"But nevertheless we have often frightened with such jokes people who wished to disturb our meetings."
"I have never sanctioned it, and thou least of all shouldst help in such iniquity." The boy walked on ahead much mortified, as he felt certain that the old witch had only been induced to confess through his magic arts.
"Dost thou think, father, that she can bewitch?" asked he after a while.
"To wish and to do, are different things," replied the old man.
"But the neighbours assert that she can produce mice, prevent cows from milking, and cause women's hair to fall out."
"Yes especially when they have taken no precautions against vermin, fed their cattle poorly, and themselves acted immorally, then it is always witchery."
"But the peasant woman on the Hang relates, that Sibylla herself told her 'if you do not take in your hay on Sunday, the devil will carry it off.' Monday morning the hay was still there but when they came to rake it together, a storm arose and sent it all to the devil."
"Accident, George, accident. She must have felt that a storm was brewing. The evil spirit is a spirit, and has only power over spirits, not over bodies, otherwise he would long since have prevented thee from mocking him. But take care that he does not come into thee. There is he powerful."
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1]: Wegewarte, Chicory (Cichorium Intybus z).