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking + vanity; +</p> + +<p> + And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry and satisfy the + afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy + darkness be as noonday; +</p> + +<p> + And the Lord shall guide thee continually. Isaiah lviii, 4, 6, 7, + 8, 9, 10, 11. +</p> + +<p> + Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep + his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes + xii, 13. +</p> + +<p> + He hath showed thee, O Man, what is good; and what doth the Lord + require of thee but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk + humbly with thy God? Micah vi, 8. +</p> +</div> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XIII"> </a> +CHAPTER XIII. +</h2> + + +<p> +The Witch resumed work Monday morning. There was more stir in the +streets than usual. On every corner were groups of excited men. Nothing +but whisky and election would cause so much commotion. +</p> + +<p> +The carriages of the different candidates were out scouring the town +for voters. +</p> + +<p> +Some of these aspirants for office had almost impoverished themselves +by daily treating the crowd of loafers who are always ready to trade +their votes for whisky. +</p> + +<p> +They go about electioneering for themselves. Bosh! if a man has the +elements of greatness he will find his place without all this +self-praise. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + For men to search their own glory is not glory. Proverbs xxv, 27. +</p> + +<p> + For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he + deceiveth himself. Galatians vi, 3. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Election day and no mistaking it; the saloons are supposed to be +closed, but there is a back door to some of them. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + It is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: + Lest they drink and forget the law and pervert the judgment of any + of the afflicted. Proverbs xxxi, 4, 5. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Is it any wonder that the women of our land clamor for a voice in the +affairs of state and nation? +</p> + +<p> +But a woman's place is not at the polls. She can do more good at home +in training the minds of her sons, the future voters, and in making her +husband's home-coming pleasant, that he may prefer it to haunts of +vice. And it is to be hoped that man through debauchery will not become +altogether inefficient and make it necessary for woman to take the lead. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + But I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the + man, but to be in silence. I Timothy ii, 12. +</p> +</div> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XIV"> </a> +CHAPTER XIV. +</h2> + + +<p> +In the evening at that most entrancing hour between daylight and dark, +when all creation seems in a dreamy mood, the Witch found herself at +the entrance of a gilded palace of sin. A number of the inmates were +flitting about the flower-laden, well-kept grounds. She approached one +of exquisite beauty of person whose face was not yet passion-scarred. +</p> + +<p> +She was dressed in some soft, flowing, white material which gave her +more of a seraphic appearance than one of sensualism. The Witch asked +what brought her to this stage of immorality. The woman's reply was +that she had been reared in wealth, but her father through some unlucky +speculation lost everything. She had never learned to work, but had +been taught that any labor was most degrading, and she had not +qualified herself to teach any branch of learning, never having made +allowance for the swift wings of vanishing wealth. +</p> + +<p> +When thrown on her own resources she was at a loss to know what to do, +when a wealthy gentleman friend came to her assistance at the sacrifice +of her honor. +</p> + +<p> +He soon tired of her, however; her father had died broken-hearted, and +her mother was staying with a distant relative who had kindly offered +her a home. +</p> + +<p> +The Witch persuaded her to leave this life of disgrace, to learn honest +work and brighten her mother's remaining years. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not + to be ashamed. II Timothy ii, 15. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +She said that it would be hard for her to face the world with this +stigma of shame on her character; that all those bearing any claim to +respectability would scorn her. +</p> + +<p> +The Witch told her that God was judge and not the people, and their +lives were not altogether blameless. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + God is the judge. Psalms lxxv, 7. +</p> + +<p> + He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at + her. John viii, 7. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +The woman was undecided, but the better mind prevailed and she +accompanied the Witch home, and the next day found respectable +employment. +</p> + +<p> +And still the good work goes on. +</p> + +<p> +Reader, I am only narrating a small portion of this woman's work which +she found as the days went by to be illimitable. <i>Vice versa.</i> If +one possessing this mysterious power was inclined to evil rather than +good, what a great amount of wickedness might be accomplished through +it. God only knows how much of the good and evil that has been done in +the world may be attributed to this hidden force. +</p> + +<p> +Was the famed enchantress of the Nile gifted with this secret to a very +great extent, and many other characters of history celebrated in their +day for the influence they exercised? +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XV"> </a> +CHAPTER XV. +</h2> + + +<p> +The Witch heard of a murder trial that was going on in court and +arousing intense interest, owing to the high social standing of all the +parties concerned. She acted on impulse to a certain extent and, +leaving her birds at home, started at once for the court-house. +</p> + +<p> +On her way there she turned her attention to a case of street pugilism. +A crowd of boys, ranging in age from seven to twenty, had congregated. +Two small urchins were fighting; their faces were scratched and +bleeding, and the crowd was urging them on to do each other more +injury. +</p> + +<p> +These young ruffians made a study of wickedness which is more than +mischief, and this element is on an increase the world over. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Yea also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil. Ecclesiastes + ix, 3. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +No wonder when they have for examples men in high places who take such +interest in prize fighting. +</p> + +<p> +It would be more in keeping with their positions if their minds could +aspire to something more elevating. They are ready enough to censure +the Spaniards for their bull fights, but are themselves not far in +advance when they will encourage this barbarous sport which seems to be +gaining popularity. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + The wicked walk on every side when the vilest men are exalted. + Psalms xii, 8. +</p> + +<p> + For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are + led of them are destroyed. Isaiah ix, 16. +</p> + +<p> + These are the men that devise mischief and give wicked counsel in + this city. Ezekiel xi, 2. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +If they would exercise the spiritual nature more and the animal less +they could take no pleasure in such brutish doing. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against + the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other. Galatians + v, 17. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Even the Press takes a hand in it, and devotes whole columns of the +papers to explaining in minutest detail the movements of the +combatants. +</p> + +<p> +Our Witch was wrapped in thought, but did not forget her work, and in a +few moments after she appeared among them the shamefaced crowd +dispersed. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XVI"> </a> +CHAPTER XVI. +</h2> + + +<p> +When the chief witness against the accused was called to give his +testimony there was one among the throng of spectators whose eyes never +left his face. +</p> + +<p> +He started in a resolute manner, then wavered a little, and finally +broke down in the midst of it and confessed his own guilt. He was the +murderer. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Exodus xx, + 16. +</p> + +<p> + Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another. James + v, 16. +</p> + +<p> + He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth + and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Proverbs xxviii, 13. +</p> + +<p> + If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our + sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. John i, 9. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +There was a hush like the hush of death in the courtroom while he was +speaking. When the crowd passed out, a plainly garbed figure went out +also unobserved. The Witch had done her work for the day. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XVII"> </a> +CHAPTER XVII. +</h2> + + +<p> +She looked on the cars gliding over the electric road. What of this +occult power? And what of her own? Eventually would electricity impel +the entire universe? +</p> + +<p> +Had this always existed and was yet to be brought out by masterful +minds? Was this the connecting link between God and man? Then it was +wisely said in ages past: +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? Proverbs i, 22. +</p> + +<p> + The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his works + of old. +</p> + +<p> + When he prepared the heavens I was there; when he set a compass + upon the face of the depth. Proverbs vii, 22, 27. +</p> + +<p> + He ruleth by his power forever. Psalms lxvi, 7. +</p> + +<p> + In the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. Isaiah xxvi, 4. +</p> + +<p> + Take hold of my strength. Isaiah xxvii, 5. +</p> + +<p> + Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you + from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundation of + the earth? Isaiah xl, 21, 22. +</p> + +<p> + For my people is foolish; they have not known me; they are sottish + children, and they have none understanding; they are wise to do + evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. Jeremiah iv, 22. +</p> + +<p> + Understand, ye brutish among the people, and ye fools, when will ye + be wise? Psalms xciv, 8. +</p> + +<p> + O ye simple, understand wisdom; and ye fools, be ye of an + understanding heart. Proverbs viii, 5. +</p> + +<p> + Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for + understanding; +</p> + +<p> + If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid + treasures; +</p> + +<p> + Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the + knowledge of God. Proverbs ii, 3, 4, 5. +</p> + +<p> + He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world + by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his + discretion. +</p> + +<p> + When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the + heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the + earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind + out of his treasures. Jeremiah x, 12, 13. +</p> + +<p> + The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his + handiwork. +</p> + +<p> + Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth + knowledge. +</p> + +<p> + There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. +</p> + +<p> + Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to + the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, +</p> + +<p> + Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth + as a strong man to run a race. +</p> + +<p> + His going forth is from the ends of the heaven, and his circuit + unto the ends of it, and there is nothing hid from the heat + thereof. Psalms xix, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. +</p> + +<p> + The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory + thundereth, the Lord is upon many waters. +</p> + +<p> + The voice of the Lord is powerful. Psalms xxix, 3, 4. +</p> + +<p> + The thunder of his power who can understand? Job xxvi, 14. +</p> + +<p> + With thee is the fountain of life; in thy light shall we see light. + Psalms xxxvi, 9. +</p> + +<p> + The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the + Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk ii, 14. +</p> + +<p> + Who is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall + understand. Psalms cvii, 43. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +At the resurrection, when the Lamb of God will rule the world as the +center of gravitation like the sun, who among us can study mischief in +secret when mind meets mind in one common thoroughfare of thought which +cannot be divided by land or sea? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + As the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the + west; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew xxiv, + 27. +</p> + +<p> + And the city hath no creed of the sun, neither of the moon, to + shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is + the light thereof. Revelation xxi, 23. +</p> + +<p> + The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness + shall the moon give light unto thee; but the Lord shall be unto + thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. +</p> + +<p> + Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw + itself; for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light. Isaiah lx, + 19, 20. +</p> + +<p> + There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and + unjust. Acts xxiv, 15. +</p> + +<p> + As the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them, even so the + Son quickeneth whom he will. John v, 21. +</p> + +<p> + Ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O + my people, and brought you up out of your graves. +</p> + +<p> + And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live. Ezekiel xxxvii, + 13, 14. +</p> + +<p> + The dead men shall live together; with my dead body shall they + arise. +</p> + +<p> + Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust; for thy dew is as the dew of + herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Isaiah xxvi, 19. +</p> +</div> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XVIII"> </a> +CHAPTER XVIII. +</h2> + + +<p> +One morning when near a handsome residence the Witch stopped at the +sound of a musical instrument. The music ceased and a lady of forty or +thereabout answered her ring. +</p> + +<p> +She was surrounded with every luxury, but our Witch soon learned that +here, too, was trouble. Yes, another mismated couple. +</p> + +<p> +The lady said that her husband and herself had never lived very happily +together after the first few months of married life; and recently +another woman had come between them, and her husband, desirous of a +separation, was about to commence proceedings for a divorce from her. +As for herself it mattered little, but for the sake of her children she +had rather it would not be. +</p> + +<p> +Presently the husband came. He was a fine-looking man of pleasing +address and unless appearance was deceiving he would do very well if +started on the right track. +</p> + +<p> +Here was more work for the ever busy brain. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but + they have sought out many inventions. Ecclesiastes vii, 29. +</p> + +<p> + Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed; how then + art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto + me? Jeremiah ii, 21. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +He sat down facing the Witch, and after a little time was conscious of +a new train of thoughts. His better spirit moved. Would it not be as +well to live the remainder of his life with the mother of his children +whom he dearly loved? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + What therefore God hath joined together let not man put asunder. + Matthew xix, 6. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Contract marriage is most suitable for the present age. That leaves the +contracting parties on a grade with the cattle and admits of their +changing companions whenever and as often as they like without breaking +God's holy vows. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the Lord with + tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he + regardeth not the offering any more, or receive it with good will + at your hand. +</p> + +<p> + Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy + youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously; yet is she thy + companion and the wife of thy covenant. +</p> + +<p> + And did not he make one? yet had he the residue of the spirit. +</p> + +<p> + Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously + against the wife of his youth. +</p> + +<p> + For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away. + Malachi ii, 13, 14, 15, 16. +</p> + +<p> + If a man put away his wife and she go from him, and become another + man's, shall not that land be greatly polluted? Jeremiah iii, 1. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +When a marriage is solemnized by the word of God, then no law on earth +is justifiable for breaking it; and when a couple truly love each other +what but death can separate them? For misfortune of any kind only binds +the tie of sympathy more closely. +</p> + +<p> +If this tie was not so easily broken more persons would consider whom +they were marrying and what they were marrying for, and if less +deception was practiced beforehand, there would be fewer marriages +which prove such dismal failures. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; + who can know it? Jeremiah xvii, 9. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +We will be done with all this in the resurrection. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + In the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, + but are as the angels of God in heaven. Matthew xxii, 30. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +When the Witch left this pair she was happy in the thought that they +would live together on better terms, and be like a re-united family. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XIX"> </a> +CHAPTER XIX. +</h2> + + +<p> +Later in the day our Witch was in another part of the city; while +walking through an alley, she saw a Chinaman carrying a large basket +full of clean clothes that he was returning to the owners. The Witch +also noticed several half-grown boys and heard one of them remark: +</p> + +<p> +"Say we take a shot at that heathen." +</p> + +<p> +So with one accord they commenced pelting him with everything +available. Their victim tried to defend himself to the best of his +ability, but the half dozen boys pounced on him, and in the fracas the +clothes were upset into the street. +</p> + +<p> +It was hard to tell how far they would carry their vicious work, which +they considered a capital joke, when some one appeared among them who +was also at work. Very soon they all left off, not knowing why. The +Witch stood near while he gathered up the clothes, which necessarily +must be washed over again. +</p> + +<p> +Then she tried to solve in her mind this Chinese problem: +</p> + +<p> +These Mongolians are in a measure obnoxious, but as a rule are +peaceable and industrious, which is more than can be said of many other +people. +</p> + +<p> +They have few opportunities for making a living in their own +over-populous country, but perhaps when they have become more +thoroughly Christianized, the race will be less prolific, which would +be beneficial to their own nation and others. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth. Psalms xcvi, 10. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +For the more a man leans to divinity the less he cleaves to his animal +nature; and what is true of the Chinese applies to other densely +populated countries. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; + but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. + Romans viii, 5. +</p> + +<p> + Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should + obey it in the lusts thereof. Romans vi, 12. +</p> + +<p> + For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust + of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of + the world. +</p> + +<p> + And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth + the will of God abideth forever. John ii, 16, 17. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Her mind reverted to an incident which she witnessed in a cemetery. It +was the Sabbath and she was walking about in there as she often did on +this day, for what more forcible sermon can be delivered than a +thinking mind can feel while moving about among the dead? +</p> + +<p> +After a time she was conscious of a disturbance of some kind going on +at one corner of the enclosure. A promiscuous crowd had gathered and +ere long there came a Chinese funeral train and stopped at the open +grave. +</p> + +<p> +Then the crowd mocked them, and by this time it was evident that they +had gathered there to have sport at the expense of the mourners. +</p> + +<p> +The children were cutting up all manner of antics, and the parents +stood by highly amused at the proceedings. It was almost impossible to +conduct the burial rites on account of the confusion made by the mob. +</p> + +<p> +To be sure it was a peculiar ceremony, but some respect ought to have +been due the feelings of these sorrowing ones at such a time. These +children were wholly undisciplined in the matter of right and wrong; +their behavior was like so many young savages. +</p> + +<p> +What were their parents teaching them? To selfishly enjoy the +discomfort of others, and this was all, never trying to encourage the +finer and better feelings in their natures. +</p> + +<p> +Our Witch did not wait till the ceremony was over. Thoroughly disgusted +with human nature, she left the cemetery. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XX"> </a> +CHAPTER XX. +</h2> + + +<p> +She thought still less of it that night when awakened from sleep by a +gang of boisterous picnickers who, full of liquor, were returning home +from a day of revelry. Women's and men's voices mingled together in +singing vile songs. +</p> + +<p> +How wholly depraved are some natures, and how necessary that these lewd +minds should be purified by a closer communion with more spiritual +intellects! +</p> + +<p> +When there are seven days in a week and our King only exacts from us +the Sabbath it does seem as if He is entitled to that, but where people +are confined to employment every day in the week but one, it is hardly +probable that the kind Father would object to their having an outing on +their one day of liberty out of a week of unremitting toil, if they +would conduct themselves properly. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Not in rioting and drunkenness; not in chambering and wantonness. + But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the + flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof. Romans xiii, 13, 14. +</p> + +<p> + My Sabbaths they greatly polluted. +</p> + +<p> + I am the Lord your God; walk in my statutes, and hallow my + Sabbaths. Ezekiel xx, 13. +</p> + +<p> + Thus saith the Lord, keep ye judgment, and do justice. +</p> + +<p> + Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth + hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth + his hand from doing any evil. Isaiah lvi, 1, 2. +</p> + +<p> + If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy + pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy + of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own + ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: +</p> + +<p> + Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee + to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the + heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken + it. Isaiah lviii, 13, 14. