Мхи старой усадьбы

           "Well;Ididn’tmeantodabbleinwitchcraftto-day,furtherthanthelightingofmypipe,butawitchIam,andawitchI’mlikelytobe,andthere’snousetryingtoshirkit.I’llmakeamanofmyscarecrow,wereitonlyforthejoke’ssake!"

           Whilemutteringthesewords,MotherRigbytookthepipefromherownmouthandthrustitintothecrevicewhichrepresentedthesamefeatureinthepumpkinvisageofthescarecrow.

           "Puff,darling,puff!"saidshe."Puffaway,myfinefellow!yourlifedependsonit!"

           Thiswasastrangeexhortation,undoubtedly,tobeaddressedtoamerethingofsticks,straw,andoldclothes,withnothingbetterthanashrivelledpumpkinforahead,—asweknowtohavebeenthescarecrow’scase.Nevertheless,aswemustcarefullyholdinremembrance,MotherRigbywasawitchofsingularpoweranddexterity;and,keepingthisfactdulybeforeourminds,weshallseenothingbeyondcredibilityintheremarkableincidentsofourstory.Indeed,thegreatdifficultywillbeatoncegotover,ifwecanonlybringourselvestobelievethat,assoonastheolddamebadehimpuff,therecameawhiffofsmokefromthescarecrow’smouth.Itwastheveryfeeblestofwhiffs,tobesure;butitwasfollowedbyanotherandanother,eachmoredecidedthantheprecedingone.

           "Puffaway,mypet!puffaway,myprettyone!"MotherRigbykeptrepeating,withherpleasantestsmile."Itisthebreathoflifetoye;andthatyoumaytakemywordfor."

           Beyondallquestionthepipewasbewitched.