The Amber WitchThis historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1903. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... MARY SCHWEIDLER, THE AMBER WITCH. THE MOST INTERESTING TRIAL FOR WITCHCRAFT EVER KNOWN. PRINTED FROM AN IMPERFECT MANUSCRIPT BY HER FATHER, ABRAHAM SCHWEIDLER, THE PASTOR OF COSEROW IN THE ISLAND OF USEDOM J$ EDITED BY WIL- LIAM MEINHOLD. DOCTOR OF THEOLOGY J& TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY LADY DUFF GORDON. i TH E AMBER WITCH. PREFACE. IN laying before the public this deeply affecting and romantic trial, which I have not without reason called on the title-page the most interesting of all trials for witchcraft ever known, I will first give some account of the history of the manuscript. At Coserow, in the island of Usedom, my former cure, the same which was held by our worthy author some two hundred years ago, there existed under a seat in the choir of the church a sort of niche, nearly on a level with the floor. I had, indeed, often seen a heap of various writings in this recess; but owing to my short sight, and the darkness of the place, I had taken them for antiquated hymn-books which were lying about in great numbers. But one day, while I was teaching in the church, I looked for a paper mark in the Catechism of one of the boys, which I could not immediately find; and my old sexton, who was past eighty (and who, although called Appelmann, was thoroughly unlike his namesake in our story, being a very worthy, although a most ignorant man), stooped down to the said niche, and took from it a folio volume which I had'never before observed, out of which he, without the slightest hesitation, tore a strip of paper suited to my purpose, and reached it to me. I immediately seized upon the book, and, after a few minutes' perusal, I know not which was greater, my astonishment or my vexation at this costly prize. The manuscript, which was b... |
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Wilhelm Meinhold, 'The Amber Witch'. Translated by Lady Duff Gordon Barbara Burns Limited preview - 2016 |