I remember my mom talking about a lady who went by the name of Mary Hurt who roamed the hills and, from time-to-time, would stop by for a visit. I don't know how Mary's last name was spelled, whether it was Hurt, Hirt, or Hert. I'm not even sure that that was her real name.

Mary seemed to just show up out of the blue and, remarkably, was apparently welcomed into whoever's home she happened to arrive. Of course, when Mary would come to visit, my mom was still a young girl. Some of her memories of Mary may reflect that (such is often the case with folklore). But whatever the case, mom's memories were still vivid in her mind when she shared them with me and my sisters.

It seemed that Mary did not have a home of her own -- apparently, she had no family either. No-one was sure what events in life brought Mary to roam the mountains around War.

She was an 'older lady' who wore several layers of clothing (all of the clothes that she owned). And she was always a bit un-kept. What could one expect from someone who lived in the forests? I suppose she may have looked somewhat like a gypsy. But that's my own personal imagery speaking.

Mary would show up at different times, no real method or madness to her dropping in. She would stay a day or two and then she would be gone and no-one would see or hear of her for days, weeks, months, etc.

During her visit, she would conjur up medicines from the herbs and spices she had collected in the hills. She could, apparently, prepare concoctions that would cure all types of illnesses and malodies. For this, she was revered.

But she also was known to cast spells. And because of that, my mom and her family were always a bit frightened of her. Mary could also (reportedly) predict future events, etc.

When she left, the day bed that Mary slept in at night would be washed down. Mary, unfortunately, seemed to have lice.