England eldor more hopelessly in lovo “Elder Noyse, if I must tell you," than the young pastor of Salem. How answered More, slowly, but very rehe could wish to marry such a mere solutely, “I do not wish her to marry chit of a girl, who had not even been an elder. Her character is not fitted sobered by the solemn vows of church for such a union as that; it would crush membership, was more than the serious her nature, and make her whole life unand somewhat matter-of-fact people of happy! No, she shall not marry an the village could understand. How- elder.' ever, none of them liked to interfere in The face of Noyse, which had passed the matter by remonstrance; for the successively through the phases of elders of that time did very nearly hope, surprise, disappointment and grief, what was right in their own eyes, like now flushed with an expression very sithe Hebrews, when there was no judge milar to anger. "Master More," said in Israel, and so for a while the love. he, “are you dealing justly by your lorn minister went on very quietly and daughter, to sit in judgment on her zealously in his courtship. But one whole future, without in the least conevening of late May, when the air was sulting her pleasure ?" half daylight and half moonlight, be “Hold there, sir," responded More, was seen in front of the cabin, talking in a tone of decided sharpness. "do with a very sad earnestness of manner man shall say that I put fetters on my to Master More.

child's will. I will call her; and you · Nay, hear me out, sir,” he said, shall bear what she wishes from her with a slight tremor in his voice. “I own mouth." propose not to have her shoulder at He started toward the door of the caonce such a grave responsibility. She bin, as if to summon Rachel; but Noyse shall have full time to prepare herself,

followed him, and, gazing earnestly in for thus bearing, in a peculiar manner, his eyes, stopped him; for it was visible the yoke of holiness. If you choose, in More's face that he knew, and had let her enter some devout family in tho exactly repeated, his daughter's mind. village, and there abide a year, or two "No," the elder murmured; “ do not years, if needs be, in expectation and call her. I could not hear it from her. in preparation. I would recommend Forgive my ipsistance. I am suffor that purpose the household of your ficiently answered, at least for the pressister's husband, the devout Deacon

ent." Bowson."

His voice trembled, and was almost “Worse and worse, reverend sir," inaudible ; but he steadied it again with replied More. "One would imagine, a firmness inspired by habits of selffrom your proposition, that I am not fit control and a sense of priestly dignity. to fashion the mind of my own child. He observed that the shadows of evening It is no compliment. But I pass that by, were falling, and that he must go to his and return to my objection. She is too home in Salem ; even as the Christian, young-too young to marry a gentle when the shadows of death gather man of your profession; too young to about him, must go to his home in be betrothed to any one."

heaven. He shook hands with More, - Master More," interrupted Noyse, turned away abruptly, and disappeared with a growing vehemence of emotion, in the hazy moonlight. . “I cannot be answered thus-truly I “Is he gone, father ?" presently cannot. This agonizes my heart-in- asked a timid voice, almost a whisper, deed it does. I did not expect it, and from one of the little front windows of it overcomes me. Let me plead with the cabin. you, not to despise my affection. It is “ Ab, you are there, Rachel. Yes, no frail-fangled fancy that you are op

Come here and talk to posing-no sudden freak of flighty de- Do you know what he wantsire ; but, the most earnest feeling that ed?" over I had, with regard to the things of "N-no, father,” stammered Rachel, this world. I have prayed over it, sir very much as if she knew all about -yes, with groans and tears seeking di- it. rection from above, and I do believe “He wanted to marry you, and I told that I have a far bigber blessing than him no. Are you sorry ?" even yours on the design. Oh, sir, do • No, father." not stand in the way of it."

“Are you glad ?"

.

he is gone.

me.

“ Yes, father."

CHAPTER VII. Meantime, the elder went homeward in a whirl of emotions which carried THROUGH azure