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +But ere long a few cannot monopolize all the comforts, nor the masses +be obliged to struggle hard every hour for the bare necessities of +life, for who can defraud his neighbor when all minds will be a unit? +and if honesty was practiced to the letter, the good things of life +would not be so unequally divided. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + The profit of the earth is for all. Ecclesiastes v, 9. +</p> + +<p> + Yet ye say, the way of the Lord is not equal. Is not my way equal? + Are not your ways unequal? Ezekiel xviii, 25. +</p> + +<p> + For every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to + covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest, every one + dealeth falsely. Jeremiah viii, 10. +</p> + +<p> + Their tongue is an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit; one speaketh + peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in heart he layeth + wait. Jeremiah ix, 8. +</p> + +<p> + As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit; + therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. Jeremiah v, 27. +</p> + +<p> + Behold these are the ungodly who prosper in the world; they + increase in riches. Psalms lxxiii, 12. +</p> + +<p> + Thus saith the Lord, execute ye judgment and righteousness, and + deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor; and do no + wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the + widow. Jeremiah xxii, 3. +</p> + +<p> + Be renewed in the spirit of your mind; putting away lying, speak + every man truth with his neighbor; for we are members one of + another. Ephesians iv, 23, 25. +</p> + +<p> + That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in + thee, that they also may be one in us. John xvii, 21. +</p> + +<p> + Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell + together in unity! Psalms cxxxiii, 1. +</p> +</div> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XXI"> </a> +CHAPTER XXI. +</h2> + + +<p> +Ever on the alert to do good the Witch stopped at a rickety tenement, +with nothing to recommend it but a climbing rose-bush, set out by some +flower-loving tenant a number of years before, and which twined its +long branches in full bloom over one end of the dilapidated structure; +it was an illustration of extremes meeting, this perfectly beautiful +rose-bush and the unsightly old porch. The landlady did not care to buy +a bird, and none of the occupants of her rooms were at home during the +day, except one, who poor boy, was always in, and a visitor would be +sure to cheer him up a bit, though it would be useless to try and sell +a bird there. She led the way up a flight of stairs to the room where a +little cripple was amusing himself with a few marbles that he was +rolling about on the table by which he was sitting. +</p> + +<p> +He was delighted with the birds, but knew that his sister could not +afford to buy him one. He said she was employed up town in a store, +naming the business block of a well-known and very wealthy merchant, +and he could not go out and play like other boys, and the days seemed +very long sometimes. +</p> + +<p> +Yes, thought our Witch, a day must be a long time to this poor weakling +with little to amuse him. +</p> + +<p> +She gave him his choice of the birds, and after promising to bring it +back in the evening with a new cage which she would buy for him, the +Witch took her leave. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XXII"> </a> +CHAPTER XXII. +</h2> + + +<p> +A little way down the street in advance of her was a heavy wagon drawn +by one patient horse that looked as though it might have seen better +days, but now one could numerate every rib in its worn frame. +</p> + +<p> +The driver was beating the poor animal unmercifully. It doubtless had a +history, and if allowed speech would tell of a gradual decline, of +careful nourishment and little to do in its prime, but when strength +and beauty began to wane, of a harder life, and now in old age when +attention was most needful, must fall in line with the great majority +of overworked, under-fed beasts of burden, and some day when no longer +able to hold up the harness, would be taken out and shot. +</p> + +<p> +Our Witch could hear in her mind's ear the rebuke of old: +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + What have I done unto thee, that thou has smitten me these three + times? Numbers xxii, 28. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +She watched the man intently for a few seconds, and then his arm +dropped to his side. Why this sudden sympathy so foreign to his +hardened nature? +</p> + +<p> +The All-seeing Eye must often look down in tenderest pity on this +ill-treated animal creation, which is more deserving of His regard than +these inhuman beings, who by their cruelty place themselves far below a +level with the lower animals. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + The Lord is good to all; and His tender mercies are over all His + works. Psalms cxlv, 9. +</p> + +<p> + Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father is also merciful. Luke vi, + 36. +</p> + +<p> + The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel + troubleth his own flesh. Proverbs xi, 17. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Surely the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is one of +the noblest organizations of modern times, and for good work stands +second to no religious denomination that has ever existed, or ever will +exist. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XXIII"> </a> +CHAPTER XXIII. +</h2> + + +<p> +Her next stopping place was not in a rookery part of the city, but was +where wealth abounds. It was just before the noon hour when she entered +the palatial home of a many times millionaire and was ushered into the +library where he was busy with some papers. "Would you care to buy a +bird, sir?" +</p> + +<p> +"I have no time to talk with you this morning, madam." He looked at her +uneasily, and mentally resolved to administer a reproof to the servant +for allowing these tramping peddlers to enter the house. +</p> + +<p> +The magnetic power was again brought into requisition. +</p> + +<p> +The Witch might have used this influence for her own financial +advantage, but was too conscientious for that, and furthermore money +was not her aim in life. +</p> + +<p> +Gradually there came stealing into this rich man's brain new thoughts; +was he doing right with his boundless wealth? He could not understand +why he was just waking up to the fact that he had not. +</p> + +<p> +How many needy ones had he passed by? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Withhold not good to them to whom it is due, when it is in the + power of thine hand to do it. Proverbs iii, 27. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +To endow some charitable institution at his death, as a monument to his +own memory, would hardly atone for neglected duty. Would God hold him +responsible for this neglect and bar him from the Kingdom? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Daniel v, + 27. +</p> + +<p> + Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his + chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbor's service without wages, + and giveth him not for his work. Thine eyes and thine heart are not + but for thy covetousness. Jeremiah xxii, 13, 17. +</p> + +<p> + Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your + gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a + witness against you and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye + have heaped treasures together for the last days. Behold the hire + of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you + kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which reaped are + entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. James v, 2, 3, 4. +</p> + +<p> + Who so stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he shall cry + himself, but shall not be heard. Proverbs xxi, 13. +</p> + +<p> + Let not the rich man glory in his riches. Jeremiah ix, 23. +</p> + +<p> + Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them + in the day of the Lord's wrath. Zephaniah i, 18. +</p> + +<p> + Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not + high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, + who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. That they do good, that + they be rich in good works, ready to distribute. I Timothy vi, 17, + 18. +</p> + +<p> + He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that + honoreth Him hath mercy on the poor. Proverbs xiv, 31. +</p> + +<p> + As a partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that + getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of + his days, and at his end shall be a fool. Jeremiah xvii, 11. +</p> +</div> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XXIV"> </a> +CHAPTER XXIV. +</h2> + + +<p> +Faithful to her promise, the Witch purchased a cage, and early in the +evening returned to the cripple's abode and was joyfully greeted. +</p> + +<p> +"O, but you are a good lady to think of me, only a cripple boy!" +</p> + +<p> +She felt that it was indeed more blessed to give than to receive (Acts +XX, 35) when one could do God a service at the same time. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + As ye have done it unto the least of these ye have done it unto Me. + Matthew xxv, 40. +</p> + +<p> + He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth to the Lord. Proverbs xix, + 17. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +In a short time the sister came. His face brightened up with pleasure +when he told her of the present he had received; now he would have a +companion all through the long days. +</p> + +<p> +She was also in a happy mood. The head of the firm where she worked had +raised the salary of all his employes, and she was very thankful for +her good luck because of her brother who needed more books and toys, +for the poor child had to amuse himself the best he could during the +day. The Witch returned home. She saw the progress of her work many +times after in this millionaire's acts of benevolence which were so +liberal as to excite press comment. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> + +<p> + Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him + in time of trouble. Psalms xli, 1. +</p> +</div> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XXV"> </a> +CHAPTER XXV. +</h2> + + +<p> +Our Witch read of the doings in the old world and was sorry that +distance and sea prevented this influence from being brought to bear +upon some of the crowned heads, who, born to almost absolute power, +showed no mercy to a religious sect, who according to Holy Writ are the +chosen people of God. But one alone cannot revolutionize the earth, +unless that one be omnipotent. +</p> + +<p> +Some day this persecution must come to an end. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, + and set them in their own land, and the stranger shall be joined + with them. Isaiah xiv, 1. +</p> + +<p> + Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. Amos iv, 12. +</p> + +<p> + The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly. + Zephaniah i, 14. +</p> + +<p> + Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the + Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand. Joel, ii, 1. +</p> + +<p> + But of that day and hour no man, no not the angels of heaven, but + my Father only. Watch, therefore, for ye know not what hour your + Lord doth come. Matthew xxiv, 36, 42. +</p> + +<p> + Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto + thee, so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live. + Jeremiah xxxviii, 20. +</p> + +<p> + Return ye now every one from his evil way and make your ways and + your doings good. Jeremiah xviii, 11. +</p> + +<p> + And to wait for his Son from heaven whom he raised from the dead, + even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. 1 + Thessalonians i, 10. +</p> + +<p> + Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other + name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts + iv, 12. +</p> + +<p> + There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ + Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans + viii, 1. +</p> + +<p> + Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you; +</p> + +<p> + Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double + minded. James iv, 8. +</p> + +<p> + Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, + and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, + and he with me. Revelation iii, 20. +</p> + +<p> + I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely. Hosea xiv, + 4. +</p> + +<p> + Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be + blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the + presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before + was preached unto you. Acts iii, 19, 20. +</p> + +<p> + If ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly + execute judgment between a man and his neighbor; +</p> + +<p> + If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and + shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other + gods to your hurt; +</p> + +<p> + Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land I gave to + your fathers, for ever and ever. Obey my voice and I will be your + God, and ye shall be my people. Jeremiah vii, 5, 6, 7, 23. +</p> + +<p> + Therefore, turn thou to thy God; keep mercy and judgment, and wait + on thy God continually. Hosea xii, 6. +</p> + +<p> + Depart from evil and do good, and dwell for evermore. Psalms + xxxvii, 27. +</p> + +<p> + The redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come singing unto Zion; + and everlasting joy shall be upon their head; they shall obtain + gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. Isaiah + li, 11. +</p> + +<p> + And it shall come to pass that he that is left in Zion, and he that + remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy, even every one that is + written among the living in Jerusalem. When the Lord shall have + washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have + purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit + of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. Isaiah iv, 3, 4. +</p> + +<p> + Behold, I come quickly. And the Spirit and the bride say, come; and + let him that heareth say, come; and let him that is athirst come; + and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. + Revelation xxii, 7, 17. +</p> +</div> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XXVI"> </a> +CHAPTER XXVI. +</h2> + + +<p> +The Witch did not go about her work the next day, nor the next, for +somehow she contracted a severe cold which completely prostrated her, +and then pneumonia clutched her throat. +</p> + +<p> +One morning, when the first golden rays of the sun glanced over the +sleeping city, they rested in benediction on her death bed. A neighbor, +whom in time past she had befriended, was at her side. +</p> + +<p> +She knew that the end was near. +</p> + +<p> +Will this influence stop here? or will it go on and on through all the +ages to come? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, + saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their + works do follow them. Revelation xiv, 13. +</p> +</div> + +<br> +<div class="tn"> +<p class="ctr"> +Transcriber's Note: +</p> + +<p> +Minor typographical errors have been corrected +without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have +been retained as printed. +</p> + +<p> +The Table of Contents was not present in the original text and has +been produced for the reader's convenience. +</p> +</div> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44748 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + + diff --git a/44748-h/images/cover.jpg b/44748-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d61c14a --- /dev/null +++ b/44748-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/44748-h/images/dedication.jpg b/44748-h/images/dedication.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..45c9604 --- /dev/null +++ b/44748-h/images/dedication.jpg diff --git a/44748-h/images/star.jpg b/44748-h/images/star.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..63f163d --- /dev/null +++ b/44748-h/images/star.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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Maher + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Witch Hypnotizer + +Author: Zena A. Maher + +Release Date: January 24, 2014 [EBook #44748] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WITCH HYPNOTIZER *** + + + + +Produced by David Garcia and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="436" height="600" id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="cover"></div> + + +<h1> +<span class="smaller">THE</span><br> +WITCH HYPNOTIZER +</h1> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="33" height="38" src="images/star.jpg" alt="star"></div> + +<div class="titlepage"> +<p class="ctrsmall"> +BY +</p> + +<p class="ctr"> +ZENA A. MAHER +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="33" height="38" src="images/star.jpg" alt="star"></div> + +<p class="ctrsmall"> +PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="33" height="38" src="images/star.jpg" alt="star"></div> + +<p class="ctrsmaller"> +SAN FRANCISCO<br> +THE BANCROFT COMPANY<br> +1892 +</p> + +<p class="ctrsmaller"> +COPYRIGHT, 1892<br> +BY<br> +ZENA A. MAHER +</p> + +<p class="ctrsmaller"> +Issued from the Press of<br> +THE BANCROFT COMPANY +</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="33" height="38" src="images/star.jpg" alt="star"></div> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="263" height="66" src="images/dedication.jpg" alt="To My Husband, the Truest and Noblest of Men"></div> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="33" height="38" src="images/star.jpg" alt="star"></div> + + + + +<h2> +CONTENTS +</h2> + + +<p class="ctr"> +CHAPTER +</p> + +<ul> +<li><a href="#I">I.</a></li> +<li><a href="#II">II.</a></li> +<li><a href="#III">III.</a></li> +<li><a href="#IV">IV.</a></li> +<li><a href="#V">V.</a></li> +<li><a href="#VI">VI.</a></li> +<li><a href="#VII">VII.</a></li> +<li><a href="#VIII">VIII.</a></li> +<li><a href="#IX">IX.</a></li> +<li><a href="#X">X.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XI">XI.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XII">XII.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XIII">XIII.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XIV">XIV.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XV">XV.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XVI">XVI.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XVII">XVII.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XVIII">XVIII.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XIX">XIX.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XX">XX.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XI">XI.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XXII">XXII.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XXIII">XXIII.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XXIV">XXIV.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XXV">XXV.</a></li> +<li><a href="#XXVI">XXVI.</a></li> +</ul> + +<hr class="med"> + + +<p class="booktitle"> +THE WITCH HYPNOTIZER +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="I"> </a> +CHAPTER I. +</h2> + + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Let there be light. Genesis i, 3. +</p> + +<p> + Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good + works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. Matthew v, 16. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +In the world of imagination many Witches have lived and died since the +one of whose existence and wonders I am about to relate, came into +prominence. +</p> + +<p> +She lived quite alone in a little cottage on the outskirts of a large +city in America, of course, and why should not the free soil produce +all sorts when it is the dumping ground for all creation? +</p> + +<p> +Alone, with the exception of her dog and several cages of canaries +which, by the way, were a new departure in the line of pets, for the +old-time Witches were supposed to favor cats and parrots, she commanded +the respect of all, but there was something so very peculiar about her +that some of her more superstitious neighbors looked upon this woman as +a kind of good Witch. +</p> + +<p> +There was nothing remarkable about her personal appearance and the +peculiarity was not visibly noticeable. It was nothing tangible, but an +indescribable something which gave her influence over other minds, to +bend them to her will. +</p> + +<p> +Every one felt this more or less in her presence; a giving up of pet +hobbies, even, to her ideas, which fortunately were very liberal. +</p> + +<p> +There was that also about her sympathetic nature which invited +confidence, and many who were not given to complaining found +themselves, they hardly knew why, telling her their secret sorrows. +</p> + +<p> +For years this Witch or woman was herself unconscious of this power, +but when she fully realized it, her work to her conscientious heart was +laid out, and that must be in doing all the good possible through this +genius that was hers. +</p> + +<p> +She had always endeavored to do her best, ever ready to lend a helping +hand to any one in trouble. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="II"> </a> +CHAPTER II. +</h2> + + +<p> +While attending to her birds one morning, the Witch was interrupted by +a knock at the door and a summons from one of her neighbors, who had +sent a child to ask if this good soul would come over. +</p> + +<p> +Yes, she would be there directly. +</p> + +<p> +Donning her sombre colored bonnet and shawl the Witch started for her +neighbor's. The unhappy little woman craved sympathy, and had sent for +her who knew so well how to render it. +</p> + +<p> +She told the oft-repeated story of a drunkard's wife. Her husband had +left home the previous evening and had not returned, and after these +prolonged sprees she feared his coming, who was the kindest of men when +himself, but very savage when under the influence of liquor. Then, too, +she was afraid that he would lose his position, which his employer had +threatened if he did not attend to work better. +</p> + +<p> +The Witch told her to be of good cheer; that all would be well with her +yet. +</p> + +<p> +She looked at the shabby furniture and still shabbier clothing of the +children. This family had once been in comfortable circumstances, but +were brought to this state of poverty through intemperance, the +prevailing evil. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty. Proverbs, + xxiii, 21. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +And yet how much good these beverages might do if used in moderation, +but too many are with this, like all their other appetites over which +they have no control. The mind should be made to strive harder after +the knowledge of God in order to subdue these carnal desires. