Speaker 1: Hey, parents, The Curse of Botley's Hedge is a fun
and spooky story created for kids ages six and up,
but we know every child has different comfort levels, so
we recommend checking the episode description for any potential scare factors.
You know your kid's best, so use your best judgment
and now onto the story.
Speaker 2: Rachel wasn't about to wait around for Sarah to put
a curse on her. She turned and ran as fast
as she could straight to the church to tell the
new Reverend Howl what she had seen.
Speaker 3: Sixty years and it just rocks and Reverend, you'll never
believe what just.
Speaker 4: Happened, young lady, show us some decorum. Can't you see that?
I am currently in conference with Farmer Norris. I will
hear you when we have finished our business.
Speaker 5: I'm sorry, sir, but this can't wait. It's about Sarah Alder.
Speaker 4: Is this how Reverend Brown taught the young ladies of
this parish to behave one moment? Reverend? What about Sarah Alder?
Speaker 1: Girl?
Speaker 5: She's a witch?
Speaker 6: A witch.
Speaker 4: Think very carefully about what you're saying.
Speaker 5: I don't have to think. I saw it with my
own eyes. She was chanting something and making a potion.
Speaker 3: She was in such a trance she didn't even see
me at first, and then she tried to talk to me.
Blaren straight here to tell you, Reverend.
Speaker 4: There has been a plague of witchcraft in these parts
as of late. I had hoped Buttley's hedge would be spared,
but alas evil hides among us. If Sarah Older has
been touched by evil, it's likely the result of another's influence. Hmm,
excellent point, Farmer Norris. These things rarely happen in isolation.
Young lady. You will take us to the accused and
we will get to the bottom of this.
Speaker 2: Yes, Sir, Rachel led the new Reverend Howell out of
the church and down the lane toward the Alder House.
Reverend Farmer Norris, what a surprise, goodmor ol' Rachel. Rachel
stepped behind the reverend. She couldn't bear for Mother Alder
to look at her when the reverend said what the
reverend was about to say.
Speaker 4: Mother Alder, we regret to inform you that accusations of
witchcraft have been made this very day.
Speaker 2: Witchcraft, Oh Reverend Howell, you mustn't listen to these silly rumors.
Goodie Black is a kind.
Speaker 4: The accusations are not against Goodie Black. Oh, the accused
is your own daughter, Sarah Alder.
Speaker 2: Rachel peeked around the reverend and saw Mother Alder staring
straight at her before she ducked back behind him. There
must be some sort of misunderstanding.
Speaker 4: Why did you think we were talking about Goodie Black.
Speaker 2: Well, nothing, It's just you know as well as anyone
that there have always been rumors about Goodie Black in
this town.
Speaker 7: Oh yes, I do know, and I have heard other rumors,
one about Sarah visiting Goodie Black's house.
Speaker 4: Tell me where do you think she learned how to
make potions and recite chance?
Speaker 2: Sarah, come to the door, please, yes, Mother Mora, Reverend Farmer, Norris.
Speaker 4: Rachel, Sarah Alder, you have been accused of the crime
of witchcraft. What say you, Rachel?
Speaker 5: What did you tell them? You know I am not
a witch?
Speaker 4: Run home, child, Your job is done.
Speaker 2: Rachel didn't wait to be told twice, clasping her hands
over her ears as if she was afraid of the
sound of Sarah's voice, she ran for home like her
life depended on it.
Speaker 7: You may not be a witch, girl, but you might
have been cursed by one.
Speaker 5: I think I would know if I were cursed by
a witch.
Speaker 4: Maybe not witches our cunning Tell me, did you eat
or drink anything in the presence of Goodie Black?
Speaker 5: No?
Speaker 4: What is that on your ankle?
Speaker 5: It's just a poultice. She taught me how to make it.
Speaker 2: The new Reverend Howell and Farmer Norris looked knowingly at
each other. They'd clearly hurt enough.
Speaker 4: It is just as I thought, Mother Alder. Keep Sarah
here and destroy anything that the witch has given her.
Speaker 6: Reverend, I really must object.
Speaker 4: And I must warn you those who defend known witches
are very likely to find themselves in a jail cell.
Your daughter has been accused this very day. Do you
wish to add to her troubles? No, Reverend, that's as
I thought. Go do as I say and destroy that poultice.
Speaker 2: The new Reverend Howell turned his back on Mother Alder
and Sarah, making it clear that the conversation was over.
Mother Alder closed the door, but they could still hear
the men's voices.
Speaker 4: I'll go back to the magistrate and get a warrant
for Goodie Black's arrest.