mornings, barred him on wings, as it were, insensible of and spotted with clouds, through slantdistance. He had been taken una- ing rains lighted up with noontide, wares : he had not prepared himself through gorgeous sunsets of many for such a humiliation; and in bis sur- variegations, the spring had drifted by prise Satan gained an advantage over and sailed into past eternities. The him, so that his spirit, lately so loving; splendid noon of a New England year reeled sharply into a reaction, which ali was rising toward its zenith, flinging his conscientious efforts could not free over Puritandom the last gloss of an from a jar of anger. He was astonished emerald verdure and the deepest flush to find himself at his own gate; still of desert flowers. An air musky with more astonished at the sinful frame of leaves and blossoms swayed in and out mind in which he stood there. “Elder of the open doors and windows of Salem Noyse, Elder Noyse, mamma wants to village, on a stainless day of early June. see you,” screamed little Sarah Carrier The dew was still on the grass, and from the kitchen door as he entered the glittered through the countless cobhall; but the poor, disconsolate man webs spun along the roadside like diaheard her not, or minded her not, in monds through fairy mantles. his whirlwind of affliction; and, hurry- What did the reverend Elder Parris ing to his chamber, he knelt down and think of the morning, as he stared out prayed with an anguish which would upon it through bis study-window ! have made Rachel herself pity him, Not much, if one might judge by the could she have been its witness. At abstracted, ungenial, and almost ranwhat hour he went to sleep-how much corous expression of his features. Ugly he slept-how much he prayed-he as the comparison is, his face looked never could have told, not to save his like a malignant cancer in that broad life. His last thought was that he glow of healthful nature. Evidently he should feel better when he woke; that drew no joy from the inexhaustible the edge of his annoyance would be in ocean of sunlight; felt no sympathy a measure blunted; but the first dull, with the sweet bird-bymns, trilling & hopeless, unforgetful moment of con- happiness beyond human utterance. sciousness harsbly undeceived him. Other things occupied his spirit; subTheu came day after day of changeful jects more akin to his gloomy characunrest; incessant, painful revolvings ter; persecutions of witches and temptaaround his disappointment; eager tides tions of devils; an array of witnesses of hope, ebbing quickly in troubled and judges, closed by a creaking gibrevulsion; and, over all, driving storms bet. In sad truth, he bad weightier of sbame and repentance at his lack of affairs to attend to than the gay meloChristian resignation.

dies of birds and the humanizing smile Truly," observed Elder Higginson, of summer. He had depositions to on the very next Sunday, "what a new

arrange, authorities to collate, and legal gift my young colleague seems to have ! arguments to examine. What remarkable enlargement be ex- Bridget Bishop was to be put upon capi. hibited to-day!"

tal trial for arts of sorcery practiced “Yes," replied the old minister's against persons of his own household tidy wife, “I did indeed observe in him and blood; and if the accusation were an unusual earnestness of humility, not sustained, Sadducism would triumph, penitence, and holy desire.”

Satan would rago unchecked, Gallios Very little, indeed, do we mortals would be more careless than ever of know of each other's hearts, even when the church, and, worse than all, his own we stand in the distinctest manner be- character and positiou might suffer. fore each other's faces. Elder Higgin- So, having thrown his window open, son and bis wife saw nothing of the and drawn a breath of fresh air, he sat wretchedness which stirred up the himself down to a table covered with depths of Noyse's nature, and which books and manuscripts, many of which was the cause, rather the very being, were confessions drawn up at the great of that seemingly new vehemence of examination of witches which took place Christian emotion.

on the eleventh of April in the First Church of Salem. Opening one after

That day

peace ?"

66

66

another of the dingy quartos and oc- To corroborate her woeful tale, Elitavos, he examined and reinforced his zabeth rolled into the room from the previous margival references to import- kitchen, spioning over and over with ant and appropriate passages. In the great rapidity and very little regard to absence of the royal charter, the court appearances, until she came in enerwbich had been called was a hasty and getic contact with her father's legs. informal one, the best that could be had *Oh!" she screamed. “They have made in Salem's pressing necessity. It was a top of me! They have put a string destitute of any prosecuting attorney, around me, and spin me like a top. and this deficiency Parris bad been Bridget Bishop whips me and whirls me. called on to fill, not only by letters Yea, sho torments mo !" from men in authority, but also, as he “Nefardous fiends !” exclaimed Parris. felt, by the voice of God. He worked “O Lord ! cannot these unseen furies bard and zealously, therefore, rewarded be forced to leave my housebold in even as he went by the congenial nature of his oocupation.

No, no!" shrieked the girl ; "thoy In an hour his work was completed, will not leave me in peace. They say fit, as he boped, to stand any atheistical I shall not go to the trial. They say trial; and, leaving his study, he passed they will kill me if I go." into the sitting-room, also used as a ". They shall let you go !" roared Pardining-room. The table was set, but as ris. They shall not prevent your yet bare of eatables. Mistress Parris," evidence. Rise up! rise up, I say, and he exclaimed, in a loud grating voice, struggle against them. There inust be " is not the breakfast prepared? I a stop to this. We can lose no more commanded it at seven of the clock. time, What is the reason of this delay? Is "No!" persisted Elizabeth, bringing not the time short? Must we not work her voice up to its sharpest pitch ; " I while it is day? So say the scriptures. cannot go, I shall die if I do." And Will any one answer that they are she kicked and struggled with all her false ?" A stout, dumpy woman of about strength, in downright resistance of his forty, with a fat flabby and vulgar face, efforts to raise her and hold her quiet. rushed into the room, her hands lifted “ Away, thou invisible demon !" in a gesture of deprecation. “Spouse," cried the minister, striking furiously continued the minister, with his most about the girl, and in so doing giving gravelly harshness of accent, “is this her, as if by accident, two or three your worthy diligence ? Must the ser- hearty cuffs.