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; + but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. +</p> + +<p> + For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is + life and peace. +</p> + +<p> + Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not + subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. +</p> + +<p> + So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. +</p> + +<p> + As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. + Romans viii, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14. +</p> + +<p> + Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may + follow strong drink, that continue until night, till wine inflame + them! +</p> + +<p> + Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to + mingle strong drink. Isaiah v, 11, 22. +</p> + +<p> + He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but + he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life + everlasting. Galatians vi. 8. +</p> + +<p> + All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth + with offense. +</p> + +<p> + It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything + whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. + Romans xiv, 20, 21. +</p> + +<p> + Whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. II + Corinthians v, 6. +</p> + +<p> + Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess; but be filled with the + Spirit. Ephesians v, 18. +</p> + +<p> + Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. + Galatians v, 16. +</p> + +<p> + Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, + righteously and godly in this present world. Titus ii, 12. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +About midday this fallen image of God came home partially sobered and +ferocious as a wild animal. The Witch mentally compared man with beast +and gave her dog the preference. +</p> + +<p> +He had commenced his wicked profanity, when a hand was laid on his arm +and reproachful eyes looked into his. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whoever is deceived + thereby is not wise. Proverbs xx, 1. +</p> + +<p> + God created man in his own image. Genesis i, 27. +</p> + +<p> + Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of + God dwelleth in you? +</p> + +<p> + If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the + temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. I Corinthians iii, 16, + 17. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +After this he sat quietly for a long time apparently lost in thought; +then this truly penitent one arose, stood beside his wife and vowed +that in future he would be a better man, and their home should be happy +as in the old days before this false friend took possession. +</p> + +<p> +Tears of happiness were streaming from the little woman's eyes, and our +Witch withdrew, thanking God in her heart for this power he had given +her. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="III"> </a> +CHAPTER III. +</h2> + + +<p> +On reaching home she found a neighbor waiting outside, who entered with +her, in the meantime pouring into the ever sympathetic ears her +trouble. +</p> + +<p> +She was bewailing over the downfall of her boy who heretofore had been +exceptionally dutiful, invariably spending his evening at home, but of +late all was changed. He had contracted the card disease with all its +adherent vices, which was rapidly developing into a mania. His salary, +which was the home support, was being sacrificed on the gambling altar. +</p> + +<p> +Here was more work. The only son and mainstay of a widowed mother fast +going to ruin. Yes, something must be done. +</p> + +<p> +Early the following evening the Witch made it her business to pay a +visit to the widow about tea time. The son was hurriedly finishing his +meal preparatory to starting out for the night, when somehow he changed +his mind and stayed at home instead, and our friend, the Witch, knew +that in future he would have sufficient strength of will to pass by his +old haunt and on home to his waiting loving mother with his earnings in +his pocket, which meant more home comforts, more books and evening +reading, and happiness to both. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Turn not to the right hand nor to the left; remove thy foot from + evil. Proverbs, iv. 27. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +The Witch went home well satisfied with her day's work, and that night +thought and planned for the good of humanity. Why not venture further +into a wider range for action? +</p> + +<p> +She might peddle her songbirds from door to door, and in this capacity +gain access into houses where she could more readily acquaint herself +with those in need of her assistance. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="IV"> </a> +CHAPTER IV. +</h2> + + +<p> +The next morning our Witch opened her Bible and read as she was wont to +do before any new undertaking. Her eyes rested on these lines: +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your + children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy + Spirit to them that ask him? Luke xi, 13. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +She knelt and prayed long and earnestly for an abundance of this Holy +Spirit to guide and help her. She took her birds and started out. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my + statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them. Ezekiel + xxxvi, 27. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Her first stopping place was at a dwelling that stood back some little +distance from the street and was surrounded by flowers. +</p> + +<p> +What drew her attention most was the appearance of a little child whose +innocent face reminded her that purity still existed. She entered the +grounds and rang the bell. +</p> + +<p> +A young woman opened the door and kindly invited her in. The Witch made +some remark about the pretty boy outside, when she saw an expression of +pain flit over the lady's face. Something wrong here, she thought. +</p> + +<p> +Yes, the child was hers; she had loved not wisely but too well, Her +betrayer, a prosperous business man who was as yet unmarried, was +allowed to move in the very best of society, but the finger of scorn +was pointed at her from all sides. +</p> + +<p> +She was the only daughter of parents who thought very fondly of their +lovable grandchild, still felt keenly the disgrace that had been +brought upon the hitherto spotless family name. +</p> + +<p> +Does the seventh commandment demand more obedience from one sex than +the other? It reads as if it was spoken to both alike. Our Witch +learned the man's name and business address, and departed. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="V"> </a> +CHAPTER V. +</h2> + + +<p> +She was so in sympathy with this family that she felt in a hurry to get +to work, and so signalled a passing car to stop, and entered. It was +well filled, but two seats remaining unoccupied she seated herself in +one of them. +</p> + +<p> +Presently a little colored girl came in and took the other. A high-bred +dame sitting next elevated her aristocratic nose and pulled her skirts +aside as if fearing contamination. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud; for the Lord hath spoken. + Jeremiah xiii, 15. +</p> + +<p> + There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! Proverbs xxx, + 13. +</p> + +<p> + Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord God of + Hosts. Jeremiah 1, 31. +</p> + +<p> + Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord. + Proverbs xvi, 5. +</p> + +<p> + I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low + the haughtiness of the terrible. Isaiah xiii, 11. +</p> + +<p> + The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men + shall be bowed down. Isaiah ii, 11. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Why draw this color line so tightly? What of this outer covering? Have +not these people immortal souls which may be white as the whitest; and +in many cases, brilliant talents? +</p> + +<p> +The Witch remembered a circumstance where a king of oratory, holding a +high official position, was debarred from sitting at table with a +ship's crew on account of this same color, which was only a heavier +shading; and is not all creation a matter of shadow and coloring? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all + the face of the earth. Acts xvii, 26. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +A shabbily dressed woman came in. The stamp of labor was on her +gloveless hands, and she looked weary, indeed. But no attention was +paid her whatever. +</p> + +<p> +Then came two flashily attired females. No less than five gentlemen +arose to offer seats. Were they more in need of rest than this poor +laboring woman? +</p> + +<p> +Ah, well! perhaps they were more heavily burdened with their follies +than she with her cares. +</p> + +<p> +For once the Witch was too busy with many thoughts to concentrate her +mind on any individual in particular, and passed on and out of the car +to finish her day's work. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="VI"> </a> +CHAPTER VI. +</h2> + + +<p> +She went in to a business establishment and made her way to the office. +The proprietor, a busy man of the world, was at his desk. He looked in +surprise at the cage of birds; a rather unusual place, certainly, to +attempt the sale of a bird, the business house of a man without family. +</p> + +<p> +"I have no use for pets myself, and have no one to give them to." +</p> + +<p> +No one? Then memory stirred; he thought of the one whom he had so +cruelly wronged, and of his innocent child in disgrace. Why were these +new and better impulses taking possession of his mind? He did not know, +but the Witch did. +</p> + +<p> +She saw the result of her work a few days later when his marriage +notice was published in the paper. Another family put to rights. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="VII"> </a> +CHAPTER VII. +</h2> + + +<p> +Next, a respectable looking place that might belong to the occupants, +for there was not that unkempt appearance about it that is peculiar to +rented property. +</p> + +<p> +Our Witch opened the gate and went in. A scowling woman came to the +door who looked daggers at the unwelcome peddler, and said she would +not have one of those noisy birds in the house. +</p> + +<p> +About this time her tired-looking husband came home from work, and +judging from the tirade of abuse heaped upon him, it was evident that +she certainly would not tolerate any noise about the premises that she +could not make herself. +</p> + +<p> +It was only a matter of time when this quiet, hard-working man would +tire of his home life. Husbands with such life partners are not so much +to blame if they do prefer the company of other women, the gambling +dens and saloons, or any place rather than their homes. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop than with a + brawling woman in a wide house. Proverbs xxi, 9. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +How many wives, instead of trying to make home attractive, drive +happiness away with their cruel tongues? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Who have said with our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own + who is lord over us? Psalms xii, 4. +</p> + +<p> + Hold thy tongue. Amos vi, 10. +</p> + +<p> + The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. +</p> + +<p> + It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. James iii, 6, 8. +</p> + +<p> + A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger. +</p> + +<p> + A wholesome tongue is a tree of life; but perverseness therein is a + breach in the spirit. Proverbs xv, 1, 4. +</p> + +<p> + Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil + speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: +</p> + +<p> + And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one + another, as even God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians + iv, 31, 32. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +The Witch is yet at her work. She proceeded on her way, thankful that +she has made one less shrew in the world. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="VIII"> </a> +CHAPTER VIII. +</h2> + + +<p> +On her way along she observed a boy sitting on the walk near some +shrubbery. He seemed very intent on whatever he was doing. She +approached nearer and saw a poor butterfly denuded of its wings lying +quivering in his hand, and he was looking at it with the most intense +satisfaction. +</p> + +<p> +"My lad, do you know that— +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the + good. Proverbs xv, 3. +</p> + +<p> + Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and + whether it be right. Proverbs xx, 11. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +"Understand that it is sinful to torment any living thing." +</p> + +<p> +The boy slunk away, realizing for the first time that it was wrong to +torture anything so small as a butterfly. +</p> + +<p> +The disposition to torture seems to be inherent with many boys and if +allowed to grow on them will in time predominate over all good +impulses, and prompt them to commit the most terrible crimes. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + For the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of + violence. Ezekiel vii, 23. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +If they were taught to cultivate will power to subdue these evil +impulses what a blessing would be derived! How prone to wickedness is +all human nature, and how much we need to pray for help to overcome it! +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Watch and pray. Matthew xxvi, 41. +</p> +</div> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="IX"> </a> +CHAPTER IX. +</h2> + + +<p> +The Witch noticed a girl in the regulation uniform of white cap and +apron marshalling several children. How oft seen in the want column: "A +nurse girl who will wear the cap." Why was this headgear exacted as a +badge of servitude? Why ape the Old World customs? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down; + for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your + glory. Jeremiah xiii, 18. +</p> + +<p> + Thus saith the Lord God: Remove the diadem and take off the crown; + this shall not be the same; exalt him that is low, and abase him + that is high. +</p> + +<p> + I will overturn, overturn, overturn it; and it shall be no more + until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. Ezekiel + xxi, 26, 27. +</p> + +<p> + And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. Isaiah ii, 11. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Was not this government founded on the principle of equality? Did not +the Pilgrim Fathers estimate one good as another if their righteousness +was equal? And the distinction was made only between good and evil +doers. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + A nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of + their God. Isaiah lviii, 2. +</p> + +<p> + And ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight in + proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbor; and ye had made a + covenant before me in the house which is called by my name: +</p> + +<p> + But ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his + servant, and every man his handmaid, whom he had set at liberty at + their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be + unto you for servants and for handmaids. Jeremiah xxxiv, 16, 17. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Then, again, should it not be more essential for these mothers to look +more after the morals of the persons who were to be companions for +their children and to be less watchful of Mrs. Grundy's edicts? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + For the customs of the people are vain. +</p> + +<p> + They are altogether brutish and foolish; the stock is a doctrine of + vanities. +</p> + +<p> + They are vanity, and the work of errors; in the time of their + visitation they shall perish. Jeremiah x, 3, 8, 15. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +The Witch recalled an instance where a distinguished political leader +married a sewing woman, and his bride was ostracized from society when +it leaked out that she had labored for a livelihood. Had all these +aristocrats as clean a record? +</p> + +<p> +Am afraid one's hands would be somewhat soiled by too close +investigation. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth + your hearts. Luke xvi, 15. +</p> + +<p> + For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; neither + hid, that shall not be known. Luke xii, 2. +</p> + +<p> + For God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret + thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes xii, + 14. +</p> + +<p> + The just Lord is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity; + every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not. + Zephaniah iii, 5. +</p> +</div> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="X"> </a> +CHAPTER X. +</h2> + + +<p> +One day when passing the jail our Witch was moved with an impulse to go +inside. The warden allowed her to pass in. Her heart ached for these +poor wretches whose faces from behind the bars looked so hopeless and +unhappy, and whose blasphemous language chilled her. She longed for the +time when: +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. II + Timothy ii, 19. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Who knew but these criminals were as innocent in the light of God's +All-Searching Eye as those who less tried have committed less evil? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans iii, + 23. +</p> + +<p> + If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth + is not in us. John i, 8. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Some have better childhood memories of good influences brought to bear +on their susceptible innocence, and would not humanity, begot and +reared in iniquity, have a natural inclination to evil, and +consequently be pardonable for greater crimes than those of a healthier +nourishment? And would not those stronger ones with great mental gifts +have more to answer for accordingly than those of weaker natures? Well, +it is beyond any human comprehension to execute perfect justice. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Then hear thou from Heaven, thy dwelling place, and forgive, and + render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou + knowest; for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men. + II Chronicles vi, 30. +</p> + +<p> + I, the Lord, search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every + man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his + doings. Jeremiah xvii, 10. +</p> + +<p> + The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. Psalms + xix, 9. +</p> + +<p> + But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why doth thou set at nought + thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of + Christ. Let us not therefore judge one another any more; but judge + this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to + fall in his brother's way. Romans xiv, 10, 13. +</p> + +<p> + Thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art, that judgest; for + wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself. Romans ii, + 1. +</p> + +<p> + Judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye shall + not be condemned; forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Luke vi, 37. +</p> + +<p> + Therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord come, who + both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will + make manifest the counsels of the hearts. I Corinthians iv, 5. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +But crime will come to an end in that happy time when we will know each +other's innermost thoughts. +</p> + +<p> +What a grand and awful time will be the day of judgment, when the +Spirit quickens the dust of centuries! Grand for those who have +sincerely tried to serve the King! +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh + righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of + oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that + stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from + seeing evil: he shall dwell on high; his place of defence shall be + the munitions of rocks; bread shall be sure. Isaiah xxxiii, 14, 15, + 16. +</p> + +<p> + Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with + the whole heart. Psalms cxix, 2. +</p> + +<p> + They that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord + hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written + before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his + name. +</p> + +<p> + And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I + make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own + son that serveth him. Malachi iii, 16, 17. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Awful for the hypocrites when God's magnetic eyes burn into their +souls. In this way the world of sin will be dissolved, but space, in +which we move and have our being, will never be destroyed. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + One generation passeth away and another generation cometh; but the + earth abideth forever. Ecclesiastes i, 4. +</p> + +<p> + For this hath the Lord said: The whole land shall be desolate, yet + will I not make a full end. Jeremiah iv, 27. +</p> + +<p> + Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; + for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall + wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in + like manner; but my salvation shall be forever, and my + righteousness shall not be abolished. Isaiah li, 6. +</p> + +<p> + Who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he + appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire. Malachi iii, 2. +</p> + +<p> + Every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare + it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try + every man's work of what sort it is. I Corinthians iii, 13. +</p> + +<p> + For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews xii, 29. +</p> + +<p> + The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved; I bear up + the pillars of it. Psalms lxxv, 3. +</p> + +<p> + All the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. + Zephaniah iii, 8. +</p> + +<p> + Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, + and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue + shall consume away in their mouth. Zechariah xiv, 12. +</p> + +<p> + As wax melteth before the fire; so let the wicked perish at the + presence of God. Psalms lxviii, 2. +</p> + +<p> + Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned and few men left. + Isaiah xxiv, 6. +</p> + +<p> + All the hosts of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall + be rolled together as a scroll. Isaiah xxxiv, 4. +</p> + +<p> + Woe unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour + widow's houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore ye + shall receive the greater damnation. Matthew xxiii, 14. +</p> + +<p> + For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire + shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. Job xv, 34. +</p> + +<p> + I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will + I plead with you face to face. +</p> + +<p> + And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein + ye have been defiled; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own + sight for all your evils that ye have committed. Ezekiel xx, 35, 43. +</p> +</div> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XI"> </a> +CHAPTER XI. +</h2> + + +<p> +The Witch was not a regular attendant at any house of worship of any +set creed, but preferred ones of lesser grandeur, feeling that she met +with more sincerity within. But one Sabbath morning her steps led to +one of the largest and most fashionable churches in the city. The +ushers were busy seating the well-dressed throng. She slipped along and +took a seat by the side of a sumptuously dressed lady who shifted and +spread her drapery a little more as a hint to the intruder that her +presence was undesirable. +</p> + +<p> +Many haughty glances of derision were shot at the poorly clad stranger +who had presumed to come in their midst. She looked about her on the +throng. