Read Online A Journey of Temperance (The Adventures of Ichabod Temperance Book 9) by Ichabod Temperance - Free Book Online

out in the middle of them.
    Yep, this is nice. All these little blue flowers are so fragrant. They are about the sweetest thing I ever did smell.
    Well, I reckon I ought to be going. I need to go find the witch what lives in these woods.
    Yep, I need to get going. I’m gonna get me one more whiff of flowers, then I’m gonna get on the hoof. I got me a magic tool to swipe.
    Golly, I just can’t quite get myself to leave just yet. This is so pleasant. Standing here ain’t really that bad. I know I ought to be off doing something or other, but I’m sure it can wait.
    Mmm, flowers. They are so sweet. Mmm, hunh? I see someone heading this way.
    “Howdy Ma’am, my name is Ichabod Temperance. A sweet, little old lady like you ought to be careful wandering these here woods: there’s supposed to be an evil witch what lives around here!”
    “Heh, heh, heh, oh, thank ye, Ichabod Temperance. Oh, dearie me, a real witch, you say? Heh, heh, heh, what does she look like?”
    “Well, Ma’am, from what I understand, witches have big beak noses with a gnarly wart, green skin, and black hair what is frazzled in every direction. They wear wide-brimmed pointy hats that fall over in the middle and ride on broomsticks.”
    “Heh, heh, heh, I’ve never seen anyone that looked like that, my Ichabod.”
    “You ain’t? That’s good, Ma’am. Say, you ain’t the witch are you? No, I don’t reckon you are. You seem so nice.”
    “Heh, heh, heh, yes, Ichsy my pet, I am but an innocent, harmless old woman, living a simple life in these woods.”
    “What is your name, Ma’am.”
    “I am Witch Karrion. Oops! I mean, I am old maiden Marrion.”
    “Howdy Miss Marrion, Ma’am, it sure is a nice day, ain’t it?”
    “Heh, heh, heh, yes, my poor, thirsty, Ichsybody.”
    “Gosh, now that you mention it, I reckon I am a little thirsty.”
    “Heh, heh, heh, and a little famished, yes, heh, heh, heh, my tender little Icky?”
    “Golly, you sure enough nailed it on the head, Ma’am. I really want something, but I ain’t sure what it is.”
    “ E-e-eh-h-h , heh, heh, heh, heh! Perhaps you want, … an apple? E-e-eh-h-h , heh, heh, heh, heh! E-e-eh-h-h , heh, heh, heh, heh! E-e-eh-h-h , heh, heh, heh, heh!”
    “Yes, Ma’am, Miss Marrion Ma’am! Golly gee whillikers, how did you know? Gosh, I’d give most anything to have an apple right now.”
    “Heh, heh, heh, oh, my scrumptious boy, would you like for me to produce an apple?”
    “Woo, wee, oh boy, would I? You bet, Ma’am!”
    “Heh, heh, heh, well, let me look into my pocket. Heh, heh, heh, I have a pinch of magic powder that might do the trick, so to speak.”
    Dreams of pleasure,
    illusions of joy,
    help me to,
    entrap this boy.
    Apple so red,
    juice so sweet,
    nothing to dread,
    go ahead and eat.
    Basest magic,
    to powder I blow,
    Tree of Enslavement,
    grow, grow, grow!
    “I thought you were offering me an apple, but all you did was sing a little song and blow that sparkly, glowing powder all over that dead tree stump.”
    “Heh, heh, heh, but look, my pet, your apple comes.”
    “Hunh? Really? Where? Oh, I see, the tree stump looks like it is coming alive! A fresh trunk is pushing its way up through the hollow center. Now it is pushing out branches. Look Miss Maid Marrion, it is sprouting leaves, too!”
    “Heh, heh, heh, let’s see, where’s that apple? Heh, heh, heh.”
    “One branch is extending out towards me where I stand in this little pasture of flowers. Oh, looky there, Miss Maid Marrion, Ma’am, a single apple has suddenly bloomed, swelling into life, just where I can reach it.”
    “You want it, don’t you, Icky?”
    “Oh, yes, Ma’am!”
    “Then take it!”
    “Yes, Ma’am, I got it!”
    “Take a bite, Ichabod!”
    “Yes, Ma’am!”
    ~chomp!~
    “Now you are mine, forever! E-e-eh-h-h , heh, heh, heh, heh!”
    “Hunh? What did you say?” ~chomp, chomp.~
    “Oh, nothing, dearie. Is the apple to your liking, my sweet pet?”
    ~chomp, chomp.~