This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1879. Excerpt: ... dom, however, they have rather fallen into disuse for that purpose. As may well be supposed, the excitement spread and things soon began to wear a threatening aspect. No time was to be lost in parleying, and Mr. Oldpath, with a couple of others of like way of thinking, formed themselves into a kind of examining and advisory committee, assuming the duty of inquiring into alleged cases of witchcraft as they might occur, expressing opinions of them and giving advice. They had not, of course, any power or inclination to interfere with the jurisdiction of the courts, nor indeed to act in any manner on formal complaints. But by judicious management in their circumscribed sphere, great good was accomplished; calamities and distresses of divers kinds were averted, and no doubt innocent lives saved. Some strange cases came before them. Jediah Breed, a drinking, but otherwise fair sort of a laboring man, stated that on the Friday evening before, he was seated in Rachel Moulton"s back room, about dusk; that he had been hard at work during the day, cutting and splitting wood and was now resting and waiting for his supper. While he was thus waiting, and Rachel was frying the meat, there came down the chimney what appeared to be a very large squirrel, having a head like that of a monkey. The animal sat himself on the edge of the frying-pan, and seizing a piece of meat, began to eat it, apparently with the most ravenous appetite, regardless of its fiery heat or the flames around him. The astonished chopper very much wondered at what he saw, not only because of the animal"s power to endure heat, but also because squirrels were never known to take such food. Rachel took no notice of the intruder, though she stood by the fire. And upon his expressing astonishment at ber b...