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + All is vanity. Ecclesiastes i, 2. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Richly attired matrons, conscious only of their extreme style; fair +young girls, not a whit less extravagantly garbed than their elders, +with cramped waists and all the accoutrements belonging to devotees of +fashion. +</p> + +<p> +A pity that such fair flowers like the rose could not remain longer in +bud, for both fall into decay all too quickly after maturity. But Dame +Fashion seems in a hurry and holds to artificial development. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Make not my Father's house a house of merchandise. John ii, 16. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +What more was this great display of finery than one way of advertising +goods? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; + the new moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot + away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. +</p> + +<p> + Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from + before mine eyes; cease to do evil. +</p> + +<p> + Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the + fatherless, plead for the widow. +</p> + +<p> + Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your + sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow; though they be + red like crimson, they shall be as wool. +</p> + +<p> + If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. +</p> + +<p> + But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured. Isaiah i, 13, 16, + 17, 18, 19, 20. +</p> + +<p> + Their land also is full of idols; they worship the works of their + own hands that which their own fingers have made. Isaiah ii, 8. +</p> + +<p> + The daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth + necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a + tinkling with their feet. +</p> + +<p> + In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling + ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires + like the moon. +</p> + +<p> + The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers. +</p> + +<p> + The bonnets, the headbands, and the earrings. +</p> + +<p> + The rings. +</p> + +<p> + The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantels, and the wimples, + and the crisping pins. +</p> + +<p> + The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the veils. + Isaiah iii, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. +</p> + +<p> + That women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness + and sobriety; not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or + costly array; +</p> + +<p> + But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. I + Timothy ii, 9, 10. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +The eloquent and eminent divine preached a flowery discourse with no +reproof pointing to the vanity and frivolity of the hour. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + They are shepherds that cannot understand; they all look to their + own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Isaiah lvi, 11. +</p> + +<p> + Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard; they have trodden my + portion under foot. Jeremiah xii, 10. +</p> + +<p> + The pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord. + Jeremiah x, 21. +</p> + +<p> + Woe unto you, ye blind guides. Matthew xxiii, 16. +</p> + +<p> + Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching + things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. Titus i, 11. +</p> + +<p> + Ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at + the law. Malachi ii, 8. +</p> + +<p> + Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, + rebuke, extort with all long suffering and doctrine. +</p> + +<p> + For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; + but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers + having itching ears; +</p> + +<p> + And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be + turned into fables. +</p> + +<p> + But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an + evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. II Timothy iv, 2, 3, + 4, 5. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +The great organ reverberated through the building. The choir sang of +God's love to all creatures alike. Two women sat side by side, and the +one of loftier mien bowed her head, and for the first time in her life +felt the love of God in her heart; and the Witch went out from church +happy, knowing that through her influence one soul was redeemed this +Sabbath morning. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XII"> </a> +CHAPTER XII. +</h2> + + +<p> +Marching along the road came the Salvation Army. A crowd of juveniles +bent on hilarity followed in line, mimicking and ridiculing them. The +crowd on the sidewalk jeered, and a high dignitary in church affairs +joined his voice with the rest, remarking that this rabble never ought +to be allowed to parade the streets Sunday. Who knows how many degraded +lives have been elevated by this much ridiculed religious body who do +good work in the slums where religion is most needful, and in so doing +follow more closely in the footsteps of the Christ than those who spend +their energy in striving among themselves for precedence in the public +schools and everywhere? +</p> + +<p> +Why all this contention? Should not real Christian worshippers work in +harmony? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us? Malachi + ii, 10. +</p> + +<p> + And there was also a strife among them which of them should be + accounted the greatest. +</p> + +<p> + But ye shall not be so; but he that is greatest among you, let him + be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. + Luke xxii, 24, 26. +</p> + +<p> + Do all things without murmurings and disputings. Philippians ii, + 14. +</p> + +<p> + Shun profane and vain babblings. II Timothy ii, 16. +</p> + +<p> + Be at peace among yourselves. I Thessalonians v, 13. +</p> + +<p> + Seek peace and pursue it. Psalms xxxiv, 14. +</p> + +<p> + Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory. Philippians ii, + 3. +</p> + +<p> + Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and + of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. +</p> + +<p> + From which some having swerved have turned aside into vain + jangling. I Timothy i, 5, 6. +</p> + +<p> + Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own + selves. +</p> + +<p> + Be of one mind, live in peace. II Corinthians xiii, 5, 11. +</p> + +<p> + Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and + strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. Titus + iii, 9. +</p> + +<p> + For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil + work. James iii, 16. +</p> + +<p> + Now I beseech you brethren by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, + that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no division + among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same + mind and in the same judgment. I Corinthians i, 10. +</p> + +<p> + I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, + without wrath and doubting. I Timothy ii, 8. +</p> + +<p> + Behold, ye fast for strife and debate. +</p> + +<p> + Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of + wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go + free, and that ye brake every yoke? +</p> + +<p> + Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the + poor that are cast out to thy house? +</p> + +<p> + When thou seest the naked that thou cover him; and that thou hide + not thyself from thine own flesh? +</p> + +<p> + Then shall thy light break forth as the morning; and thy + righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be + thy reward. +</p> + +<p> + Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, + and he shall say: Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of + thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking + vanity; +</p> + +<p> + And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry and satisfy the + afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy + darkness be as noonday; +</p> + +<p> + And the Lord shall guide thee continually. Isaiah lviii, 4, 6, 7, + 8, 9, 10, 11. +</p> + +<p> + Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep + his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes + xii, 13. +</p> + +<p> + He hath showed thee, O Man, what is good; and what doth the Lord + require of thee but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk + humbly with thy God? Micah vi, 8. +</p> +</div> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XIII"> </a> +CHAPTER XIII. +</h2> + + +<p> +The Witch resumed work Monday morning. There was more stir in the +streets than usual. On every corner were groups of excited men. Nothing +but whisky and election would cause so much commotion. +</p> + +<p> +The carriages of the different candidates were out scouring the town +for voters. +</p> + +<p> +Some of these aspirants for office had almost impoverished themselves +by daily treating the crowd of loafers who are always ready to trade +their votes for whisky. +</p> + +<p> +They go about electioneering for themselves. Bosh! if a man has the +elements of greatness he will find his place without all this +self-praise. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + For men to search their own glory is not glory. Proverbs xxv, 27. +</p> + +<p> + For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he + deceiveth himself. Galatians vi, 3. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Election day and no mistaking it; the saloons are supposed to be +closed, but there is a back door to some of them. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + It is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: + Lest they drink and forget the law and pervert the judgment of any + of the afflicted. Proverbs xxxi, 4, 5. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Is it any wonder that the women of our land clamor for a voice in the +affairs of state and nation? +</p> + +<p> +But a woman's place is not at the polls. She can do more good at home +in training the minds of her sons, the future voters, and in making her +husband's home-coming pleasant, that he may prefer it to haunts of +vice. And it is to be hoped that man through debauchery will not become +altogether inefficient and make it necessary for woman to take the lead. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + But I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the + man, but to be in silence. I Timothy ii, 12. +</p> +</div> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XIV"> </a> +CHAPTER XIV. +</h2> + + +<p> +In the evening at that most entrancing hour between daylight and dark, +when all creation seems in a dreamy mood, the Witch found herself at +the entrance of a gilded palace of sin. A number of the inmates were +flitting about the flower-laden, well-kept grounds. She approached one +of exquisite beauty of person whose face was not yet passion-scarred. +</p> + +<p> +She was dressed in some soft, flowing, white material which gave her +more of a seraphic appearance than one of sensualism. The Witch asked +what brought her to this stage of immorality. The woman's reply was +that she had been reared in wealth, but her father through some unlucky +speculation lost everything. She had never learned to work, but had +been taught that any labor was most degrading, and she had not +qualified herself to teach any branch of learning, never having made +allowance for the swift wings of vanishing wealth. +</p> + +<p> +When thrown on her own resources she was at a loss to know what to do, +when a wealthy gentleman friend came to her assistance at the sacrifice +of her honor. +</p> + +<p> +He soon tired of her, however; her father had died broken-hearted, and +her mother was staying with a distant relative who had kindly offered +her a home. +</p> + +<p> +The Witch persuaded her to leave this life of disgrace, to learn honest +work and brighten her mother's remaining years. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not + to be ashamed. II Timothy ii, 15. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +She said that it would be hard for her to face the world with this +stigma of shame on her character; that all those bearing any claim to +respectability would scorn her. +</p> + +<p> +The Witch told her that God was judge and not the people, and their +lives were not altogether blameless. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + God is the judge. Psalms lxxv, 7. +</p> + +<p> + He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at + her. John viii, 7. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +The woman was undecided, but the better mind prevailed and she +accompanied the Witch home, and the next day found respectable +employment. +</p> + +<p> +And still the good work goes on. +</p> + +<p> +Reader, I am only narrating a small portion of this woman's work which +she found as the days went by to be illimitable. <i>Vice versa.</i> If +one possessing this mysterious power was inclined to evil rather than +good, what a great amount of wickedness might be accomplished through +it. God only knows how much of the good and evil that has been done in +the world may be attributed to this hidden force. +</p> + +<p> +Was the famed enchantress of the Nile gifted with this secret to a very +great extent, and many other characters of history celebrated in their +day for the influence they exercised? +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XV"> </a> +CHAPTER XV. +</h2> + + +<p> +The Witch heard of a murder trial that was going on in court and +arousing intense interest, owing to the high social standing of all the +parties concerned. She acted on impulse to a certain extent and, +leaving her birds at home, started at once for the court-house. +</p> + +<p> +On her way there she turned her attention to a case of street pugilism. +A crowd of boys, ranging in age from seven to twenty, had congregated. +Two small urchins were fighting; their faces were scratched and +bleeding, and the crowd was urging them on to do each other more +injury. +</p> + +<p> +These young ruffians made a study of wickedness which is more than +mischief, and this element is on an increase the world over. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Yea also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil. Ecclesiastes + ix, 3. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +No wonder when they have for examples men in high places who take such +interest in prize fighting. +</p> + +<p> +It would be more in keeping with their positions if their minds could +aspire to something more elevating. They are ready enough to censure +the Spaniards for their bull fights, but are themselves not far in +advance when they will encourage this barbarous sport which seems to be +gaining popularity. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + The wicked walk on every side when the vilest men are exalted. + Psalms xii, 8. +</p> + +<p> + For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are + led of them are destroyed. Isaiah ix, 16. +</p> + +<p> + These are the men that devise mischief and give wicked counsel in + this city. Ezekiel xi, 2. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +If they would exercise the spiritual nature more and the animal less +they could take no pleasure in such brutish doing. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against + the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other. Galatians + v, 17. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Even the Press takes a hand in it, and devotes whole columns of the +papers to explaining in minutest detail the movements of the +combatants. +</p> + +<p> +Our Witch was wrapped in thought, but did not forget her work, and in a +few moments after she appeared among them the shamefaced crowd +dispersed. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XVI"> </a> +CHAPTER XVI. +</h2> + + +<p> +When the chief witness against the accused was called to give his +testimony there was one among the throng of spectators whose eyes never +left his face. +</p> + +<p> +He started in a resolute manner, then wavered a little, and finally +broke down in the midst of it and confessed his own guilt. He was the +murderer. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Exodus xx, + 16. +</p> + +<p> + Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another. James + v, 16. +</p> + +<p> + He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth + and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Proverbs xxviii, 13. +</p> + +<p> + If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our + sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. John i, 9. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +There was a hush like the hush of death in the courtroom while he was +speaking. When the crowd passed out, a plainly garbed figure went out +also unobserved. The Witch had done her work for the day. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XVII"> </a> +CHAPTER XVII. +</h2> + + +<p> +She looked on the cars gliding over the electric road. What of this +occult power? And what of her own? Eventually would electricity impel +the entire universe? +</p> + +<p> +Had this always existed and was yet to be brought out by masterful +minds? Was this the connecting link between God and man? Then it was +wisely said in ages past: +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? Proverbs i, 22. +</p> + +<p> + The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his works + of old. +</p> + +<p> + When he prepared the heavens I was there; when he set a compass + upon the face of the depth. Proverbs vii, 22, 27. +</p> + +<p> + He ruleth by his power forever. Psalms lxvi, 7. +</p> + +<p> + In the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. Isaiah xxvi, 4. +</p> + +<p> + Take hold of my strength. Isaiah xxvii, 5. +</p> + +<p> + Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you + from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundation of + the earth? Isaiah xl, 21, 22. +</p> + +<p> + For my people is foolish; they have not known me; they are sottish + children, and they have none understanding; they are wise to do + evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. Jeremiah iv, 22. +</p> + +<p> + Understand, ye brutish among the people, and ye fools, when will ye + be wise? Psalms xciv, 8. +</p> + +<p> + O ye simple, understand wisdom; and ye fools, be ye of an + understanding heart. Proverbs viii, 5. +</p> + +<p> + Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for + understanding; +</p> + +<p> + If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid + treasures; +</p> + +<p> + Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the + knowledge of God. Proverbs ii, 3, 4, 5. +</p> + +<p> + He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world + by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his + discretion. +</p> + +<p> + When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the + heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the + earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind + out of his treasures. Jeremiah x, 12, 13. +</p> + +<p> + The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his + handiwork. +</p> + +<p> + Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth + knowledge. +</p> + +<p> + There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. +</p> + +<p> + Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to + the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, +</p> + +<p> + Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth + as a strong man to run a race. +</p> + +<p> + His going forth is from the ends of the heaven, and his circuit + unto the ends of it, and there is nothing hid from the heat + thereof. Psalms xix, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. +</p> + +<p> + The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory + thundereth, the Lord is upon many waters. +</p> + +<p> + The voice of the Lord is powerful. Psalms xxix, 3, 4. +</p> + +<p> + The thunder of his power who can understand? Job xxvi, 14. +</p> + +<p> + With thee is the fountain of life; in thy light shall we see light. + Psalms xxxvi, 9. +</p> + +<p> + The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the + Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk ii, 14. +</p> + +<p> + Who is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall + understand. Psalms cvii, 43. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +At the resurrection, when the Lamb of God will rule the world as the +center of gravitation like the sun, who among us can study mischief in +secret when mind meets mind in one common thoroughfare of thought which +cannot be divided by land or sea? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + As the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the + west; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew xxiv, + 27. +</p> + +<p> + And the city hath no creed of the sun, neither of the moon, to + shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is + the light thereof. Revelation xxi, 23. +</p> + +<p> + The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness + shall the moon give light unto thee; but the Lord shall be unto + thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. +</p> + +<p> + Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw + itself; for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light. Isaiah lx, + 19, 20. +</p> + +<p> + There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and + unjust. Acts xxiv, 15. +</p> + +<p> + As the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them, even so the + Son quickeneth whom he will. John v, 21. +</p> + +<p> + Ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O + my people, and brought you up out of your graves. +</p> + +<p> + And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live. Ezekiel xxxvii, + 13, 14. +</p> + +<p> + The dead men shall live together; with my dead body shall they + arise. +</p> + +<p> + Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust; for thy dew is as the dew of + herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Isaiah xxvi, 19. +</p> +</div> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XVIII"> </a> +CHAPTER XVIII. +</h2> + + +<p> +One morning when near a handsome residence the Witch stopped at the +sound of a musical instrument. The music ceased and a lady of forty or +thereabout answered her ring. +</p> + +<p> +She was surrounded with every luxury, but our Witch soon learned that +here, too, was trouble. Yes, another mismated couple. +</p> + +<p> +The lady said that her husband and herself had never lived very happily +together after the first few months of married life; and recently +another woman had come between them, and her husband, desirous of a +separation, was about to commence proceedings for a divorce from her. +As for herself it mattered little, but for the sake of her children she +had rather it would not be. +</p> + +<p> +Presently the husband came. He was a fine-looking man of pleasing +address and unless appearance was deceiving he would do very well if +started on the right track. +</p> + +<p> +Here was more work for the ever busy brain. