Page:Emma Speed Sampson--The shorn lamb.djvu/288

284 dread machinations of Mam' Peachy and she was as firm a believer in her powers as any one of the darkeys in the county.

Aunt Peachy had never forgiven Aunt Pearly Gates for breaking up the Voodoo ceremony held down in the clearing by the river. She had never forgiven her and had spent many hours and great ingenuity in the charms and spells she was determined to work against the pious Pearly Gates. Decade after decade had passed and still she never forgot the ignominy she had felt when her frenzied meeting had been turned into a Christian ceremony. She kept on trying to bring misfortune on her enemy by the weaving of many and various spells. Finally the news came to her that Pearly Gates had had a stroke of paralysis. The doctor had given some hope that she might recover the use of her limbs, but Aunt Peachy believed she could keep her in the bed forever. She was sure she had accomplished this evil thing. She immediately went to see her poor victim and gloated over the fact that she was laid low.

It was rather irritating that Pearly Gates would not acknowledge her power, but talked steadily about the goodness of God and the Blood of the Lamb having power to heal her. It would have been more satisfactory had she