Our Family Trouble The Story of the Bell Witch of Tennessee by Unknown Read Free Book Online Page B

The same plaintive voice was heard exclaiming, “Luce, poor Luce, how do you feel now?  Hold out your hands, Luce, and I will give you something.” Mother stretched her arms, holding her hands together open, and the hazelnuts were dropped from above into her hands. This was witnessed by several ladies who had called in to see mother, and it was so incredible that the floor above was examined to see if there was not a loose plank or some kind of opening through which they were dropped, but it was found to be perfectly secure, and not even a crevice through which a pin could pass. After some time the amazement was increased by the same voice inquiring, “Say Luce, why don’t you eat the hazelnuts?” Mother replied that she could not crack them. Then the exclamation, “Well I will crack some for you,” and instantly the sound of the cracking was heard, and the cracked nuts dropped on her bed within hand’s reach, and the same passionate voice continued insisting on mother’s eating the nuts, that they would do her good.  Next came the grapes in the same way, the voice importuning her to eat them, that they would do her good.  Mother was thoughtful in expressing her thanks, remarking, “You are so kind, Kate, but I am too sick to eat them.”  From this time on mother steadily improved, coming out of a severe spell that held her down some twenty days, and no one could express more joy and gladness than Kate, who also praised Dr. Hopson, the good physician who brought her through safely.  As soon as mother was convalescent, Kate devoted more attention to the entertainment of the large number of visitors who were constantly coming to hear the mysterious voice.  One evening the room was full of company, all deeply interested in discussing the phenomena of the grapes, etc., when the presence of the witch was announced by the voice exclaiming, “Who wants some grapes?” and before anyone could answer, a large bunch of luscious wild grapes fell out on Elizabeth’s lap. The bunch was passed around and all tasted of the fruit, and were satisfied that it was no illusion.  Kate evinced remarkable knowledge of the forest, and would tell us where to find plenty of grapes, hazelnuts, herbs of every kind, good hickory for axe handles, or tough sticks for a maul.
     
Mrs. Martha Bell’s Stockings
     
    Kate, as before intimated, visited the family of Brother Jesse Bell quite often, making demonstrations, but never to the extent of the manifestations at home. Jesse’s wife, whom the witch called “Pots,” observed mother’s policy in humoring the warlock, paying kindly attention to its gabble, incurring favor or kindly relations, and she too was treated with such consideration as to relieve her fears of any immediate harm.  Jesse Bell and Bennett Porter had determined to move with their families to Panola county, Mississippi, and were shaping their affairs to that end, as soon as circumstances would admit.  This phenomena I give as related by Martha herself, there being no other witnesses to the circumstance, but I cannot doubt her statement, which is borne out by other facts.  Late in the afternoon she was sitting out some ten steps on the east side in the shade of the house, engaged in pealing apples for drying.  She heard a kind of buzzing or indistinct whispering in her ear, and recognized at once that it was the voice of the witch, and spoke to it, inquiring, “What do you want, Kate? Speak out so I can understand you.” Then the witch spoke plainly, saying, “Pots, I have brought you a present to keep in remembrance of me when you go to your far away new home. Will you accept it?”  She replied, “Certainly Kate, I will gladly accept any present you may bring. What is it?”  Just then a small roll, neatly wrapped in paper, fell on her lap.  She looked up and around in every direction, but no one was near, nor could she discover from whence it came.  In her confusion the witch spoke again, saying, “I