God forgive me for vant of the Lord be kept from his work hitting my poor afflicted child !" he exfor lack of food to give him strength ? claimed; but, at the same time he held Is this an occasion to waste precious ber up firmly with a grasp of iron. hours ? No, certainly, I deny it. It is Elizabeth looked in his stern eyes, and not a time to waste them. At pine of suddenly became quiet." Tho spectre is the clock I must stand before rulers and gone," she said ; and, falling back into men in authority. But baste, hasta, her mother's arms, began to cry loudly I say, and no more tarrying !"

and excitedly. • Laws and testimonies, 0 Elder Parris, forgive me!" ex- Elizabeth," exclaimed the fat, good-naclaimed his weaker balf, with a smile of tured woman,

. don't twitter so; yer the most unctuous and pleading affeo- father's here by, and the Lord's above tion. "Oh laws and testimonies! Oh, all.” who'd ever thought it was half so late ? “I don't want to go to the court," But, laws and testimonies ! you don't sobbed the girl, beginning to kick again ; know how them witches and spirits bas " and Abigail don't want to go.

We're rabbled us this morning. First, thog afеard to go.” And hero she broke upset the gridiron, and got the pork in into a timid spasm of squeals and strugthe ashes ; and then they upset the gles, looking furtively meantime at her spider, and spoiled the cake ; and then father. "Oh laws !" gasped Mrs. Pardear little Elizabeth had fits; and then ris. “Oh, here's another manufestaAbigail had fits; and then Tituba had tion! Who ever heard of a family so fits; and then John had fits; and, oh tormented ? Surely, this is the foro laws and testimonies! we've had such end of the runner. a time ! such prestigerous manufesta- " The forerunner of the bend, you tions."

mean, spouse,” said ber busbaud, going VOL. 11.-2

å

to the mantel-piece, and taking down a surely make us swear on the Bible ? rawhide. “ We must, at all events, ave I don't want to take oath, and Abigail an end of this unseemly interruption," don't want to either." be continued, coming up to Mercy. Child," replied Parris grimly, “give “Child, tell me if you see any spectres, not way to notions of the devil. Be and let me smite at them."

not afraid to utter testimony against his “I don't see any," said the girl servants. Will not God look down to quickly, fixing her eyes on the whip protect you ? and will not I, your fawith a slight shiver.

ther, be there by your side ? Yea, as “Do you feel better now ?” he asked God liveth and as my soul liveth.” in the same hard, steady tone.

He took down the cowhide again, and “Yes, I feel better. It is all over slapped it against his heavy riding now. I don't see 'em any more." boots, with such meaning that Mercy

“ Are you sure that they are quite gave her cousin a look of whimpering gone ?" he persisted without softening despair, and suffered herself to be his manner.

quietly led away. Parris now went to "Oh, yos! Ob dear! yes. I don't the stable, and hurried up John Indian, think they will come back soon. Yes, who was saddling the gray pare. In a I heard them say that they dared not few minutes, old Grizzle, and another come back now."

horse, borrowed from Nathaniel PutWith a menacing frown, which, whe- nam, stood before the parsonage waitther meant for the spirits or not, evi. ing for their riders. The whole family dently bad a terrifying effect on the came out to the gate ; Tituba was orchild, he turned away and replaced the dered to march ahead on foot; Jobp cowhide. “Now, spouse," said he, was to mount Grizzle, with Abigail be" let us see that breakfast quickly, and bind him; Parris reserved good-man let the girls be ready to eat it with us." Putnam's more showy charger for him

Mrs. Parris made no response, and self and Elizabeth. The saddle-bags toddled Elizabeth burriedly into the were crammed with manuscripts and kitchen. In threo minutes more the quartos ; and the broad skirts of Parris's table was smoking with pork steaks, coat stuck out bulkily with smaller vobaked beans, fried turnips, clam chow- lumes. Now, whether Putnam's bony der, and hot corn-cakes. The family, Bucephalus felt the potency of these Elizabeth and Abigail included, stood weird publications drawing like a blister while Parris said a grace of remarkable through his saddle, or whether the brevity and crustiness. Then, sitting devil took occasion to enter into him for down, he rolled up his sleeves, and pro- the annoyance of our devout minister, ceeded to help all bands with astonish- at all events, suddenly, and without the ing celerity: It was wonderful what an least apparent reason, he broke out in appetite the entire household was a most diabolical and outrageous doblessed with, and its head had cer- monstration. Giving a fierce scream, tainly been favored in this respect with be reared high in the air, and then a double benediction. It seemed as if came down on his fore-foot, throwing out be must be furnished with such a bag as his hind ones with amazing quickness Jack the Giant-killer made use of to and energy. Parris tried to scramble slay his Brobdignagian captor by ple- out of the way; but, those devil-directed thora, so immense was the capacity of heels just reached him in the rear, with deglutition that he exhibited. The per- a force that would have done him irrespiration stood on his forehead, the parable damage, but for the satanic reins of his throat swelled, and he literature which stored his pockets; and, looked like a man in the first stages of even as it was, he was kicked & yard or choking. Not a word was spoken, and two, straight forward, falling on all the meal was down in fifteen minutes. fours with his nose in a bed of thistles. Then, taking a prodigious draught of ci- “Oh lawk, suz!" screamed Mrs. Parris, der, Parris wiped his mouth on his sleeve, throwing up her hands, “was that a and rose at a jerk from the table. manufestation ?" “ Spouse," said he, "get those girls John Indian picked up his master, ready for court, and call me if tho de- and then ran to hold the mischievous mons binder.”