Speaker 7: Her house is filled with more potions than you could imagine.
She could poison this entire village before you could put
her in shackles.
Speaker 4: What would you suggest? We'll say nothing for now.
Speaker 7: When you come back to arrest her, will burn the
house down before she has a chance to act.
Speaker 2: We Sarah, didn't you hear what they said? If you're
seen talking to Goodie Black, now you'll be thrown in
jail too. I'm going to take those herbs out and
bury them. Take that poultice off your ankle, and we'll
have to think about the best way to destroy it.
Speaker 5: Sorry, mother.
Speaker 2: Sarah waited for her mother to leave with the herbs.
Speaker 5: But it's a risk I have to take.
Speaker 2: She slipped quietly out of the house, watching carefully to
make sure no one noticed. Walking as quickly as her
injured ankle would allow, She hobbled the two miles to
Black Farm, keeping to the edge of the forest and
hiding anytime she heard the wheels of a carriage. When
she finally arrived at Black Farm, she was exhausted and frantic.
Speaker 6: Sarah back, so soon, how's you good?
Speaker 5: Black? It's perfectly terrible. My friend Rachel saw me making
the potice and saying the.
Speaker 3: Healers verse, and then she thought it was a witch
and she told the new reverend, and I guess he
told Farmer Norris. And anyway, they're coming to restue and
burn your house down.
Speaker 5: You have to get out of here.
Speaker 6: Perhaps you better come inside.
Speaker 5: There's no time. Didn't you hear what I said? They're
coming to get you.
Speaker 6: I heard you, my dear.
Speaker 8: But I am an old woman, and I rarely rush anywhere.
Speaker 5: Well, if there was ever a time.
Speaker 6: And where would you have me go? Pray?
Speaker 8: Tell I've lived here for sixty years. I have no
family left. Who would take in an old woman, let
alone an accused witch.
Speaker 5: There must be somewhere you can come back with me.
Speaker 8: Oh no, from the sound of it, you're very lucky
to have escaped trouble. I'll not in danger you and
your mother with my presence.
Speaker 5: Then what will you do? You can't just stay here?
Speaker 6: You seem very concerned.
Speaker 5: Of course I'm concerned. You're my friend, isn't that nice? Goodie? Please?
Speaker 8: As we are friends, perhaps I can tell you one
of my secrets.
Speaker 2: Sarah's impatience to get Goodie Black to safety ward with
her curiosity until her curiosity finally won out.
Speaker 5: Is it about your locket?
Speaker 6: No, not that secret.
Speaker 8: The fact is I've always known what the villagers have
said about me. I've been lucky to have friends like
the good Reverend Brown and even your very own mother,
But I knew there would come a time.
Speaker 6: When friendship wasn't enough.
Speaker 8: I can tell you are a lot like me, Sarah Alder,
an inquisitive mind, never satisfied with an answer until you
fully under stand it. That will be helpful for you
in many endeavors, but you must also be prepared for
what people will say. Women like us are not meant
to fit in, were meant to stand out. Not everyone
will appreciate that, do you understand?
Speaker 5: I think so? But how does that help us? Right now?
Speaker 8: It's getting dark, my dear, No doubt the new Everend
and farmer Nors will be here soon. You'd best be
far away by then. But worry not, child.
Speaker 2: If there's one thing a good witch knows, it's how
to make an exit. Goody Black winked at Sarah and
closed the door gently. Sarah stood staring at it for
a few seconds before she reluctantly limped off the porch
and began her long walk home, still keeping to the
edge of the forest in case anyone should come along.
It wasn't long before she was glad she'd taken the precaution.
The light of four burning torches stood out against the
approaching dusk, and Sarah ducked behind a thick oak tree,
waiting for them to pass. As they drew closer, she
could see the new Reverend Howl holding a torch in
one hand and a rolled up piece of parchment in
the other. Next to him was farmer Norris, followed by
two men she'd never seen before. Without stopping to think,
Sarah followed them, careful to stay hidden by the trees.
She didn't know what she was planning on doing, but
she knew she couldn't just go home and do nothing.
Slowed down by her injured ankle and the difficult path
through the forest, Sarah reached the edge of Black Farms
several minutes after the torch wielding villagers. The new Reverend
Howl was nailing something to Goody Black's door.
Speaker 4: Goody Black, I hereby execute your arrest warrant in the
name of the King. As you refused to show yourself.
I have no choice but you take drastic measures.
Speaker 2: Sarah knelt behind a prickly holly bush and watched as
the Reverend nodded to Farmer Norris and the two other men.
They each approached a corner of the house with their torches.
