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DEATH OF THE REV. PREBENDARY…

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STORIES OF A CONJUROR.

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STORIES OF A CONJUROR. The following is reprinted from the South Wales Daily News," for Tuesday, under the heading Welsh Tit-Bits," by Cadrawd Dr Harries, of Werndew, was a medical practioner of very wide practice. He was con- sidered in his day a specialist in cases of in- flammation, and certain other diseases, and his visiting circle extended quite twenty miles in every direction beyond his own im- mediate locality. In this parts of Pembroke- shire the name of Dr Harris was a household word sixty years ago. There was no child of six that did not know him and trembled at the very appearance of the little mar on the grey mountain pony. The old man of eighty did his obeisance in the orthodox Pembrokeshire etiquette-the touching of the brim of the hat with the index finger. In short, the renowned doctor commanded the respect and awe of all in his own and the surrounding districts. No less renowed was the good doctor for his conjuring powers. The more superstitious of the people believed be possessed the keys of a certain portion of the nether regions, and could bind or loosen its occupants at will. He was also supposed to hold the power of divina- tion, and the punishment of cantankerous people who were wont to disturb their neigh- bour's peace, and of effective vindication of every virtue. One Saturday night late the windows of Gideon Chapel were smashed in. Dr Harries was one of the deacons of this particular chapel. A meeting of the deacons was held after the service on the Sunday morn- ing to consider what steps should be taken in the matter. Dr Harries asked them to leave the matter with him, and he would punish the evildoer. Sunday school was held in the after- noon, and when the school was well-nigh over, all of a sudden through the back windows of the chapel could be seen a man running for dear life back and fore through the furzes, barefooted and bleeding profusely. It The old fox is earthed," said the doctor. The man confessed his crime and paid the damage. Punishing an Old Witch. A very industrious labourer, living in a well-kept cot, was constantly troubled by a hare coming to his garden and devouring his vegetables. He had shot at her several times, but all in vain he could not kill her do what he might. The very same hare, as far as he could judge, was doing an enormous amount of damage to the man. His beds of cabbages, leeks, potatoes, &c., were continuously grow- ing less, and disappearing as though carried away in the night. At length he became suspicious that it was not a hare, but a local witch coming in the form of one. The cottager consulted Dr Harris, who, after he looked into the matter, told him it was not a natural hare, but a form assumed by a certain witch whose name he mentioned. Never mind," said the conjuror, "I'll put her right. Take this piece of iron, cut it into nine pieces, put it into your gun instead of shots, and fire at her the next time you see her inside your garden. Be care- ful to aim at her legs, not at her vital parts." This was done. The man shot the hare till all about him and her was a flame of fire, and the report of the gun was a terribly loud one. The next day the assistance of Dr H was procured for an old woman in the district who had been hurt in her legs. The doctor knew all about it. Three of the pieces of iron were extracted from one of the old woman's legs, which at once settled the question that she had assumed the form of a hare, being a witch and visited the garden of the man for the purpose of carrying away his potatoes, &c. The Shot Pony. One David Llewellyn, Clyn, had a pony shot one night. The thing was not accidentally done, but was a malicious act of some brutal enemy of his. No clue could be obtained as to who the man was. At length D. LI. determined to seek the aid of Dr Harris. Over he went to Werndew. He laid the case before the conjurer. If you stand in front of this glass and look at what may be shown in ie, without frowning or laughing, or any movement of the kind," was the conjuror's reply, "I will show you the person in the very act of shooting your pony." "All light," says D. 111., "1 will." "Remember," said the con- juror again, if you do anv of these things which 1 have mentioned, while looking in the glass, you will ever remain in that position." The conjuror went into an ante-room, and presently D. Ll. was astonished to see his neighbour and a supposed friend of his with a gun taking aim at the head of his pony. The shot was filed, and a noise actu- ally heard which so terrified D. Ll. that he blinked with his eyes. The conjuror's warning proved true he ever after was in the habit of blinking his eyes and hesitating in his speech, a habit he knew not before. Dr. Harris and the Highway Robber. The doctor had been called away to Casmael to attend a sick man. It was late in the evening when the message came. By the time the doctor was ready to return home, it was drawing towards midnight. On the way home he had to cross the lonesome, bleak Treiiewydd Mountain. When he was advancing towards Bwlch Heol y Feidr a man sprang out from the grip and caught hold of the reins of his pony, and demanded his money. Deliver, or die," was the harsh command which fell on the doctor's ears -words calculated to terri- fy any ordinary human being under the same conditions but the brave doctor and conjuror's nerves were more highly toned than those of the general run of mortals. "All right," said the doctor, c)olly, I'll deliver, if that's the case, rather than die here." lie put his hand in his pocket, pretending to be in the quest of his purse lie pulled it out the robber stretched his hand to receive it. Just as the robber received the purse, the doctor, with the smartness of a professi mal and a practitioner, drew a fleam across his wrist, and at the same moment spurred his pony and galloped away, leaving the robber yelling for help. The next day, with the early dawn of morn, a knock was heard at the surgery door, Werndew. Who is there ? was the question from within. I am, sir." What can be the matter with you this time of morning?" "I've cut my wrist, sir." The doctor was down in a moment, and dressed the man's wiist, which was bleeding profusely. How did you get into this mess ? asked the doctor. I was cutting furze, sir, and the billhook slipped with me." 01, oil When the doctor had finished dressing the man's hand, he said to him, Now, my man, go home and be very careful of your wrist, and let me give you one word of advice :-Don't go out in the night on ill errands any more. Rememher, the pit and sorrow are the end of evil deeds, especially of highway lobbers." Needless to say the min was a reformed man from that time forth. 'Ti-i true, sometimes, out of evil conieth good. The Conjuror and the Ministers. There was an Association at Gideon, and a number of the ministers—the lug guns of the denomination, as a matter of course, stayed with the doctor at Werndew, he being a deacon, as we have already said. They sat up till the small hours of the morning discussing various matters connected with the denomination and the cause in general. But some of the con\pany were curious to see some of the doctor's tricks, they had heard a good deal about him and now, since they had the opportunity, they wished to see for themselves whether he could perform tricks such as were attributed to him. One of the most forward of them suggested that the doctor should be asked to .9 kindly entertain them with something novel. A second man said he did not believe there was any- thing in conjuring, and that it could not be done successfully in the prepence of intelligent people, but that it was a play upon the ignorant and the superstitious. The third, and yet the fourth gave his view on the subject. Presently the conjuror was noticed to place three small rings on the floor He whistled certain notes, and made a few passes with his hand in majio fashion, muttering some unknown words the while, which no one under. stood. Presently a gnat appeared on the scene, dancing and buzzing in one of the rings. The gnat grew to a bee, and the bee to a bumble, whereupon it left the ring, and flew to the second ring. Another gnat appeared in the first ring and grew to a bumble bee, and flew to the ring, taking the place of the first, the first bumble bee flying to the third ring. The process was re- peated and the first bumble bee flew bick and fore through the room. The end of the scene was, the room was filled with bumble bees, and the cloth had to make room for them the doctor alone remaining with the strange visitors. In the course of ten minutes the intruders were all, ban- ished, and the ministers recalled. None of them cared to cast doubt upon the conjuror's power aud his proficiency iu the 44 Black Art" any more.

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