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but + they have sought out many inventions. Ecclesiastes vii, 29. +</p> + +<p> + Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed; how then + art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto + me? Jeremiah ii, 21. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +He sat down facing the Witch, and after a little time was conscious of +a new train of thoughts. His better spirit moved. Would it not be as +well to live the remainder of his life with the mother of his children +whom he dearly loved? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + What therefore God hath joined together let not man put asunder. + Matthew xix, 6. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Contract marriage is most suitable for the present age. That leaves the +contracting parties on a grade with the cattle and admits of their +changing companions whenever and as often as they like without breaking +God's holy vows. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the Lord with + tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he + regardeth not the offering any more, or receive it with good will + at your hand. +</p> + +<p> + Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy + youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously; yet is she thy + companion and the wife of thy covenant. +</p> + +<p> + And did not he make one? yet had he the residue of the spirit. +</p> + +<p> + Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously + against the wife of his youth. +</p> + +<p> + For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away. + Malachi ii, 13, 14, 15, 16. +</p> + +<p> + If a man put away his wife and she go from him, and become another + man's, shall not that land be greatly polluted? Jeremiah iii, 1. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +When a marriage is solemnized by the word of God, then no law on earth +is justifiable for breaking it; and when a couple truly love each other +what but death can separate them? For misfortune of any kind only binds +the tie of sympathy more closely. +</p> + +<p> +If this tie was not so easily broken more persons would consider whom +they were marrying and what they were marrying for, and if less +deception was practiced beforehand, there would be fewer marriages +which prove such dismal failures. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; + who can know it? Jeremiah xvii, 9. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +We will be done with all this in the resurrection. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + In the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, + but are as the angels of God in heaven. Matthew xxii, 30. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +When the Witch left this pair she was happy in the thought that they +would live together on better terms, and be like a re-united family. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XIX"> </a> +CHAPTER XIX. +</h2> + + +<p> +Later in the day our Witch was in another part of the city; while +walking through an alley, she saw a Chinaman carrying a large basket +full of clean clothes that he was returning to the owners. The Witch +also noticed several half-grown boys and heard one of them remark: +</p> + +<p> +"Say we take a shot at that heathen." +</p> + +<p> +So with one accord they commenced pelting him with everything +available. Their victim tried to defend himself to the best of his +ability, but the half dozen boys pounced on him, and in the fracas the +clothes were upset into the street. +</p> + +<p> +It was hard to tell how far they would carry their vicious work, which +they considered a capital joke, when some one appeared among them who +was also at work. Very soon they all left off, not knowing why. The +Witch stood near while he gathered up the clothes, which necessarily +must be washed over again. +</p> + +<p> +Then she tried to solve in her mind this Chinese problem: +</p> + +<p> +These Mongolians are in a measure obnoxious, but as a rule are +peaceable and industrious, which is more than can be said of many other +people. +</p> + +<p> +They have few opportunities for making a living in their own +over-populous country, but perhaps when they have become more +thoroughly Christianized, the race will be less prolific, which would +be beneficial to their own nation and others. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth. Psalms xcvi, 10. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +For the more a man leans to divinity the less he cleaves to his animal +nature; and what is true of the Chinese applies to other densely +populated countries. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; + but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. + Romans viii, 5. +</p> + +<p> + Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should + obey it in the lusts thereof. Romans vi, 12. +</p> + +<p> + For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust + of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of + the world. +</p> + +<p> + And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth + the will of God abideth forever. John ii, 16, 17. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Her mind reverted to an incident which she witnessed in a cemetery. It +was the Sabbath and she was walking about in there as she often did on +this day, for what more forcible sermon can be delivered than a +thinking mind can feel while moving about among the dead? +</p> + +<p> +After a time she was conscious of a disturbance of some kind going on +at one corner of the enclosure. A promiscuous crowd had gathered and +ere long there came a Chinese funeral train and stopped at the open +grave. +</p> + +<p> +Then the crowd mocked them, and by this time it was evident that they +had gathered there to have sport at the expense of the mourners. +</p> + +<p> +The children were cutting up all manner of antics, and the parents +stood by highly amused at the proceedings. It was almost impossible to +conduct the burial rites on account of the confusion made by the mob. +</p> + +<p> +To be sure it was a peculiar ceremony, but some respect ought to have +been due the feelings of these sorrowing ones at such a time. These +children were wholly undisciplined in the matter of right and wrong; +their behavior was like so many young savages. +</p> + +<p> +What were their parents teaching them? To selfishly enjoy the +discomfort of others, and this was all, never trying to encourage the +finer and better feelings in their natures. +</p> + +<p> +Our Witch did not wait till the ceremony was over. Thoroughly disgusted +with human nature, she left the cemetery. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XX"> </a> +CHAPTER XX. +</h2> + + +<p> +She thought still less of it that night when awakened from sleep by a +gang of boisterous picnickers who, full of liquor, were returning home +from a day of revelry. Women's and men's voices mingled together in +singing vile songs. +</p> + +<p> +How wholly depraved are some natures, and how necessary that these lewd +minds should be purified by a closer communion with more spiritual +intellects! +</p> + +<p> +When there are seven days in a week and our King only exacts from us +the Sabbath it does seem as if He is entitled to that, but where people +are confined to employment every day in the week but one, it is hardly +probable that the kind Father would object to their having an outing on +their one day of liberty out of a week of unremitting toil, if they +would conduct themselves properly. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Not in rioting and drunkenness; not in chambering and wantonness. + But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the + flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof. Romans xiii, 13, 14. +</p> + +<p> + My Sabbaths they greatly polluted. +</p> + +<p> + I am the Lord your God; walk in my statutes, and hallow my + Sabbaths. Ezekiel xx, 13. +</p> + +<p> + Thus saith the Lord, keep ye judgment, and do justice. +</p> + +<p> + Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth + hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth + his hand from doing any evil. Isaiah lvi, 1, 2. +</p> + +<p> + If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy + pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy + of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own + ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: +</p> + +<p> + Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee + to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the + heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken + it. Isaiah lviii, 13, 14. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +But ere long a few cannot monopolize all the comforts, nor the masses +be obliged to struggle hard every hour for the bare necessities of +life, for who can defraud his neighbor when all minds will be a unit? +and if honesty was practiced to the letter, the good things of life +would not be so unequally divided. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + The profit of the earth is for all. Ecclesiastes v, 9. +</p> + +<p> + Yet ye say, the way of the Lord is not equal. Is not my way equal? + Are not your ways unequal? Ezekiel xviii, 25. +</p> + +<p> + For every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to + covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest, every one + dealeth falsely. Jeremiah viii, 10. +</p> + +<p> + Their tongue is an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit; one speaketh + peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in heart he layeth + wait. Jeremiah ix, 8. +</p> + +<p> + As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit; + therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. Jeremiah v, 27. +</p> + +<p> + Behold these are the ungodly who prosper in the world; they + increase in riches. Psalms lxxiii, 12. +</p> + +<p> + Thus saith the Lord, execute ye judgment and righteousness, and + deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor; and do no + wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the + widow. Jeremiah xxii, 3. +</p> + +<p> + Be renewed in the spirit of your mind; putting away lying, speak + every man truth with his neighbor; for we are members one of + another. Ephesians iv, 23, 25. +</p> + +<p> + That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in + thee, that they also may be one in us. John xvii, 21. +</p> + +<p> + Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell + together in unity! Psalms cxxxiii, 1. +</p> +</div> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XXI"> </a> +CHAPTER XXI. +</h2> + + +<p> +Ever on the alert to do good the Witch stopped at a rickety tenement, +with nothing to recommend it but a climbing rose-bush, set out by some +flower-loving tenant a number of years before, and which twined its +long branches in full bloom over one end of the dilapidated structure; +it was an illustration of extremes meeting, this perfectly beautiful +rose-bush and the unsightly old porch. The landlady did not care to buy +a bird, and none of the occupants of her rooms were at home during the +day, except one, who poor boy, was always in, and a visitor would be +sure to cheer him up a bit, though it would be useless to try and sell +a bird there. She led the way up a flight of stairs to the room where a +little cripple was amusing himself with a few marbles that he was +rolling about on the table by which he was sitting. +</p> + +<p> +He was delighted with the birds, but knew that his sister could not +afford to buy him one. He said she was employed up town in a store, +naming the business block of a well-known and very wealthy merchant, +and he could not go out and play like other boys, and the days seemed +very long sometimes. +</p> + +<p> +Yes, thought our Witch, a day must be a long time to this poor weakling +with little to amuse him. +</p> + +<p> +She gave him his choice of the birds, and after promising to bring it +back in the evening with a new cage which she would buy for him, the +Witch took her leave. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XXII"> </a> +CHAPTER XXII. +</h2> + + +<p> +A little way down the street in advance of her was a heavy wagon drawn +by one patient horse that looked as though it might have seen better +days, but now one could numerate every rib in its worn frame. +</p> + +<p> +The driver was beating the poor animal unmercifully. It doubtless had a +history, and if allowed speech would tell of a gradual decline, of +careful nourishment and little to do in its prime, but when strength +and beauty began to wane, of a harder life, and now in old age when +attention was most needful, must fall in line with the great majority +of overworked, under-fed beasts of burden, and some day when no longer +able to hold up the harness, would be taken out and shot. +</p> + +<p> +Our Witch could hear in her mind's ear the rebuke of old: +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + What have I done unto thee, that thou has smitten me these three + times? Numbers xxii, 28. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +She watched the man intently for a few seconds, and then his arm +dropped to his side. Why this sudden sympathy so foreign to his +hardened nature? +</p> + +<p> +The All-seeing Eye must often look down in tenderest pity on this +ill-treated animal creation, which is more deserving of His regard than +these inhuman beings, who by their cruelty place themselves far below a +level with the lower animals. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + The Lord is good to all; and His tender mercies are over all His + works. Psalms cxlv, 9. +</p> + +<p> + Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father is also merciful. Luke vi, + 36. +</p> + +<p> + The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel + troubleth his own flesh. Proverbs xi, 17. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Surely the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is one of +the noblest organizations of modern times, and for good work stands +second to no religious denomination that has ever existed, or ever will +exist. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XXIII"> </a> +CHAPTER XXIII. +</h2> + + +<p> +Her next stopping place was not in a rookery part of the city, but was +where wealth abounds. It was just before the noon hour when she entered +the palatial home of a many times millionaire and was ushered into the +library where he was busy with some papers. "Would you care to buy a +bird, sir?" +</p> + +<p> +"I have no time to talk with you this morning, madam." He looked at her +uneasily, and mentally resolved to administer a reproof to the servant +for allowing these tramping peddlers to enter the house. +</p> + +<p> +The magnetic power was again brought into requisition. +</p> + +<p> +The Witch might have used this influence for her own financial +advantage, but was too conscientious for that, and furthermore money +was not her aim in life. +</p> + +<p> +Gradually there came stealing into this rich man's brain new thoughts; +was he doing right with his boundless wealth? He could not understand +why he was just waking up to the fact that he had not. +</p> + +<p> +How many needy ones had he passed by? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Withhold not good to them to whom it is due, when it is in the + power of thine hand to do it. Proverbs iii, 27. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +To endow some charitable institution at his death, as a monument to his +own memory, would hardly atone for neglected duty. Would God hold him +responsible for this neglect and bar him from the Kingdom? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Daniel v, + 27. +</p> + +<p> + Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his + chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbor's service without wages, + and giveth him not for his work. Thine eyes and thine heart are not + but for thy covetousness. Jeremiah xxii, 13, 17. +</p> + +<p> + Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your + gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a + witness against you and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye + have heaped treasures together for the last days. Behold the hire + of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you + kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which reaped are + entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. James v, 2, 3, 4. +</p> + +<p> + Who so stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he shall cry + himself, but shall not be heard. Proverbs xxi, 13. +</p> + +<p> + Let not the rich man glory in his riches. Jeremiah ix, 23. +</p> + +<p> + Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them + in the day of the Lord's wrath. Zephaniah i, 18. +</p> + +<p> + Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not + high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, + who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. That they do good, that + they be rich in good works, ready to distribute. I Timothy vi, 17, + 18. +</p> + +<p> + He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that + honoreth Him hath mercy on the poor. Proverbs xiv, 31. +</p> + +<p> + As a partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that + getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of + his days, and at his end shall be a fool. Jeremiah xvii, 11. +</p> +</div> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XXIV"> </a> +CHAPTER XXIV. +</h2> + + +<p> +Faithful to her promise, the Witch purchased a cage, and early in the +evening returned to the cripple's abode and was joyfully greeted. +</p> + +<p> +"O, but you are a good lady to think of me, only a cripple boy!" +</p> + +<p> +She felt that it was indeed more blessed to give than to receive (Acts +XX, 35) when one could do God a service at the same time. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + As ye have done it unto the least of these ye have done it unto Me. + Matthew xxv, 40. +</p> + +<p> + He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth to the Lord. Proverbs xix, + 17. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +In a short time the sister came. His face brightened up with pleasure +when he told her of the present he had received; now he would have a +companion all through the long days. +</p> + +<p> +She was also in a happy mood. The head of the firm where she worked had +raised the salary of all his employes, and she was very thankful for +her good luck because of her brother who needed more books and toys, +for the poor child had to amuse himself the best he could during the +day. The Witch returned home. She saw the progress of her work many +times after in this millionaire's acts of benevolence which were so +liberal as to excite press comment. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> + +<p> + Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him + in time of trouble. Psalms xli, 1. +</p> +</div> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XXV"> </a> +CHAPTER XXV. +</h2> + + +<p> +Our Witch read of the doings in the old world and was sorry that +distance and sea prevented this influence from being brought to bear +upon some of the crowned heads, who, born to almost absolute power, +showed no mercy to a religious sect, who according to Holy Writ are the +chosen people of God. But one alone cannot revolutionize the earth, +unless that one be omnipotent. +</p> + +<p> +Some day this persecution must come to an end. +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, + and set them in their own land, and the stranger shall be joined + with them. Isaiah xiv, 1. +</p> + +<p> + Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. Amos iv, 12. +</p> + +<p> + The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly. + Zephaniah i, 14. +</p> + +<p> + Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the + Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand. Joel, ii, 1. +</p> + +<p> + But of that day and hour no man, no not the angels of heaven, but + my Father only. Watch, therefore, for ye know not what hour your + Lord doth come. Matthew xxiv, 36, 42. +</p> + +<p> + Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto + thee, so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live. + Jeremiah xxxviii, 20. +</p> + +<p> + Return ye now every one from his evil way and make your ways and + your doings good. Jeremiah xviii, 11. +</p> + +<p> + And to wait for his Son from heaven whom he raised from the dead, + even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. 1 + Thessalonians i, 10. +</p> + +<p> + Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other + name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts + iv, 12. +</p> + +<p> + There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ + Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans + viii, 1. +</p> + +<p> + Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you; +</p> + +<p> + Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double + minded. James iv, 8. +</p> + +<p> + Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, + and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, + and he with me. Revelation iii, 20. +</p> + +<p> + I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely. Hosea xiv, + 4. +</p> + +<p> + Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be + blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the + presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before + was preached unto you. Acts iii, 19, 20. +</p> + +<p> + If ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly + execute judgment between a man and his neighbor; +</p> + +<p> + If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and + shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other + gods to your hurt; +</p> + +<p> + Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land I gave to + your fathers, for ever and ever. Obey my voice and I will be your + God, and ye shall be my people. Jeremiah vii, 5, 6, 7, 23. +</p> + +<p> + Therefore, turn thou to thy God; keep mercy and judgment, and wait + on thy God continually. Hosea xii, 6. +</p> + +<p> + Depart from evil and do good, and dwell for evermore. Psalms + xxxvii, 27. +</p> + +<p> + The redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come singing unto Zion; + and everlasting joy shall be upon their head; they shall obtain + gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. Isaiah + li, 11. +</p> + +<p> + And it shall come to pass that he that is left in Zion, and he that + remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy, even every one that is + written among the living in Jerusalem. When the Lord shall have + washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have + purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit + of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. Isaiah iv, 3, 4. +</p> + +<p> + Behold, I come quickly. And the Spirit and the bride say, come; and + let him that heareth say, come; and let him that is athirst come; + and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. + Revelation xxii, 7, 17. +</p> +</div> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="XXVI"> </a> +CHAPTER XXVI. +</h2> + + +<p> +The Witch did not go about her work the next day, nor the next, for +somehow she contracted a severe cold which completely prostrated her, +and then pneumonia clutched her throat. +</p> + +<p> +One morning, when the first golden rays of the sun glanced over the +sleeping city, they rested in benediction on her death bed. A neighbor, +whom in time past she had befriended, was at her side. +</p> + +<p> +She knew that the end was near. +</p> + +<p> +Will this influence stop here? or will it go on and on through all the +ages to come? +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> + Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, + saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their + works do follow them. Revelation xiv, 13. +</p> +</div> + +<br> +<div class="tn"> +<p class="ctr"> +Transcriber's Note: +</p> + +<p> +Minor typographical errors have been corrected +without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have +been retained as printed. +</p> + +<p> +The Table of Contents was not present in the original text and has +been produced for the reader's convenience. +</p> +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Witch Hypnotizer, by Zena A. 