<h2>CHAPTER V</h2><h3>THE WITCH TELLS FORTUNES</h3>
<p>"Come in," invited Father and the boys, standing in a group watching the
knob of the door turn slowly. As it opened silently they saw standing on
the threshold a little, old woman, all bent over, a long black cape and
hood covering her from head to foot. She carried a cane with a crook in
it and leaned very heavily upon it as she walked.</p>
<p>Muttering to herself she crossed the room and took a seat by the fire.
Her <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</SPAN></span>coarse, gray hair fell in straggly locks about her face almost
hiding it from view.</p>
<p>Suddenly the lights went out, leaving the room in darkness, save for the
firelight.</p>
<p>"Place the pot before me," she ordered, in a high, broken voice, shaking
her stick at Fat.</p>
<p>"Yes, Ma'am," said Fat, hurrying to obey.</p>
<p>"She's got Fat scared to death," giggled Toad to Reddy.</p>
<p>From under her cape she now took a small paper bag and poured the
contents into the pot before her, then standing up she hobbled around it
three times, waving her arms and humming a queer little <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</SPAN></span>tune. Soon a
dull red light glowed from within the pot, getting brighter and
brighter.</p>
<p>"It's magic," whispered Toad to Hopie Smith.</p>
<p>The old witch now sat down again and took from beneath her cape a small
pad, a long quill pen and a queer little bottle filled with milky white
fluid.</p>
<p>"If you drink any of that you'll get as small as a flea," said Fat in a
low voice.</p>
<p>The old witch rapped hard on the floor with her cane.</p>
<p>"Herbie, come forward," she commanded.</p>
<p>"Go ahead," giggled Reddy, giving him a little push and Herbie stepped
before the witch.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>She did not notice him at first, being very busy writing upon a slip of
paper with the quill pen which she dipped into a little bottle.
Presently she raised her head and handed him the paper.</p>
<p>"Bend low thine ear," she said, and Herbie obeyed.</p>
<p>"Keep this until I am gone," she added, "then hold it over yonder candle
light, for thy fortune is written there."</p>
<p>Each boy was now called in turn and received a slip of paper. Then the
old witch arose.</p>
<p>"To those who obey my commands, good luck; to those who disobey, ill
fortune," she cried, shaking her stick in the air, and in another moment
she had quickly hobbled from the room.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>Chuck now turned on the lights and Linn exclaimed:</p>
<p>"Where on earth did she ever come from?"</p>
<p>"Why, witches come out of the air," explained Toad. "They travel on a
broomstick."</p>
<p>"Let's see what she wrote on the papers," proposed Hopie Smith.</p>
<p>"Yes," agreed Reddy, "she told me to hold it over the candle light," at
which Chuck came forward with a candle that he placed on the center
table, holding his slip of paper over the flame. The other boys eagerly
gathered about to watch.</p>
<p>Soon the paper got hot and letters began to appear.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>"Look, there's an 'a' and two 'e's,' and—and," cried Chuck, "it's quite
plain now. I can read it."</p>
<p>"Go on," shouted Reddy, "let's hear it."</p>
<p>Chuck began:</p>
<div class='center'>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="If your head will rule your hear">
<tr><td align='left'>"If your head will rule your heart,</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">From a cent you'll never part;</span></td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">So tell your heart to rule your head,</span></td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">And all will mourn you when you're dead."</span></td></tr>
</table></div>
<p>"That means if you're stingy no one will care when you're gone,"
explained Linn, at which Chuck laughed with the others.</p>
<p>Herbie now held his over the light, and as the letters appeared, he
read:</p>
<div class='center'>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Don't always be in too great haste">
<tr><td align='left'>"Don't always be in too great haste,</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">It often means a dreadful waste;</span><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</SPAN></span></td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">Await your turn and take with ease,</span></td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">The piece you want with fingers greased."</span></td></tr>
</table></div>
<p>"That's you and the molasses candy," laughed Reddy, adding, "Here's
mine:</p>
<div class='center'>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Your hair may be of brilliant hue">
<tr><td align='left'>"Your hair may be of brilliant hue,</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">But this should never bother you;</span></td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">For when the winter winds blow most,</span></td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">Your head will be as warm as toast."</span></td></tr>
</table></div>
<p>"That's great," cried Reddy as all the boys laughed.</p>
<p>Fat now held his slip over the flame, and, as the words appeared read
slowly:</p>
<div class='center'>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="If you should eat a pound of lemons">
<tr><td align='left'>"If you should eat a pound of lemons every other day,</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">You'd grow as lean as any pole, for so I've heard folks say;</span></td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">But if, upon the other hand, you keep on eating pie,</span></td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">You'll grow so big and round and tall, you'll almost reach the sky."</span></td></tr>
</table></div>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>"You'd better be careful, Fat, and buy a barrel of lemons," suggested
Toad.</p>
<p>"I'll order a wagon-load," grinned Fat.</p>
<p>Hopie now held his paper near the candle, and in a moment read:</p>
<div class='center'>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="If you're the lad, to find the coin">
<tr><td align='left'>"If you're the lad, to find the coin</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">That's hidden in the flour,</span></td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">You, the highest will enjoy,</span></td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">Of health, and wealth and power."</span></td></tr>
</table></div>
<p>Toad's turn now came and upon his paper was written:</p>
<div class='center'>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="You're very fond of teasing all the girls">
<tr><td align='left'>"You're very fond of teasing all the girls,</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">And pulling off the ribbons from their curls;</span></td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">But mark my words, these tricks you'll surely rue,</span></td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">For when you're grown, a few they'll play on you."</span></td></tr>
</table></div>
<p>"That's a good one for you to remember, Toad," laughed the others.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>Linn now read:</p>
<div class='center'>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Your mouth may be large">
<tr><td align='left'>"Your mouth may be large, as I've oft heard you say,</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">But your words show a brain that is working;</span></td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">You'll go to the top of the ladder because,</span></td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">You do what you do without shirking."</span></td></tr>
</table></div>
<p>"The old witch must have liked you, Linn," commented Reddy. "That's the
best yet."</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</SPAN></span></p>
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