Hi and welcome back to Nighty Night, bedtime stories to keep you awake.

I'm your host, Rabi

Rabiachadri. In this week's episode, we begin our journey into

Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1852 story, Feather Top. It's a dark tale that blends elements of witchcraft, morality, and teaches us a lesson on human vanity.

Feather Top, a moralized legend by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Dickin, cried Mother Rigby, a coal for my pipe.

The pipe was in the old dame's mouth when she said these words.

She had thrust it there after filling it with tobacco but without stooping to light it at the hearth

where indeed there was no appearance of a fire having been kindled that morning.

Forthwith, however, as soon as the order was given, there was an intense red glow out of the bowl of the pipe, and a whiff of smoke came from Mother Rigby's lips.

Once the coal came and Hal brought Tither by an invisible hand, I have never been able to discover.

Good, quote Mother Rigby with a nod of her head.

Thank you, Dickin.

And now for making this scarecrow.

Be within called Dickin in case I need you again.

The good woman had risen thus early, for as yet it was scarcely sunrise in order to set about making a scarecrow, which she intended to put in the middle of her corn patch.

It was now the latter week of May, and the crows and blackbirds had already discovered the little green rolled-up leaf of the

Indian corn just peeping out of the soil. She was determined therefore to contrive as

life like a scarecrow as ever was seen and to finish it immediately from top to toe so that it

should begin its sentinel's duty that very morning.

Now Mother Rigby, as everybody must have heard, was one of the most cunning and potent witches

in New England, and might, with very little trouble, have made a scarecrow ugly enough

...