One of the girls was named
Sarah, the other Mary. Sarah was a very pretty girl with curls. Mary
was rather ugly and had straight hair. Curls in my childhood days were
something very much sought for. Although Sarah was pretty in the face
she had very rude ways; she would not speak kindly and politely; would
not help her hard working mother; but was idle and quarrelsome, always
wanted some one to wait on her; while Mary was the reverse; would pick
up chips to make a fire, would sweep the yard and bring water, and was
kind to all, especially to her mother. One day the well went dry and
there was no water to make the tea for supper. Mary saw her mother
crying and said: "Don't cry, mother; I will go and get some at the
Haunted Spring."
Her mother said: "Oh, no, dear sweet child, those goblins will kill
you."
"No, mother," replied Mary. "I will beg them to let me have some
water for dear father, and I am not afraid."
So her mother got a light bucket for her, and went to the top of
the hill with her, and said: "God bless you, my dear child, and bring
you back to me."
Then Mary went on until she came to the high iron gate. She said:
"Please gate open and let me through. I mind my father and mother
and love everybody."
And the gate opened and she passed into the "haunted" grounds--
She saw a funny, little, short man come running with a stick and said:
"Please, nice man, don't hit me.
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