Dulcibel: A Tale of Old Salem. Henry Peterson

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СКАЧАТЬ Putnam (another of the brothers) then gave in his evidence, saying that he had seen Mistress Ann Putnam, and the other accusers, grievously tormented again and again, and declaring that Rebecca Nurse was the person who did it.

      "These are serious charges, Mistress Nurse," said Squire Hathorne, "are they true?"

      "I have told you that they are false. Why, I was confined to my sick bed at the time it is said they occurred."

      "But did you not send your spectre to torment them?"

      "How could I? And I would not if I could."

      Here Mistress Putnam was taken with another fit. Worse than the other, which greatly affected the whole people. Coming to a little, she cried out: "Did you not bring the black man with you? Did you not tell me to tempt God and die? Did you not eat and drink the red blood to your own damnation?"

      These words were shrieked out so wildly, that all the people were greatly agitated and murmured against such wickedness. But the prisoner releasing her hand for a moment cried out, "Oh, Lord, help me!"

      "Hold her hands," some cried then, for the afflicted persons seemed to be grievously tormented by her. But her hands being again firmly held by the guards, they seemed comforted.

      Then the worthy magistrate Hathorne said, "Do you not see that when your hands are loosed these people are afflicted?"

      "The Lord knows," she answered, "that I have not hurt them."

      "You would do well if you are guilty to confess it; and give glory to God."

      "I have nothing to confess. I am as innocent as an unborn child."

      "Is it not strange that when you are examined, these persons should be afflicted thus?"

      "Yes, it is very strange."

      "Do you believe these afflicted persons are bewitched?"

      "I surely do think they must be."

      Weary of the proceedings and the excitement, the aged lady allowed her head to droop on one side. Instantly the heads of the accusers were bent the same way.

      Abigail Williams cried out, "Set up Mistress Nurse's neck, our necks will all be broken." The jailers held up the prisoner's neck; and the necks of all the accused were instantly made straight again. This was considered a marvelous proof; and produced a wonderful effect upon the magistrates and the people. Mistress Ann Putnam went into such great bodily agony at this time, charging it all upon the prisoner, that the magistrates gave her husband permission to carry her out of the house. Only then, when no longer in the sight of the prisoner, could she regain her peace.

      "Mistress Nurse was then recommitted to the jail in Salem, in order to further examination."

      "What deviltry is coming next?" said Joseph Putnam to his friend.

      Many of those around glared on the speaker, but he was well known to all of them as a daring – and when angered even a desperate young man – and they allowed him to say with impunity, freely what no one else could even have whispered. His son in after years, looked not into the wolf's eyes in the dark den with a sterner gaze, than he looked into the superstitious and vengeful wolves' eyes around him.

      "To think that a godly old woman like Mistress Nurse, should be tormented by this Devil's brood of witches, led on by that she-devil sister of mine, Ann Putnam."

      Many around heard him, but none cared to meet the young man's fierce eyes, as they blazed upon those that were nearest.

      "Do control yourself, my friend," whispered Master Raymond. "Preserve yourself for a time when your indignation may do some good."

      Then the constable brought in a little girl of about five years of age, Dorcas Good, a daughter of Sarah Good, who had been arrested on the complaint of Edward and Jonathan Putnam.

      The evidence against this little girl of five was overwhelming. Mistress Ann Putnam, Mercy Lewis, and Mary Walcott were the accusers – charging the innocent and pretty little creature with biting, pinching and choking them – the little girl smiling while they were giving their testimony. She was not old enough to understand what it was all about, and that even her life was in danger from these demoniacs. They absolutely pretended to show the marks of her little teeth in their arms. Then, after going through the usual convulsions, they shrieked out that she was running pins into them; and the pins were found on examination sticking into their bodies.

      The little girl was, as I have said, at first inclined to laugh at all the curious proceedings, and the spasms and contortions of the witnesses, but at last, seeing everyone so solemn and looking so wickedly at her, she began to cry; until Joseph Putnam went up to her and gave her some sweet cake to eat, which he had provided for his own luncheon and then, looking into his kind face, she began to smile again.

      The Magistrates frowned upon Master Putnam, as he did this, but he paid no attention to their frowns. And when the little girl was ordered back to jail as a prisoner to await her trial, he bent down and kissed her before she was led away by the constable.

      This was the end of the proceedings for that day and the crowd began to disperse.

      "This is a pretty day's work you have made of it, sister-in-law," said Joseph Putnam, striding up to his brother's wife. "You say that you are tormented by many devils, and I believe it. Now I want to give you, and all the Devil's brood around you, fair warning that if you dare to touch with your foul lies any one belonging to my house including the stranger within my gates, you shall answer it with your lives, in spite of all your judges and prisons."

      So saying, he glared at his two brothers, who made no reply, and walked out of the meeting-house in which this ungodly business had been transacted.

      "Oh, it is only Joe," said Thomas Putnam; "he always was the spoiled child of the family."

      His wife said nothing, but soon a hard, bitter smile took the place of the angry flush that the young man's words had produced. Dulcibel Burton was not one of his household, nor within his gates.

      CHAPTER XII.

      Burn Me, or Hang Me, I Will Stand in the Truth of Christ

      After the trial and conviction of Bridget Bishop, the Special Court of seven Judges – a majority of whom were leading citizens of Boston, the Deputy Governor of the Province, acting as Chief-Justice – decided to take further counsel in this wonderful and important matter of the fathers of the church. So the Court took a recess, while it consulted the ministers of Boston and other places, respecting its duty in the case. The response of the ministers, while urging in general terms the importance of caution and circumspection, recommended the earnest and vigorous carrying on of the war against Satan and his disciples.

      Among the new victims, one of the most striking cases was that of George Jacobs and his grand-daughter Margaret. The former was a venerable-looking man, very tall, with long, thin white hair, who was compelled by his infirmities to support himself in walking with two staffs. Sarah Churchill, a chief witness, against him, was a servant in his family; and probably was feeding in this way some old grudge.

      "You accuse me of being a wizard," said the old man on his examination; "you might as well charge me with being a buzzard."

      They asked the accused to repeat the Lord's prayer. And Master Parris, the minister, who acted as a reporter, said "he could not repeat it right after many trials."

      "Well," СКАЧАТЬ