University of Virginia Library

Oct. ye 6th.

Walked out to the Iron Mines, a great Hole digged
in the rocks, manie years ago, for the finding of Iron.
Aunt, who was then just settled in housekeeping,
told me manie wonderful stories of the man who
caused it to be digged, a famous Doctor of Physick,
and, as it seems, a great Wizard also. He bought a
Patent of land on the South side of the Saco River,
four miles by the Sea, and eight miles up into the main
land of Mr. Vines, the first owner thereof; and being
curious in the seeking and working of Metals, did
promise himself great riches in this New Countrie, but
his labours came to nothing, although it was said that
Satan helped him, in the shape of a little blackamoor
man-servant, who was his constant familiar. My Aunt
says she did often see him, wandering about among the
Hills and Woods, and along the banks of Streams of
Water, searching for precious Ores and Stones. He
had even been as far as the great Mountains beyond
Pigwackett, climbing to the top thereof, where the

snows lie well nigh all the year, his way thither lying
through doleful Swamps and lonesome Woods. He
was a great Friend of the Indians, who held him to be
a more famous Conjuror than their own Powahs, and
indeed he was learned in all curious and Occult Arts,
having studied at the great College of Padua, and
travelled in all parts of the Old Countries. He sometimes
stopped in his Travels at my Uncle's house, the
little Blackamoor sleeping in the barne, for my Aunt
feared him, as he was reputed to be a wicked Imp.
Now it soe chanced that on one occasion my Uncle
had lost a Cowe, and had searched the Woods manie
days for her to noe purpose, when this noted Doctor
coming in, he besought him to find her out by his skill
and learning, but he did straightway denie his power to
do soe, saying he was but a poor Scholar, and lover of
Science, and had no greater skill in Occult matters
than any one might attain to, by patient study of Natural
things. But as mine Uncle would in no wise be
soe put off, and still pressing him to try his Art, he
took a bit of Coal, and began to make marks on the
Floor, in a verie careless way. Then he made a black
dot in the midst, and bade my Uncle take heed that
his Cowe was lying dead in that spot; and my Uncle
looking at it, said he could find her, for he now knew
where she was, inasmuch as the Doctor had made a
faire Map of the Country round about for manie miles.
Soe he set off, and found the Cowe lying at the foot of
a great Tree, close beside a Brook, she being quite
dead, which thing did show that he was a Magician of
no mean sort.

My Aunt further said, that in those days there was
great talk of mines of Gold and precious Stones, and
many people spent all their substance in wandering
about over the wilderness country seeking a Fortune in
this way. There was one old man, who, she remembered,
did roam about seeking for hidden Treasures,
until he lost his Wits, and might be seen filling a bagg
with bright stones and shining sand, muttering and
laughing to himself. He was at last missed for some
little time, when he was found lying dead in the Woods,
still holding fast in his hands his bagg of pebbles.

On my querying whether anie did find Treasures
hereabout, my Aunt laughed and said she never heard
of but one man who did soe, and that was old Peter
Preble of Saco, who growing rich faster than his
neighbors, was thought to owe his fortune to the finding
of a Gold or Silver Mine. When he was asked about it,
he did by no means deny it, but confessed he had found
treasures in the sea as well as on the land, and pointing
to his loaded Fish-flakes and his great Cornfields,
said “Here are my Mines.” Soe that afterwards when

any one prospered greatly in his Estate, it was said of
him by his neighbors, “He has been working Peter
Preble's Mine.”