quadruped. But there was no need of • Father," whined Elizabeth, as her his interference; the animal's ucacmother hauled bor away, “will they countable excitement had passed as

quickly as it came; and he hung his being of Rachel; that she might be head as meekly, as if he had never blessed in this life; that she might be tasted oats in his life ; which, indeed, sanctified for futurity; that she might was very likely. The elder came up be fitted for the responsibility he longed to him, pale (except his nose) with fright to share with her; that heaven would and, perhaps, rage ; but, he repressed please to give her to him as his comany outburst of violence, to avoid scan- forter in this vale of sorrow. “I wondalizing a group of approaching parish. der what ails the elder, to keep so much ioners. After some cautious hesitation, to bimself," muttered Martha Carrier, and a good many whos! and soothings, as she walked about the house, scrubthe interesting family all mounted and bing and brushing in a dissatisfied bupaced soberly off toward Salem. AU mor of low spirits. “I don't expect the way Parris harangued wayfarers, on him to court me any more—I don't foot and on horseback, bound in the want to have him court me,I hate same direction ; related awful manifesta. him; but I think he might just speak to tions, thundered against Goody Bishop, me once in a while. He won't let and denounced the prevailing unbelief Sarah into his room either. She caught of the times.

him on his knees once." Very different was the manner in Thus it must not be supposed that which Elder Noyse approached the mo- Noyse's feelings were easily visible in mentous event of this summer day. his outward life, or that they interfered Enveloped in the trancing haze of love, with the discharge of his ordinary pub. the early incidents of the delusion wan- lic duties. He preached as earnestly dered by him half unnoticed, like me- as usual, presided at his ordinary weekteors passing the eyelids and only in ly prayer meeting, and, to most eyes, part shaking the sleep of one wrapped appeared like his previous self. Inin delicious dreams. And when his deed, it is probable that he would not cruel disappointment came, it so en- have been 60 inwardly disturbed, but tangled him in misery, that, for some for that sense of religion which forever days, be thought of scarcely any other mingled with the emotions of bis strong. thing in the world. Presently his re- ly emotional character, and gave them ligious sentiments mingled with it; he á fearful significance as bearing upon began to hope that Providence was eternity as well as upon time. This it using this cross for his spiritual benefit; was that intensified the struggle, and and that, when its object was accom- spread it out over all the capacities of plished, it would be withdrawn. There- bis nature. He could not diminish bis fore, be pleaded passionately that it love at the bidding of bis conscience; might purify him ; yet with a miserable but he could be keenly miserable as he half consciousness that he only desired gazed on the contest between these two this purity for the sake of its expected mighty conflicting influences. reward-Rachel. It was noticeable Thus, while godly children were that he never asked for a final disap- afflicted, church members were cried pointment to his hopes, provided they out upon, and the devil roared day and were evil in their nature or object. That night through Salem, Elder Noyse rewas an abyss of resignation to which mained the most indifferent of Ġallios. his conscience often pointed, but into He had, it is true, occasional twinges which his heart could never find cour- of conscience at his selfish, slothful inage to plunge. Often he was violently activity; but it was not until the light impressed, as if from above, that he of this morning of trial broke in upon ought to give up this girlish idol, and him, that he was startled into a vividly then a terrible struggle took place be- keen sense of duty unfulfilled, and duty tween his sense of earthly love and his impending. He also, like Elder Parris, sense of spiritual duty; the result of looked out of bis window, upon this which was that he felt tempted to cast regal morning, at the glorified spectacle out Christ from his heart, as a deity of birds, flowers, dew-drops, sunlight whom it was too hard to propitiate. and shadow. But he saw them very But there was one theme on which vaguely and dimly, as one

sees the his supplications were not only fervent mingled images of half-remembered from the uttermost depths of a sensitive dreams. Suddenly he struck his band passionate nature, but to their very on the window-sill, and muttered: “Yea marrow sincere. This was the well- the trial is upon us; the great of the