The Water Witch Wilson G. Bear Before the house we dug a well 'Twas all to no avail The bit of water that we found Would never fill a pail. A younger woman happened by Not much more than a girl She laughed and said she knew a place Where buried trickles swirl. She wanted but a drinking glass She'd not touch silver or steel But take a link of golden chain And sit down to a meal. We'd killed a hen that very day We asked her if she'd sup, We broke bread with her that evening And poured water in a cup. She took a sprig of willow wand And placed it in the glass It turned and bent and pointed to A hollow in the grass. As surely as she told us Next morning when we dug The hole filled up with water A lovely liquid 'glug'. She returned to us that evening We showed her the new well She touched a droplet to her lips And spoke a silent spell. She beckoned me to follow And walked off toward the lake She hardly broke the surface But then she turned and spake.