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Maher + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Witch Hypnotizer + +Author: Zena A. Maher + +Release Date: January 24, 2014 [EBook #44748] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WITCH HYPNOTIZER *** + + + + +Produced by David Garcia and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + +Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been corrected +without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have +been retained as printed. + +Words printed in italics are noted with underscores: _italics_. + +The Table of Contents was not present in the original text and has +been produced for the reader's convenience. + + + + +THE WITCH HYPNOTIZER + + +BY + +ZENA A. MAHER + + +PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR + + +SAN FRANCISCO +THE BANCROFT COMPANY +1892 + +COPYRIGHT, 1892 +BY +ZENA A. MAHER + +Issued from the Press of +THE BANCROFT COMPANY + + + + +_To My Husband, the Truest and Noblest of Men_ + + + + +THE WITCH HYPNOTIZER + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + +I. +II. +III. +IV. +V. +VI. +VII. +VIII. +IX. +X. +XI. +XII. +XIII. +XIV. +XV. +XVI. +XVII. +XVIII. +XIX. +XX. +XXI. +XXII. +XXIII. +XXIV. +XXV. +XXVI. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + + Let there be light. Genesis i, 3. + + Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good + works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. Matthew v, 16. + +In the world of imagination many Witches have lived and died since the +one of whose existence and wonders I am about to relate, came into +prominence. + +She lived quite alone in a little cottage on the outskirts of a large +city in America, of course, and why should not the free soil produce +all sorts when it is the dumping ground for all creation? + +Alone, with the exception of her dog and several cages of canaries +which, by the way, were a new departure in the line of pets, for the +old-time Witches were supposed to favor cats and parrots, she commanded +the respect of all, but there was something so very peculiar about her +that some of her more superstitious neighbors looked upon this woman as +a kind of good Witch. + +There was nothing remarkable about her personal appearance and the +peculiarity was not visibly noticeable. It was nothing tangible, but an +indescribable something which gave her influence over other minds, to +bend them to her will. + +Every one felt this more or less in her presence; a giving up of pet +hobbies, even, to her ideas, which fortunately were very liberal. + +There was that also about her sympathetic nature which invited +confidence, and many who were not given to complaining found +themselves, they hardly knew why, telling her their secret sorrows. + +For years this Witch or woman was herself unconscious of this power, +but when she fully realized it, her work to her conscientious heart was +laid out, and that must be in doing all the good possible through this +genius that was hers. + +She had always endeavored to do her best, ever ready to lend a helping +hand to any one in trouble. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +While attending to her birds one morning, the Witch was interrupted by +a knock at the door and a summons from one of her neighbors, who had +sent a child to ask if this good soul would come over. + +Yes, she would be there directly. + +Donning her sombre colored bonnet and shawl the Witch started for her +neighbor's. The unhappy little woman craved sympathy, and had sent for +her who knew so well how to render it. + +She told the oft-repeated story of a drunkard's wife. Her husband had +left home the previous evening and had not returned, and after these +prolonged sprees she feared his coming, who was the kindest of men when +himself, but very savage when under the influence of liquor. Then, too, +she was afraid that he would lose his position, which his employer had +threatened if he did not attend to work better. + +The Witch told her to be of good cheer; that all would be well with her +yet. + +She looked at the shabby furniture and still shabbier clothing of the +children. This family had once been in comfortable circumstances, but +were brought to this state of poverty through intemperance, the +prevailing evil. + + For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty. Proverbs, + xxiii, 21. + +And yet how much good these beverages might do if used in moderation, +but too many are with this, like all their other appetites over which +they have no control. The mind should be made to strive harder after +the knowledge of God in order to subdue these carnal desires. + + For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; + but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. + + For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is + life and peace. + + Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not + subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. + + So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. + + As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. + Romans viii, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14. + + Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may + follow strong drink, that continue until night, till wine inflame + them! + + Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to + mingle strong drink. Isaiah v, 11, 22. + + He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but + he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life + everlasting. Galatians vi. 8. + + All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth + with offense. + + It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything + whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. + Romans xiv, 20, 21. + + Whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. II + Corinthians v, 6. + + Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess; but be filled with the + Spirit. Ephesians v, 18. + + Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. + Galatians v, 16. + + Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, + righteously and godly in this present world. Titus ii, 12. + +About midday this fallen image of God came home partially sobered and +ferocious as a wild animal. The Witch mentally compared man with beast +and gave her dog the preference. + +He had commenced his wicked profanity, when a hand was laid on his arm +and reproachful eyes looked into his. + + Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whoever is deceived + thereby is not wise. Proverbs xx, 1. + + God created man in his own image. Genesis i, 27. + + Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of + God dwelleth in you? + + If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the + temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. I Corinthians iii, 16, + 17. + +After this he sat quietly for a long time apparently lost in thought; +then this truly penitent one arose, stood beside his wife and vowed +that in future he would be a better man, and their home should be happy +as in the old days before this false friend took possession. + +Tears of happiness were streaming from the little woman's eyes, and our +Witch withdrew, thanking God in her heart for this power he had given +her. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +On reaching home she found a neighbor waiting outside, who entered with +her, in the meantime pouring into the ever sympathetic ears her +trouble. + +She was bewailing over the downfall of her boy who heretofore had been +exceptionally dutiful, invariably spending his evening at home, but of +late all was changed. He had contracted the card disease with all its +adherent vices, which was rapidly developing into a mania. His salary, +which was the home support, was being sacrificed on the gambling altar. + +Here was more work. The only son and mainstay of a widowed mother fast +going to ruin. Yes, something must be done. + +Early the following evening the Witch made it her business to pay a +visit to the widow about tea time. The son was hurriedly finishing his +meal preparatory to starting out for the night, when somehow he changed +his mind and stayed at home instead, and our friend, the Witch, knew +that in future he would have sufficient strength of will to pass by his +old haunt and on home to his waiting loving mother with his earnings in +his pocket, which meant more home comforts, more books and evening +reading, and happiness to both. + + Turn not to the right hand nor to the left; remove thy foot from + evil. Proverbs, iv. 27. + +The Witch went home well satisfied with her day's work, and that night +thought and planned for the good of humanity. Why not venture further +into a wider range for action? + +She might peddle her songbirds from door to door, and in this capacity +gain access into houses where she could more readily acquaint herself +with those in need of her assistance. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +The next morning our Witch opened her Bible and read as she was wont to +do before any new undertaking. Her eyes rested on these lines: + + If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your + children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy + Spirit to them that ask him? Luke xi, 13. + +She knelt and prayed long and earnestly for an abundance of this Holy +Spirit to guide and help her. She took her birds and started out. + + I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my + statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them. Ezekiel + xxxvi, 27. + +Her first stopping place was at a dwelling that stood back some little +distance from the street and was surrounded by flowers. + +What drew her attention most was the appearance of a little child whose +innocent face reminded her that purity still existed. She entered the +grounds and rang the bell. + +A young woman opened the door and kindly invited her in. The Witch made +some remark about the pretty boy outside, when she saw an expression of +pain flit over the lady's face. Something wrong here, she thought. + +Yes, the child was hers; she had loved not wisely but too well, Her +betrayer, a prosperous business man who was as yet unmarried, was +allowed to move in the very best of society, but the finger of scorn +was pointed at her from all sides. + +She was the only daughter of parents who thought very fondly of their +lovable grandchild, still felt keenly the disgrace that had been +brought upon the hitherto spotless family name. + +Does the seventh commandment demand more obedience from one sex than +the other? It reads as if it was spoken to both alike. Our Witch +learned the man's name and business address, and departed. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +She was so in sympathy with this family that she felt in a hurry to get +to work, and so signalled a passing car to stop, and entered. It was +well filled, but two seats remaining unoccupied she seated herself in +one of them. + +Presently a little colored girl came in and took the other. A high-bred +dame sitting next elevated her aristocratic nose and pulled her skirts +aside as if fearing contamination. + + Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud; for the Lord hath spoken. + Jeremiah xiii, 15. + + There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! Proverbs xxx, + 13. + + Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord God of + Hosts. Jeremiah 1, 31. + + Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord. + Proverbs xvi, 5. + + I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low + the haughtiness of the terrible. Isaiah xiii, 11. + + The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men + shall be bowed down. Isaiah ii, 11. + +Why draw this color line so tightly? What of this outer covering? Have +not these people immortal souls which may be white as the whitest; and +in many cases, brilliant talents? + +The Witch remembered a circumstance where a king of oratory, holding a +high official position, was debarred from sitting at table with a +ship's crew on account of this same color, which was only a heavier +shading; and is not all creation a matter of shadow and coloring? + + And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all + the face of the earth. Acts xvii, 26. + +A shabbily dressed woman came in. The stamp of labor was on her +gloveless hands, and she looked weary, indeed. But no attention was +paid her whatever. + +Then came two flashily attired females. No less than five gentlemen +arose to offer seats. Were they more in need of rest than this poor +laboring woman? + +Ah, well! perhaps they were more heavily burdened with their follies +than she with her cares. + +For once the Witch was too busy with many thoughts to concentrate her +mind on any individual in particular, and passed on and out of the car +to finish her day's work. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +She went in to a business establishment and made her way to the office. +The proprietor, a busy man of the world, was at his desk. He looked in +surprise at the cage of birds; a rather unusual place, certainly, to +attempt the sale of a bird, the business house of a man without family. + +"I have no use for pets myself, and have no one to give them to." + +No one? Then memory stirred; he thought of the one whom he had so +cruelly wronged, and of his innocent child in disgrace. Why were these +new and better impulses taking possession of his mind? He did not know, +but the Witch did. + +She saw the result of her work a few days later when his marriage +notice was published in the paper. Another family put to rights. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +Next, a respectable looking place that might belong to the occupants, +for there was not that unkempt appearance about it that is peculiar to +rented property. + +Our Witch opened the gate and went in. A scowling woman came to the +door who looked daggers at the unwelcome peddler, and said she would +not have one of those noisy birds in the house. + +About this time her tired-looking husband came home from work, and +judging from the tirade of abuse heaped upon him, it was evident that +she certainly would not tolerate any noise about the premises that she +could not make herself. + +It was only a matter of time when this quiet, hard-working man would +tire of his home life. Husbands with such life partners are not so much +to blame if they do prefer the company of other women, the gambling +dens and saloons, or any place rather than their homes. + + It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop than with a + brawling woman in a wide house. Proverbs xxi, 9. + +How many wives, instead of trying to make home attractive, drive +happiness away with their cruel tongues? + + Who have said with our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own + who is lord over us? Psalms xii, 4. + + Hold thy tongue. Amos vi, 10. + + The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. + + It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. James iii, 6, 8. + + A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger. + + A wholesome tongue is a tree of life; but perverseness therein is a + breach in the spirit. Proverbs xv, 1, 4. + + Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil + speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: + + And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one + another, as even God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians + iv, 31, 32. + +The Witch is yet at her work. She proceeded on her way, thankful that +she has made one less shrew in the world. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +On her way along she observed a boy sitting on the walk near some +shrubbery. He seemed very intent on whatever he was doing. She +approached nearer and saw a poor butterfly denuded of its wings lying +quivering in his hand, and he was looking at it with the most intense +satisfaction. + +"My lad, do you know that-- + + The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the + good. Proverbs xv, 3. + + Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and + whether it be right. Proverbs xx, 11. + +"Understand that it is sinful to torment any living thing." + +The boy slunk away, realizing for the first time that it was wrong to +torture anything so small as a butterfly. + +The disposition to torture seems to be inherent with many boys and if +allowed to grow on them will in time predominate over all good +impulses, and prompt them to commit the most terrible crimes. + + For the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of + violence. Ezekiel vii, 23. + +If they were taught to cultivate will power to subdue these evil +impulses what a blessing would be derived! How prone to wickedness is +all human nature, and how much we need to pray for help to overcome it! + + Watch and pray. Matthew xxvi, 41. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +The Witch noticed a girl in the regulation uniform of white cap and +apron marshalling several children. How oft seen in the want column: "A +nurse girl who will wear the cap." Why was this headgear exacted as a +badge of servitude? Why ape the Old World customs? + + Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down; + for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your + glory. Jeremiah xiii, 18. + + Thus saith the Lord God: Remove the diadem and take off the crown; + this shall not be the same; exalt him that is low, and abase him + that is high. + + I will overturn, overturn, overturn it; and it shall be no more + until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. Ezekiel + xxi, 26, 27. + + And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. Isaiah ii, 11. + +Was not this government founded on the principle of equality? Did not +the Pilgrim Fathers estimate one good as another if their righteousness +was equal? And the distinction was made only between good and evil +doers. + + A nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of + their God. Isaiah lviii, 2. + + And ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight in + proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbor; and ye had made a + covenant before me in the house which is called by my name: + + But ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his + servant, and every man his handmaid, whom he had set at liberty at + their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be + unto you for servants and for handmaids. Jeremiah xxxiv, 16, 17. + +Then, again, should it not be more essential for these mothers to look +more after the morals of the persons who were to be companions for +their children and to be less watchful of Mrs. Grundy's edicts? + + For the customs of the people are vain. + + They are altogether brutish and foolish; the stock is a doctrine of + vanities. + + They are vanity, and the work of errors; in the time of their + visitation they shall perish. Jeremiah x, 3, 8, 15. + +The Witch recalled an instance where a distinguished political leader +married a sewing woman, and his bride was ostracized from society when +it leaked out that she had labored for a livelihood. Had all these +aristocrats as clean a record? + +Am afraid one's hands would be somewhat soiled by too close +investigation. + + Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth + your hearts. Luke xvi, 15. + + For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; neither + hid, that shall not be known. Luke xii, 2. + + For God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret + thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes xii, + 14. + + The just Lord is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity; + every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not. + Zephaniah iii, 5. