About a hundred years ago there lived a woman in Joyce County, of whom
all the neighbours were afraid, for she had always plenty of money,
though no one knew how she came by it; and the best of eating and
drinking went on at her house, chiefly at night—meat and fowls and
Spanish wines in plenty for all comers. And when people asked how it
all came, she laughed and said, “I have paid for it,” but would tell
them no more.
So the word went through the county that she had sold herself to the
Evil One, and could have everything she wanted by merely wishing and
willing, and because of her riches they called her “The Lady Witch.”
She never went out but at night, and then always with a bridle and whip
in her hand; and the sound of a horse galloping was heard often far on
in the night along the roads near her house.
Then a strange story was whispered about, that if a young man drank
of her Spanish wines at supper and afterwards fell asleep, she would
throw the bridle over him and change him to a horse, and ride him all
over the country, and whatever she touched with her whip became hers.
Fowls, or butter, or wine, or the new-made cakes—she had but to wish
and will and they were carried by spirit hands to her house, and laid
in her larder. Then when the ride was done, and she had gathered enough
through the country of all she wanted, she took the bridle off the
young man, and he came back to his own shape and fell asleep; and when
he awoke he had no knowledge of all that had happened, and the Lady
Witch bade him come again and drink of her Spanish wines as often as it
pleased him.
Now there was a fine brave young fellow in the neighbourhood, and he
determined to make out the truth of the story. So he often went back
and forwards, and made friends with the Lady Witch, and sat down to
talk to her, but always on the watch. And she took a great fancy to him
and told him he must come to supper some night, and she would give him
the best of everything, and he must taste her Spanish wine.
So she named the night, and he went gladly, for he was filled with
curiosity. And when he arrived there was a beautiful supper laid, and
plenty of wine to drink; and he ate and drank, but was cautious about
the wine, and spilled it on the ground from his glass when her head was
turned away. Then he pretended to be very sleepy, and she said—
“My son, you are weary. Lie down there on the bench and sleep, for the
night is far spent, and you are far from your home.”
So he lay down as if he were quite dead with sleep, and closed his
eyes, but watched her all the time.
And she came over in a little while and looked at him steadily, but he
never stirred, only breathed the more heavily.
Then she went softly and took the bridle from the wall, and stole over
to fling it over his head; but he started up, and, seizing the bridle,
threw it over the woman, who was immediately changed into a spanking
grey mare. And he led her out and jumped on her back and rode away as
fast as the wind till he came to the forge.
“Ho, smith,” he cried, “rise up and shoe my mare, for she is weary
after the journey.”
And the smith got up and did his work as he was bid, well and strong.
Then the young man mounted again, and rode back like the wind to
the house of the Witch; and there he took off the bridle, and she
immediately regained her own form, and sank down in a deep sleep.
But as the shoes had been put on at the forge without saying the proper
form of words, they remained on her hands and feet, and no power on
earth could remove them.
So she never rose from her bed again, and died not long after of grief
and shame. And not one in the whole country would follow the coffin of
the Lady Witch to the grave; and the bridle was burned with fire, and
of all her riches nothing was left but a handful of ashes, and this was
flung to the four points of earth and the four winds of heaven; so the
enchantment was broken and the power of the Evil One ended.