Speaker 5: Mouser, Oh, mouser, I'm so glad you're safe.
Speaker 2: Sarah picked up the cat and hugged her just a
little bit too tight. They both watched as the Reverend
raised his hand in a signal to the other three.
At once, they all laid their torches to the old
wooden boards and watched as the flames took hold. The
peeling paint burned, first bubbling and dripping off the house,
and then the boards beneath started to blacken and smolder.
Sarah looked spertly at the windows to see if there
was any sign of Goodie black, but they were still
all covered by the heavy black cloths until those two
went up in flames. Then, while the four men were
still enthralled with their handiwork, there was a.
Speaker 6: Loud pop.
Speaker 2: And a ball of blue flames erupted from the house,
breaking all of the windows simultaneously and showering the men
with glass. They threw their arms up over their faces,
and the force of the blast knocked them backwards. When
they didn't get up, Sarah was worried that they had
been seriously hurt. Then she heard them coughing and choking
on the smoke that was billowing out.
Speaker 6: Of Goodie Black's burning house.
Speaker 2: It took a moment for the smell to reach Sarah's
hiding place, but when it did, she could understand why
the men were still on the ground. The acrid's bench
burned her nostrils and her throat, and she instinctively held
her breath, refusing to let whatever that foul odor was
into her lungs.
Speaker 5: We better get away from ear.
Speaker 2: Mouser jumped down from Sarah's arms and confidently walked in
the direction of the village, then looked back at Sarah,
waiting for her to follow. Once they were safely out
of sight of Black Farm, Sarah didn't bother to hide
herself in the forest. Goody Black was gone, her house
was burned to the ground. No one could accuse her
of anything.
Speaker 5: Now.
Speaker 2: It was a much quicker walk home, and when Sarah arrived,
she found her mother pacing and wringing her hands on
the porch. Sarah, alder, where have you been? No, don't
tell me or anyone else. Go to your room and
take that thing off your ankle? Is that is that
Goody Black's cat? Sarah looked at the cat, and then
looked at her mother. She took a moment to consider
her response before answering, no.
Speaker 6: Mother, good, Now go.
Speaker 2: Sarah obediently went to her room, Mouser confidently leading the way.
She was so exhausted and overwhelmed that it took her
a full minute to notice what lay on her bed.
Speaker 5: What's this?
Speaker 2: Sarah picked up the leather bound book, thinking that perhaps
her mother had left it for her. She opened it
to a middle page and saw a drawing of a
plant that she didn't recognize, alongside a handwritten note that
said for removing wartz. She leafed through the other pages
and saw dozens of similar drawings, notes, and Haler's verses.
Then she saw the final page, titled a Healer's Promise.
The ink was still fresh and smugged a little as
Sarah touched her finger to the page.
Speaker 3: When whispers swirl and rumors fly, and others cast their
judging eye, remembered child, to seek the truth beyond the
lies they tell in youth. With herbs and roots, you'll
hold the key to mend, to soothe, to set minds free.
The world will fear what they don't know, but trust
yourself and let love grow.
Speaker 5: Be curious, be kind.
Speaker 8: Be wise, never let the world blind your eyes. A
healer's heart, both strong and true, will guide the path
laid out for you. So wear this locket close and tight,
a symbol of your inner light, and never fear the unknown.
Call It's where you'll find the truth in all.
Speaker 2: Sarah looked down at where the book had lain on
her pillow and saw Goodie Black's gold locket. Well, she
supposed it was her locket now. She considered opening it,
but thought maybe it was okay to let Goodie Black
keep one last secret. Carefully, she put it around her
neck and talked it under her dress where no one
would see it. The moment the cool gold touched her
warm skin, Sarah felt the rush of blood through her veins. Suddenly,
her ankle didn't hurt anymore, not even a twinge. She
put her hand over her heart, where the locket made
a bump under her dress.
Speaker 3: Thank you, Goody, I won't let you down. Thanks for
listening to the Curse of botley Sedge. We hope you
enjoyed Sarah's journey and discovered like she did that sometimes.
Speaker 5: The scariest stories aren't what they seem.
Speaker 3: Stay curious, trust in kindness, and never let rumors write
your story.
Speaker 1: We're so grateful for your company on this adventure, and
we can't wait to share more seasonal tales with you
in the future.
Speaker 6: Until then, remember to stay speaking.
Speaker 1: The Curse of Botley's Hedge was written, produced, and performed
by the Warren Family. Sound effects and music provided by
Epidemic Sound. The main title theme was written by Arthur Benson.
Thanks again for listening and we'll see you next time.