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +One day when passing the jail our Witch was moved with an impulse to go +inside. The warden allowed her to pass in. Her heart ached for these +poor wretches whose faces from behind the bars looked so hopeless and +unhappy, and whose blasphemous language chilled her. She longed for the +time when: + + Every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. II + Timothy ii, 19. + +Who knew but these criminals were as innocent in the light of God's +All-Searching Eye as those who less tried have committed less evil? + + For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans iii, + 23. + + If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth + is not in us. John i, 8. + +Some have better childhood memories of good influences brought to bear +on their susceptible innocence, and would not humanity, begot and +reared in iniquity, have a natural inclination to evil, and +consequently be pardonable for greater crimes than those of a healthier +nourishment? And would not those stronger ones with great mental gifts +have more to answer for accordingly than those of weaker natures? Well, +it is beyond any human comprehension to execute perfect justice. + + Then hear thou from Heaven, thy dwelling place, and forgive, and + render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou + knowest; for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men. + II Chronicles vi, 30. + + I, the Lord, search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every + man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his + doings. Jeremiah xvii, 10. + + The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. Psalms + xix, 9. + + But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why doth thou set at nought + thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of + Christ. Let us not therefore judge one another any more; but judge + this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to + fall in his brother's way. Romans xiv, 10, 13. + + Thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art, that judgest; for + wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself. Romans ii, + 1. + + Judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye shall + not be condemned; forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Luke vi, 37. + + Therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord come, who + both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will + make manifest the counsels of the hearts. I Corinthians iv, 5. + +But crime will come to an end in that happy time when we will know each +other's innermost thoughts. + +What a grand and awful time will be the day of judgment, when the +Spirit quickens the dust of centuries! Grand for those who have +sincerely tried to serve the King! + + Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh + righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of + oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that + stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from + seeing evil: he shall dwell on high; his place of defence shall be + the munitions of rocks; bread shall be sure. Isaiah xxxiii, 14, 15, + 16. + + Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with + the whole heart. Psalms cxix, 2. + + They that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord + hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written + before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his + name. + + And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I + make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own + son that serveth him. Malachi iii, 16, 17. + +Awful for the hypocrites when God's magnetic eyes burn into their +souls. In this way the world of sin will be dissolved, but space, in +which we move and have our being, will never be destroyed. + + One generation passeth away and another generation cometh; but the + earth abideth forever. Ecclesiastes i, 4. + + For this hath the Lord said: The whole land shall be desolate, yet + will I not make a full end. Jeremiah iv, 27. + + Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; + for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall + wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in + like manner; but my salvation shall be forever, and my + righteousness shall not be abolished. Isaiah li, 6. + + Who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he + appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire. Malachi iii, 2. + + Every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare + it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try + every man's work of what sort it is. I Corinthians iii, 13. + + For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews xii, 29. + + The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved; I bear up + the pillars of it. Psalms lxxv, 3. + + All the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. + Zephaniah iii, 8. + + Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, + and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue + shall consume away in their mouth. Zechariah xiv, 12. + + As wax melteth before the fire; so let the wicked perish at the + presence of God. Psalms lxviii, 2. + + Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned and few men left. + Isaiah xxiv, 6. + + All the hosts of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall + be rolled together as a scroll. Isaiah xxxiv, 4. + + Woe unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour + widow's houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore ye + shall receive the greater damnation. Matthew xxiii, 14. + + For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire + shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. Job xv, 34. + + I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will + I plead with you face to face. + + And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein + ye have been defiled; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own + sight for all your evils that ye have committed. Ezekiel xx, 35, 43. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +The Witch was not a regular attendant at any house of worship of any +set creed, but preferred ones of lesser grandeur, feeling that she met +with more sincerity within. But one Sabbath morning her steps led to +one of the largest and most fashionable churches in the city. The +ushers were busy seating the well-dressed throng. She slipped along and +took a seat by the side of a sumptuously dressed lady who shifted and +spread her drapery a little more as a hint to the intruder that her +presence was undesirable. + +Many haughty glances of derision were shot at the poorly clad stranger +who had presumed to come in their midst. She looked about her on the +throng. + + All is vanity. Ecclesiastes i, 2. + +Richly attired matrons, conscious only of their extreme style; fair +young girls, not a whit less extravagantly garbed than their elders, +with cramped waists and all the accoutrements belonging to devotees of +fashion. + +A pity that such fair flowers like the rose could not remain longer in +bud, for both fall into decay all too quickly after maturity. But Dame +Fashion seems in a hurry and holds to artificial development. + + Make not my Father's house a house of merchandise. John ii, 16. + +What more was this great display of finery than one way of advertising +goods? + + Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; + the new moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot + away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. + + Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from + before mine eyes; cease to do evil. + + Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the + fatherless, plead for the widow. + + Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your + sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow; though they be + red like crimson, they shall be as wool. + + If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. + + But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured. Isaiah i, 13, 16, + 17, 18, 19, 20. + + Their land also is full of idols; they worship the works of their + own hands that which their own fingers have made. Isaiah ii, 8. + + The daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth + necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a + tinkling with their feet. + + In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling + ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires + like the moon. + + The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers. + + The bonnets, the headbands, and the earrings. + + The rings. + + The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantels, and the wimples, + and the crisping pins. + + The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the veils. + Isaiah iii, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. + + That women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness + and sobriety; not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or + costly array; + + But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. I + Timothy ii, 9, 10. + +The eloquent and eminent divine preached a flowery discourse with no +reproof pointing to the vanity and frivolity of the hour. + + They are shepherds that cannot understand; they all look to their + own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Isaiah lvi, 11. + + Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard; they have trodden my + portion under foot. Jeremiah xii, 10. + + The pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord. + Jeremiah x, 21. + + Woe unto you, ye blind guides. Matthew xxiii, 16. + + Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching + things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. Titus i, 11. + + Ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at + the law. Malachi ii, 8. + + Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, + rebuke, extort with all long suffering and doctrine. + + For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; + but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers + having itching ears; + + And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be + turned into fables. + + But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an + evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. II Timothy iv, 2, 3, + 4, 5. + +The great organ reverberated through the building. The choir sang of +God's love to all creatures alike. Two women sat side by side, and the +one of loftier mien bowed her head, and for the first time in her life +felt the love of God in her heart; and the Witch went out from church +happy, knowing that through her influence one soul was redeemed this +Sabbath morning. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +Marching along the road came the Salvation Army. A crowd of juveniles +bent on hilarity followed in line, mimicking and ridiculing them. The +crowd on the sidewalk jeered, and a high dignitary in church affairs +joined his voice with the rest, remarking that this rabble never ought +to be allowed to parade the streets Sunday. Who knows how many degraded +lives have been elevated by this much ridiculed religious body who do +good work in the slums where religion is most needful, and in so doing +follow more closely in the footsteps of the Christ than those who spend +their energy in striving among themselves for precedence in the public +schools and everywhere? + +Why all this contention? Should not real Christian worshippers work in +harmony? + + Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us? Malachi + ii, 10. + + And there was also a strife among them which of them should be + accounted the greatest. + + But ye shall not be so; but he that is greatest among you, let him + be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. + Luke xxii, 24, 26. + + Do all things without murmurings and disputings. Philippians ii, + 14. + + Shun profane and vain babblings. II Timothy ii, 16. + + Be at peace among yourselves. I Thessalonians v, 13. + + Seek peace and pursue it. Psalms xxxiv, 14. + + Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory. Philippians ii, + 3. + + Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and + of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. + + From which some having swerved have turned aside into vain + jangling. I Timothy i, 5, 6. + + Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own + selves. + + Be of one mind, live in peace. II Corinthians xiii, 5, 11. + + Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and + strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. Titus + iii, 9. + + For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil + work. James iii, 16. + + Now I beseech you brethren by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, + that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no division + among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same + mind and in the same judgment. I Corinthians i, 10. + + I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, + without wrath and doubting. I Timothy ii, 8. + + Behold, ye fast for strife and debate. + + Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of + wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go + free, and that ye brake every yoke? + + Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the + poor that are cast out to thy house? + + When thou seest the naked that thou cover him; and that thou hide + not thyself from thine own flesh? + + Then shall thy light break forth as the morning; and thy + righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be + thy reward. + + Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, + and he shall say: Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of + thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking + vanity; + + And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry and satisfy the + afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy + darkness be as noonday; + + And the Lord shall guide thee continually. Isaiah lviii, 4, 6, 7, + 8, 9, 10, 11. + + Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep + his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes + xii, 13. + + He hath showed thee, O Man, what is good; and what doth the Lord + require of thee but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk + humbly with thy God? Micah vi, 8. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +The Witch resumed work Monday morning. There was more stir in the +streets than usual. On every corner were groups of excited men. Nothing +but whisky and election would cause so much commotion. + +The carriages of the different candidates were out scouring the town +for voters. + +Some of these aspirants for office had almost impoverished themselves +by daily treating the crowd of loafers who are always ready to trade +their votes for whisky. + +They go about electioneering for themselves. Bosh! if a man has the +elements of greatness he will find his place without all this +self-praise. + + For men to search their own glory is not glory. Proverbs xxv, 27. + + For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he + deceiveth himself. Galatians vi, 3. + +Election day and no mistaking it; the saloons are supposed to be +closed, but there is a back door to some of them. + + It is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: + Lest they drink and forget the law and pervert the judgment of any + of the afflicted. Proverbs xxxi, 4, 5. + +Is it any wonder that the women of our land clamor for a voice in the +affairs of state and nation? + +But a woman's place is not at the polls. She can do more good at home +in training the minds of her sons, the future voters, and in making her +husband's home-coming pleasant, that he may prefer it to haunts of +vice. And it is to be hoped that man through debauchery will not become +altogether inefficient and make it necessary for woman to take the lead. + + But I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the + man, but to be in silence. I Timothy ii, 12. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +In the evening at that most entrancing hour between daylight and dark, +when all creation seems in a dreamy mood, the Witch found herself at +the entrance of a gilded palace of sin. A number of the inmates were +flitting about the flower-laden, well-kept grounds. She approached one +of exquisite beauty of person whose face was not yet passion-scarred. + +She was dressed in some soft, flowing, white material which gave her +more of a seraphic appearance than one of sensualism. The Witch asked +what brought her to this stage of immorality. The woman's reply was +that she had been reared in wealth, but her father through some unlucky +speculation lost everything. She had never learned to work, but had +been taught that any labor was most degrading, and she had not +qualified herself to teach any branch of learning, never having made +allowance for the swift wings of vanishing wealth. + +When thrown on her own resources she was at a loss to know what to do, +when a wealthy gentleman friend came to her assistance at the sacrifice +of her honor. + +He soon tired of her, however; her father had died broken-hearted, and +her mother was staying with a distant relative who had kindly offered +her a home. + +The Witch persuaded her to leave this life of disgrace, to learn honest +work and brighten her mother's remaining years. + + Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not + to be ashamed. II Timothy ii, 15. + +She said that it would be hard for her to face the world with this +stigma of shame on her character; that all those bearing any claim to +respectability would scorn her. + +The Witch told her that God was judge and not the people, and their +lives were not altogether blameless. + + God is the judge. Psalms lxxv, 7. + + He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at + her. John viii, 7. + +The woman was undecided, but the better mind prevailed and she +accompanied the Witch home, and the next day found respectable +employment. + +And still the good work goes on. + +Reader, I am only narrating a small portion of this woman's work which +she found as the days went by to be illimitable. _Vice versa._ If +one possessing this mysterious power was inclined to evil rather than +good, what a great amount of wickedness might be accomplished through +it. God only knows how much of the good and evil that has been done in +the world may be attributed to this hidden force. + +Was the famed enchantress of the Nile gifted with this secret to a very +great extent, and many other characters of history celebrated in their +day for the influence they exercised? + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +The Witch heard of a murder trial that was going on in court and +arousing intense interest, owing to the high social standing of all the +parties concerned. She acted on impulse to a certain extent and, +leaving her birds at home, started at once for the court-house. + +On her way there she turned her attention to a case of street pugilism. +A crowd of boys, ranging in age from seven to twenty, had congregated. +Two small urchins were fighting; their faces were scratched and +bleeding, and the crowd was urging them on to do each other more +injury. + +These young ruffians made a study of wickedness which is more than +mischief, and this element is on an increase the world over. + + Yea also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil. Ecclesiastes + ix, 3. + +No wonder when they have for examples men in high places who take such +interest in prize fighting. + +It would be more in keeping with their positions if their minds could +aspire to something more elevating. They are ready enough to censure +the Spaniards for their bull fights, but are themselves not far in +advance when they will encourage this barbarous sport which seems to be +gaining popularity. + + The wicked walk on every side when the vilest men are exalted. + Psalms xii, 8. + + For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are + led of them are destroyed. Isaiah ix, 16. + + These are the men that devise mischief and give wicked counsel in + this city. Ezekiel xi, 2. + +If they would exercise the spiritual nature more and the animal less +they could take no pleasure in such brutish doing. + + For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against + the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other. Galatians + v, 17. + +Even the Press takes a hand in it, and devotes whole columns of the +papers to explaining in minutest detail the movements of the +combatants. + +Our Witch was wrapped in thought, but did not forget her work, and in a +few moments after she appeared among them the shamefaced crowd +dispersed. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +When the chief witness against the accused was called to give his +testimony there was one among the throng of spectators whose eyes never +left his face. + +He started in a resolute manner, then wavered a little, and finally +broke down in the midst of it and confessed his own guilt. He was the +murderer. + + Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Exodus xx, + 16. + + Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another. James + v, 16. + + He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth + and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Proverbs xxviii, 13. + + If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our + sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. John i, 9. + +There was a hush like the hush of death in the courtroom while he was +speaking. When the crowd passed out, a plainly garbed figure went out +also unobserved. The Witch had done her work for the day. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +She looked on the cars gliding over the electric road. What of this +occult power? And what of her own? Eventually would electricity impel +the entire universe? + +Had this always existed and was yet to be brought out by masterful +minds? Was this the connecting link between God and man? Then it was +wisely said in ages past: + + How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? Proverbs i, 22. + + The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his works + of old. + + When he prepared the heavens I was there; when he set a compass + upon the face of the depth. Proverbs vii, 22, 27. + + He ruleth by his power forever. Psalms lxvi, 7. + + In the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. Isaiah xxvi, 4. + + Take hold of my strength. Isaiah xxvii, 5. + + Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you + from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundation of + the earth? Isaiah xl, 21, 22. + + For my people is foolish; they have not known me; they are sottish + children, and they have none understanding; they are wise to do + evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. Jeremiah iv, 22. + + Understand, ye brutish among the people, and ye fools, when will ye + be wise? Psalms xciv, 8. + + O ye simple, understand wisdom; and ye fools, be ye of an + understanding heart. Proverbs viii, 5. + + Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for + understanding; + + If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid + treasures; + + Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the + knowledge of God. Proverbs ii, 3, 4, 5. + + He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world + by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his + discretion. + + When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the + heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the + earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind + out of his treasures. Jeremiah x, 12, 13. + + The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his + handiwork. + + Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth + knowledge. + + There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. + + Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to + the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, + + Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth + as a strong man to run a race. + + His going forth is from the ends of the heaven, and his circuit + unto the ends of it, and there is nothing hid from the heat + thereof. Psalms xix, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. + + The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory + thundereth, the Lord is upon many waters. + + The voice of the Lord is powerful. Psalms xxix, 3, 4. + + The thunder of his power who can understand? Job xxvi, 14. + + With thee is the fountain of life; in thy light shall we see light. + Psalms xxxvi, 9. + + The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the + Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk ii, 14. + + Who is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall + understand. Psalms cvii, 43. + +At the resurrection, when the Lamb of God will rule the world as the +center of gravitation like the sun, who among us can study mischief in +secret when mind meets mind in one common thoroughfare of thought which +cannot be divided by land or sea? + + As the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the + west; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew xxiv, + 27. + + And the city hath no creed of the sun, neither of the moon, to + shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is + the light thereof. Revelation xxi, 23. + + The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness + shall the moon give light unto thee; but the Lord shall be unto + thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. + + Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw + itself; for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light. Isaiah lx, + 19, 20. + + There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and + unjust. Acts xxiv, 15. + + As the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them, even so the + Son quickeneth whom he will. John v, 21. + + Ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O + my people, and brought you up out of your graves. + + And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live. Ezekiel xxxvii, + 13, 14. + + The dead men shall live together; with my dead body shall they + arise. + + Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust; for thy dew is as the dew of + herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Isaiah xxvi, 19. