Alliquippa, and Dr. Poffenburgh's Charm (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898 edition. Excerpt: ...that the influence of that eerie spell had by no means been entirely dispelled. Surely, the charm of the good Dr. Poflenburgh had done wonders, but she was certain something had gone amiss. Why should he have grown to be thus wistfully sad and seemingly lonely since its application? While, the Lord be praised, the journeys across the hills to the Endicott farmhouse were happily ended, yet she would give worlds if the wise doctor's skill could also restore the brightness to the eye, and the cheerful smile so sadly missing. She was thrown into such a sad and sorrowful reverie as she thought of all her cares and troubles, that when she passed within the portals of the quaint old church, tears were slowly coursing down her furrowed cheeks. Things had really not gone well with her since the Lord had seen fit to call away the good, kind father. But last week her boy had been sorely stricken by a witch's spell, and despite the skillful charm of the wise Dr. Pofien-. burgh, was not again his natural self. The choicest plants within her garden had been nipped by the frost that very spring-time, and their successors were not doing well at all, although she had faithfully and carefully heeded all the signs and omens, yet still it would seem ill-luck betided them. A brood of soft, downy chickens had been ruthlessly swept away by a freshet in the little brook, caused by a sudden thunder shower but a few days ago. The birds had ravaged the strawberry beds, while the crickets had maliciously and woefully nibbled the lettuce and the vine of the grape. The plum trees were shedding their leaves already, which prophesied thus plainly a deficit of their usual luscious and plentiful quote. The beetle had invaded the rose and the cabbage, while the...