The Witchcraft in the Stables

On a farm near Hasselt, a new maid had just been hired when strange things suddenly began to happen. The cows fell ill and barely gave any milk. At night, the animals in the barn were very restless. They lowed and stamped all through the night.

The farmer’s wife began to suspect that the new maid was a witch. It had only started, after all, when the girl entered service. The farmer’s wife decided to go to the friars of Hasselt for advice.

The friar listened patiently to the farmer’s wife’s story and said: “Every morning and evening you must go to the stables when the maid is working with the cows. I shall give you a small box that you must take with you and return after three weeks. You must not open the box under any circumstances.”

The farmer’s wife took the box and did as the friar had said. Every morning and every evening she went to the stables to help the maid with the milking and the care of the cows. After three weeks, the cows were healthy again and gave plenty of milk.

The farmer’s wife returned to the friar and said with relief: “Now everything is right again! But tell me, what was in the box?” The friar laughed and answered: “There was nothing at all in the box. The maid did not know the work and she needed help. That was the only cause of your problems.”

The farmer’s wife was astonished. There had been no witchcraft at all. The new maid had simply needed help caring for the cows. The friars of Hasselt had solved the problem with their wisdom without uttering a single prayer against witchcraft.