THE WITCH HARE
By Noah O'Rourke
In the vicinity of Kilmallock lived a wealthy farmer named Stephen Costigan. The man kept an extensive dairy with luxurious pastures, making Stephens cows the finest and most productive in the country. Every year he made considerable sums by the sale of milk and butter, which locals dubed "The finest and sweetest you'll ever find".
Things continued to prosper, when, one season, he found his cattle declining in appearance. Stephen, at first, attributed this change to the weather but soon found reasons to assign it to a far different source. The cows declined daily, and were hardly able to crawl about on their pasture; many of them, instead of milk, produced nothing but blood; and the quality of the milk that some continued to supply was so bitter that even the pigs would not drink it. The poor farmer became so miserable; he saw ruin staring him in the face; his era was coming to an end, yet what was he to do? Sell his cattle and purchase others! No, that was out of the question, as they looked so emaciated that no one would even take them as presents. It was also impossible to sell to the butcher, as the flesh of one which he killed for his own family was as black as coal, and stunk like putrid carrion.
Locals attributed the plight of his cattle as to the work of 'fairies' who had cursed the farm and Stephens family. Stephen, finding no logical explination for his cattles plight decided that the supernatural was, in this case, possible.
Stephen's wife was sitting at her own door in a gloomy and agitated state of mind. She spotted a little old woman approach her from the lane that led from the road to their house.The lady was enveloped in an old scarlet cloak and approached with aid of a cane. The farmers wife felt glad at seeing the odd-looking stranger and as the old woman gained the threshold, she bade her 'welcome'.
"God bless this good house" said the stranger as she entered.
"God save you kindly, and you are welcome, whoever you are" replied Mrs Costigan.
The farmers wife fetched a chair and placed it near the fire for the stranger, but she refused.
"I am dry of the heat of the day, can you give me a drink?"
"I have no drink to offer you except water" replied Mrs Costigan
"Are you not the owner of the cattle that i can see through your window?" said the old lady, with a tone of voice which plainly indicated her foreknowledge of the fact." Have you any milk in the house dear?"
Mrs Costigan, tried to warn the old lady of the state of the milk, but she would not take no for an answer. She poured a jug from a vessel and handed it to the old sybil, who smelled it, then tasted it, and spat out what she had taken onto the floor.
"Where is your husband?" she asked hastily.
"Out in the fields" was the reply "I can take you to him"
Stephen observed his wife and an older, hunched woman approach him from the small house. The older lady hobbled up to him, out of breath. She regained her breath and proceeded.
"Your cows are aginst you this season"
"You're right, unfortunatly" replied Stephen, embarresed by the fact.
"Why have you not sought for a cure?"
"A cure! Why,woman, I have sought cures until i was heartbroken, and all in vain; they get worse everyday.
" What will you give me if i cure them for you?"
"Anything in our power" replied Stephen and his wife, both speaking joyfully.
"Very well" commenced the old lady "It isn't a cure exactly, more of a solution to your problem"
"Anything, as long as you can rid us of this burden" replied the couple.
"You have been hexed" said the little old hag. "Are you familiar with anyone within the district that may obtain the reputation of a....witch?"
"......Rachel Higgins, down the road from us, she too owns a farm, but her cattle don't seem to be out of the ordinary"
"Well then, this Rachel is messing with you. Here is what you must do. As soon as the hour of twelve arrives tonight, take a couple of swift running dogs down to the pasture, conceal youselves somewhere convenient to the cattle; watch them carefully; and if you see anything, whether man or beast, let the dogs loose, and if possible, make them draw the blood of the intruder, then all will be accomplished.
Conveniantly there lived a friend, not too far away, who kept a pair of ferocious bulldogs. Stephen asked for his assistance, and he cheerfully agreed, promising to bring his ferocious dogs.
Stephen did not sleep that night; he sat up, anxiously awaiting midnight.It arrived at last, and his friand came at the time appointed. Having arrived at the field, they searched for the best place for concealment. They found a place and waited for the arrival of their mysterious visitor.
Stephen and his comrade continued to wait in nervous anxiety, still nothing approached but morning and they were begining to grow impatient and were talking of returning home, when suddenly, they heard a rushing sound behind them. They looked in that direction and to their astonisment, they percieved a large hare in the act of sprining from a ditch.They were convinced that this was what they had been waiting for. The hare made its way to the cows. When it got close enough to the cow, it dug its teeth into the cows ankle and started to suck blood and milk from its system, the cow did not flinch. Stephen had to restrain himself from attacking it. It then continued this act on the other cows. Now it was done sucking them all, its belly appeared enormously distended and it made its exit slowly, apparently with difficulty. Stephen released the dogs after the heavy hare.
The hare started off at a brisk pace, squirting up blood and milk from its mouth and nostrils. The dogs were gaining on her.Rachel Higgin's cabin appeared, through the morning twilight. It was evident to Stephen and his comrade that she was bent on reaching that cabin. They made it to the cabin just as the hare came up panting and almost exhausted with the dogs inches behind it. It ran around the house, confused at the presence of the men. The hare turned around and tried to make it for the open door. The dog made a spring and seized it violently by the neck. She uttered a loud ,piercing scream. She tried despratly to free herself from the dogs grip, succeeded, but not until she left a piece of her rump in its teeth. The whole floor was streaming in blood. No hare could be found and the men were more than convinced that it was old Rachel, who had assumed the form of a hare through witchcraft. They entered the bedroom and heard some smothered groaning.They went to the corner of the room, and there, found the form of Rachel Higgins, writhing in the most excruciating pain, almost smotherd in a pool of her own blood. The astounded men adressed the wretched old woman, but she either could not or would not answer them. It was evident that she was dying. She releashed her final moan of agony and departed from the physical world.
Stephen and his friend retuned home. The old hag was aware of the fate of Rachel Higgins. Stephen pressed her to accept money for her help but she refused. Instead she enjoyed the milk from the newly cured cows, affected by Rachels curse.
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