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +One morning when near a handsome residence the Witch stopped at the +sound of a musical instrument. The music ceased and a lady of forty or +thereabout answered her ring. + +She was surrounded with every luxury, but our Witch soon learned that +here, too, was trouble. Yes, another mismated couple. + +The lady said that her husband and herself had never lived very happily +together after the first few months of married life; and recently +another woman had come between them, and her husband, desirous of a +separation, was about to commence proceedings for a divorce from her. +As for herself it mattered little, but for the sake of her children she +had rather it would not be. + +Presently the husband came. He was a fine-looking man of pleasing +address and unless appearance was deceiving he would do very well if +started on the right track. + +Here was more work for the ever busy brain. + + Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but + they have sought out many inventions. Ecclesiastes vii, 29. + + Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed; how then + art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto + me? Jeremiah ii, 21. + +He sat down facing the Witch, and after a little time was conscious of +a new train of thoughts. His better spirit moved. Would it not be as +well to live the remainder of his life with the mother of his children +whom he dearly loved? + + What therefore God hath joined together let not man put asunder. + Matthew xix, 6. + +Contract marriage is most suitable for the present age. That leaves the +contracting parties on a grade with the cattle and admits of their +changing companions whenever and as often as they like without breaking +God's holy vows. + + And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the Lord with + tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he + regardeth not the offering any more, or receive it with good will + at your hand. + + Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy + youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously; yet is she thy + companion and the wife of thy covenant. + + And did not he make one? yet had he the residue of the spirit. + + Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously + against the wife of his youth. + + For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away. + Malachi ii, 13, 14, 15, 16. + + If a man put away his wife and she go from him, and become another + man's, shall not that land be greatly polluted? Jeremiah iii, 1. + +When a marriage is solemnized by the word of God, then no law on earth +is justifiable for breaking it; and when a couple truly love each other +what but death can separate them? For misfortune of any kind only binds +the tie of sympathy more closely. + +If this tie was not so easily broken more persons would consider whom +they were marrying and what they were marrying for, and if less +deception was practiced beforehand, there would be fewer marriages +which prove such dismal failures. + + The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; + who can know it? Jeremiah xvii, 9. + +We will be done with all this in the resurrection. + + In the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, + but are as the angels of God in heaven. Matthew xxii, 30. + +When the Witch left this pair she was happy in the thought that they +would live together on better terms, and be like a re-united family. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +Later in the day our Witch was in another part of the city; while +walking through an alley, she saw a Chinaman carrying a large basket +full of clean clothes that he was returning to the owners. The Witch +also noticed several half-grown boys and heard one of them remark: + +"Say we take a shot at that heathen." + +So with one accord they commenced pelting him with everything +available. Their victim tried to defend himself to the best of his +ability, but the half dozen boys pounced on him, and in the fracas the +clothes were upset into the street. + +It was hard to tell how far they would carry their vicious work, which +they considered a capital joke, when some one appeared among them who +was also at work. Very soon they all left off, not knowing why. The +Witch stood near while he gathered up the clothes, which necessarily +must be washed over again. + +Then she tried to solve in her mind this Chinese problem: + +These Mongolians are in a measure obnoxious, but as a rule are +peaceable and industrious, which is more than can be said of many other +people. + +They have few opportunities for making a living in their own +over-populous country, but perhaps when they have become more +thoroughly Christianized, the race will be less prolific, which would +be beneficial to their own nation and others. + + Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth. Psalms xcvi, 10. + +For the more a man leans to divinity the less he cleaves to his animal +nature; and what is true of the Chinese applies to other densely +populated countries. + + For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; + but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. + Romans viii, 5. + + Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should + obey it in the lusts thereof. Romans vi, 12. + + For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust + of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of + the world. + + And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth + the will of God abideth forever. John ii, 16, 17. + +Her mind reverted to an incident which she witnessed in a cemetery. It +was the Sabbath and she was walking about in there as she often did on +this day, for what more forcible sermon can be delivered than a +thinking mind can feel while moving about among the dead? + +After a time she was conscious of a disturbance of some kind going on +at one corner of the enclosure. A promiscuous crowd had gathered and +ere long there came a Chinese funeral train and stopped at the open +grave. + +Then the crowd mocked them, and by this time it was evident that they +had gathered there to have sport at the expense of the mourners. + +The children were cutting up all manner of antics, and the parents +stood by highly amused at the proceedings. It was almost impossible to +conduct the burial rites on account of the confusion made by the mob. + +To be sure it was a peculiar ceremony, but some respect ought to have +been due the feelings of these sorrowing ones at such a time. These +children were wholly undisciplined in the matter of right and wrong; +their behavior was like so many young savages. + +What were their parents teaching them? To selfishly enjoy the +discomfort of others, and this was all, never trying to encourage the +finer and better feelings in their natures. + +Our Witch did not wait till the ceremony was over. Thoroughly disgusted +with human nature, she left the cemetery. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +She thought still less of it that night when awakened from sleep by a +gang of boisterous picnickers who, full of liquor, were returning home +from a day of revelry. Women's and men's voices mingled together in +singing vile songs. + +How wholly depraved are some natures, and how necessary that these lewd +minds should be purified by a closer communion with more spiritual +intellects! + +When there are seven days in a week and our King only exacts from us +the Sabbath it does seem as if He is entitled to that, but where people +are confined to employment every day in the week but one, it is hardly +probable that the kind Father would object to their having an outing on +their one day of liberty out of a week of unremitting toil, if they +would conduct themselves properly. + + Not in rioting and drunkenness; not in chambering and wantonness. + But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the + flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof. Romans xiii, 13, 14. + + My Sabbaths they greatly polluted. + + I am the Lord your God; walk in my statutes, and hallow my + Sabbaths. Ezekiel xx, 13. + + Thus saith the Lord, keep ye judgment, and do justice. + + Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth + hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth + his hand from doing any evil. Isaiah lvi, 1, 2. + + If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy + pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy + of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own + ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: + + Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee + to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the + heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken + it. Isaiah lviii, 13, 14. + +But ere long a few cannot monopolize all the comforts, nor the masses +be obliged to struggle hard every hour for the bare necessities of +life, for who can defraud his neighbor when all minds will be a unit? +and if honesty was practiced to the letter, the good things of life +would not be so unequally divided. + + The profit of the earth is for all. Ecclesiastes v, 9. + + Yet ye say, the way of the Lord is not equal. Is not my way equal? + Are not your ways unequal? Ezekiel xviii, 25. + + For every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to + covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest, every one + dealeth falsely. Jeremiah viii, 10. + + Their tongue is an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit; one speaketh + peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in heart he layeth + wait. Jeremiah ix, 8. + + As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit; + therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. Jeremiah v, 27. + + Behold these are the ungodly who prosper in the world; they + increase in riches. Psalms lxxiii, 12. + + Thus saith the Lord, execute ye judgment and righteousness, and + deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor; and do no + wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the + widow. Jeremiah xxii, 3. + + Be renewed in the spirit of your mind; putting away lying, speak + every man truth with his neighbor; for we are members one of + another. Ephesians iv, 23, 25. + + That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in + thee, that they also may be one in us. John xvii, 21. + + Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell + together in unity! Psalms cxxxiii, 1. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +Ever on the alert to do good the Witch stopped at a rickety tenement, +with nothing to recommend it but a climbing rose-bush, set out by some +flower-loving tenant a number of years before, and which twined its +long branches in full bloom over one end of the dilapidated structure; +it was an illustration of extremes meeting, this perfectly beautiful +rose-bush and the unsightly old porch. The landlady did not care to buy +a bird, and none of the occupants of her rooms were at home during the +day, except one, who poor boy, was always in, and a visitor would be +sure to cheer him up a bit, though it would be useless to try and sell +a bird there. She led the way up a flight of stairs to the room where a +little cripple was amusing himself with a few marbles that he was +rolling about on the table by which he was sitting. + +He was delighted with the birds, but knew that his sister could not +afford to buy him one. He said she was employed up town in a store, +naming the business block of a well-known and very wealthy merchant, +and he could not go out and play like other boys, and the days seemed +very long sometimes. + +Yes, thought our Witch, a day must be a long time to this poor weakling +with little to amuse him. + +She gave him his choice of the birds, and after promising to bring it +back in the evening with a new cage which she would buy for him, the +Witch took her leave. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +A little way down the street in advance of her was a heavy wagon drawn +by one patient horse that looked as though it might have seen better +days, but now one could numerate every rib in its worn frame. + +The driver was beating the poor animal unmercifully. It doubtless had a +history, and if allowed speech would tell of a gradual decline, of +careful nourishment and little to do in its prime, but when strength +and beauty began to wane, of a harder life, and now in old age when +attention was most needful, must fall in line with the great majority +of overworked, under-fed beasts of burden, and some day when no longer +able to hold up the harness, would be taken out and shot. + +Our Witch could hear in her mind's ear the rebuke of old: + + What have I done unto thee, that thou has smitten me these three + times? Numbers xxii, 28. + +She watched the man intently for a few seconds, and then his arm +dropped to his side. Why this sudden sympathy so foreign to his +hardened nature? + +The All-seeing Eye must often look down in tenderest pity on this +ill-treated animal creation, which is more deserving of His regard than +these inhuman beings, who by their cruelty place themselves far below a +level with the lower animals. + + The Lord is good to all; and His tender mercies are over all His + works. Psalms cxlv, 9. + + Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father is also merciful. Luke vi, + 36. + + The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel + troubleth his own flesh. Proverbs xi, 17. + +Surely the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is one of +the noblest organizations of modern times, and for good work stands +second to no religious denomination that has ever existed, or ever will +exist. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +Her next stopping place was not in a rookery part of the city, but was +where wealth abounds. It was just before the noon hour when she entered +the palatial home of a many times millionaire and was ushered into the +library where he was busy with some papers. "Would you care to buy a +bird, sir?" + +"I have no time to talk with you this morning, madam." He looked at her +uneasily, and mentally resolved to administer a reproof to the servant +for allowing these tramping peddlers to enter the house. + +The magnetic power was again brought into requisition. + +The Witch might have used this influence for her own financial +advantage, but was too conscientious for that, and furthermore money +was not her aim in life. + +Gradually there came stealing into this rich man's brain new thoughts; +was he doing right with his boundless wealth? He could not understand +why he was just waking up to the fact that he had not. + +How many needy ones had he passed by? + + Withhold not good to them to whom it is due, when it is in the + power of thine hand to do it. Proverbs iii, 27. + +To endow some charitable institution at his death, as a monument to his +own memory, would hardly atone for neglected duty. Would God hold him +responsible for this neglect and bar him from the Kingdom? + + Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Daniel v, + 27. + + Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his + chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbor's service without wages, + and giveth him not for his work. Thine eyes and thine heart are not + but for thy covetousness. Jeremiah xxii, 13, 17. + + Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your + gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a + witness against you and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye + have heaped treasures together for the last days. Behold the hire + of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you + kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which reaped are + entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. James v, 2, 3, 4. + + Who so stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he shall cry + himself, but shall not be heard. Proverbs xxi, 13. + + Let not the rich man glory in his riches. Jeremiah ix, 23. + + Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them + in the day of the Lord's wrath. Zephaniah i, 18. + + Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not + high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, + who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. That they do good, that + they be rich in good works, ready to distribute. I Timothy vi, 17, + 18. + + He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that + honoreth Him hath mercy on the poor. Proverbs xiv, 31. + + As a partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that + getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of + his days, and at his end shall be a fool. Jeremiah xvii, 11. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +Faithful to her promise, the Witch purchased a cage, and early in the +evening returned to the cripple's abode and was joyfully greeted. + +"O, but you are a good lady to think of me, only a cripple boy!" + +She felt that it was indeed more blessed to give than to receive (Acts +XX, 35) when one could do God a service at the same time. + + As ye have done it unto the least of these ye have done it unto Me. + Matthew xxv, 40. + + He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth to the Lord. Proverbs xix, + 17. + +In a short time the sister came. His face brightened up with pleasure +when he told her of the present he had received; now he would have a +companion all through the long days. + +She was also in a happy mood. The head of the firm where she worked had +raised the salary of all his employes, and she was very thankful for +her good luck because of her brother who needed more books and toys, +for the poor child had to amuse himself the best he could during the +day. The Witch returned home. She saw the progress of her work many +times after in this millionaire's acts of benevolence which were so +liberal as to excite press comment. + + Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him + in time of trouble. Psalms xli, 1. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +Our Witch read of the doings in the old world and was sorry that +distance and sea prevented this influence from being brought to bear +upon some of the crowned heads, who, born to almost absolute power, +showed no mercy to a religious sect, who according to Holy Writ are the +chosen people of God. But one alone cannot revolutionize the earth, +unless that one be omnipotent. + +Some day this persecution must come to an end. + + For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, + and set them in their own land, and the stranger shall be joined + with them. Isaiah xiv, 1. + + Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. Amos iv, 12. + + The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly. + Zephaniah i, 14. + + Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the + Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand. Joel, ii, 1. + + But of that day and hour no man, no not the angels of heaven, but + my Father only. Watch, therefore, for ye know not what hour your + Lord doth come. Matthew xxiv, 36, 42. + + Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto + thee, so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live. + Jeremiah xxxviii, 20. + + Return ye now every one from his evil way and make your ways and + your doings good. Jeremiah xviii, 11. + + And to wait for his Son from heaven whom he raised from the dead, + even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. 1 + Thessalonians i, 10. + + Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other + name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts + iv, 12. + + There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ + Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans + viii, 1. + + Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you; + + Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double + minded. James iv, 8. + + Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, + and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, + and he with me. Revelation iii, 20. + + I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely. Hosea xiv, + 4. + + Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be + blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the + presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before + was preached unto you. Acts iii, 19, 20. + + If ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly + execute judgment between a man and his neighbor; + + If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and + shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other + gods to your hurt; + + Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land I gave to + your fathers, for ever and ever. Obey my voice and I will be your + God, and ye shall be my people. Jeremiah vii, 5, 6, 7, 23. + + Therefore, turn thou to thy God; keep mercy and judgment, and wait + on thy God continually. Hosea xii, 6. + + Depart from evil and do good, and dwell for evermore. Psalms + xxxvii, 27. + + The redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come singing unto Zion; + and everlasting joy shall be upon their head; they shall obtain + gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. Isaiah + li, 11. + + And it shall come to pass that he that is left in Zion, and he that + remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy, even every one that is + written among the living in Jerusalem. When the Lord shall have + washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have + purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit + of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. Isaiah iv, 3, 4. + + Behold, I come quickly. And the Spirit and the bride say, come; and + let him that heareth say, come; and let him that is athirst come; + and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. + Revelation xxii, 7, 17. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + +The Witch did not go about her work the next day, nor the next, for +somehow she contracted a severe cold which completely prostrated her, +and then pneumonia clutched her throat. + +One morning, when the first golden rays of the sun glanced over the +sleeping city, they rested in benediction on her death bed. A neighbor, +whom in time past she had befriended, was at her side. + +She knew that the end was near. + +Will this influence stop here? or will it go on and on through all the +ages to come? + + Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, + saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their + works do follow them. Revelation xiv, 13. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Witch Hypnotizer, by Zena A. 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