land are here; the eleventh hour is at the justice was not at home, and noband; and I have not yet entered into body knew where he had gone. Noyse the vineyard !"

sought him in various directions, and • If you please, Elder Noyse," said finally hurried to the residence of his a little voice interrupting him, “the faithful Deacon Bowson. He passed breakfast is ready."

through the yard without being noticed, It was Sarah Carrier standing in the scraped bis feet on the step, and was partly-open door, ber bright black eyes about to enter without rapping at the wandering curiously over the books, half-open door, when he was arrested by papers, and other objects scattered a murmur of conversation from the sitaround that awful sanctum, the study. ting-room, in which be distinguished the “Child," said the minister, “how often sound of his own name. The inner bave I told you never to enter bere door, like the outer one, was ajar, 80 without having knocked, and been that, although he could not see the bidden!"

speakers, he could recognize their “ If you please, Elder Noyse," re- tones. Ho paused irresolutely, and his plied the girl, with a ready lie, “I heart vibrated ; for the voice which had knocked once, and never heard you say spoken of him was Rachel's. Somenothing."

what to bis surprise, it was Martha " It might well be," muttered Noyse. Carrier who responded. The minister “I was in a meditation, it is true." listened, almost against his will, move

He passed into the ball, and thence less with astonishment and anger. into the sitting-room, while Sarah ran “Rachel,” said Martha, “mind ye it before him to open the doors, and then well. Never marry that Noyse! Never ran back to close them. The minister love him ! He has a traitor spirit, and found bis breakfast-table set, and Mar- will break any heart to please his whim tha Carrier standing beside it with fold- for change. I told your father so; but. ed arms.

"Good morning, Elder lest he should forget it, I came to tell Noyse,” said she kindly. “I hope it you, also. Remember." you bave slept well."

“I have no need to remember it, “Ill, Martha," he replied, examining Martha," responded that voice, which the expression of her eye, “but thanks was the sweetest in the world to the to you equally."

“I never shall love He felt more humble than usual, from him; never can love him. He will neva consciousness that he had lately been er bo my husband so long as the sun inefficient in his duties, and that, before shines." night, Elder Parris would stand far While the listener's bead whirled, ahead of him in the estimation of his and the light grew dim around him in people, as a faithful and energetic pas- the doorway, Martha walked suddenly tor. Ho, therefore, accompanied these into the ball, and confronted him. She words with a smile of kindly fellowship. started back, repeated his name in a Martha seemed grateful for it, and tone of consternation; seemed as if husbed Sarah, who was making some she were about to fall on her knees to poise with her chair against the table- bim; but, suddenly recovering herself, legs. The meal was a short one, and hurried by him into the street. Word. passed for the most part in silence. less and gestareless be let her go, and Little Sarah had a mind to talk half-a- only turned to look after her when she dozen times, bat invariably checked had reached a considerable distanco, herself by a look at the serious elder; Then, with an agitated start, he hurried for even sbe, bold and ill-corrected as to the inner room, in hopes of finding her little temper was, had learned to be Rachel, and telling her something-no afraid of ministers. Very glad, there matter what anything to make her fore, was she, when Noyso left tho think better of him; anything to make room, and she could rattle on boister. her revoke that sentence of death which ously to ber unanswering mother. she had passed upon his heart. Tbe

Noyse took his hat in silence, passed room was empty; he rapped on the out of the parsonage, and walked rapidly door; no one responded; he rapped to the bouse of Justice Hawthorné. again, and called aloud. After two He wanted to learn the final arrange- minutes of precious time had elapsed, ments for the trial, and whether he was Hannah made herself visible in the to have any part in conducting it. But kitchen, cautiously, and with round eyes

poor minister.

peering into the shadowy keeping-room, rier. She paused in her housework, 6. Oh, lawk! dear me, Elder Noyse!" and tried to face bim with her unsteady she exclaimed, dropping & courtesy. eyes; but her neck flushed into red “ Lawk! I thought praps t'was a witch, spots, and her lips quivered in spite of beggin yer pardin. I seed Mistress all compression. "Good-wife Carrier,” Rachel scootin away through the gardin said he, and he was surprised at the to Master Stanton's, lookin dreadful hoarseness and weakness of his voice, scary like. I thought praps there was

" the hour has come for us to part. I a witch, and I didn't like to come in, have discovered a serpent in my bosom ; beggin yer pardin."

and no one can blame me if I cast it "So! Mistress Rachel is gone ?” he out. Unwittingly and unwillingly this said angrily

morn, I was led to where I could not “ Yes, sir, I just seed her scootin help hearing your slanders against me. away through the

garden, dreadful scary Is it not a shame, that you, a seeming like, and I thought, praps"

member of Christ, should seek to defile • Where is Deacon Bowson ?" he ask- the garments and weaken the hands of ed, interrupting her.

a minister of Christ? Remember, too, “ Ob, sir, that's jist what I was goin that for these weeks now, that ministo ask you, sir. He's gone away; and ter has harbored you, although you Teague-what's a name, he's gona arter are accused of witchcraft. Go! get tohim, sir; and mistress Bowson, she's gether your worldly goods, and pass out gone arter 'em both, sir ; and I was jist of his door once again and forever!' about to ask you, if so be, as praps

"I will do so, Elder Noyse,” replied you'd seen any on 'em. Mistress Ra. Martha, struggling to assume an air of chel was a stayin with me, waitin for scorn, and to speak firmly. “I only her father, but she's gone, too; and answer one thing, and that is, that you bein here all alone, in these conjura- have talked very differently to me more tions times, it's dreadful scary like, than once, in this very room. You sir."

have harbored me against liars, it is Hannah seemed to be rather in hopes true, but you owed me as much as that, that the minister would stay with her, and more also.” until the return of the family, and so She sprang out of the kitchen, before prevent her from being scared any fur- he could reply, and barried to her ther. But she was disappointed, for chamber under one of the gables. he turned short on his heel, hurried out There, sometimes laughing to herself of the door, and made for his own dwell- fiercely, sometimes changing into quick ing. He met Master Hawthorne, and angry tears, she put her few clothes inwould have passed him without a recog. to a large basket, and dressed herself nition, had not the deep-chested justice and her child to go. Carrying the basvociferously arrested his attention. ket in one hand, and leading Sarah by “Hold, Elder Noyse !" he said. “I have tho other, she went down stairs. Tho been seeking for you all the morning. tears bad dried on her burning face, and I bave beenspecially requested, by the Noyse saw only a smile of insolent brahonorable judges, io entreat you that vado, as she passed him in the hall, and you would open

the court with a suit- made bim her last courtesy. Not a able prayer."

word was spoken, except by the little “ Master Hawthorne, excuse me," girl, who said : “ Are we going away, returned Noyse. “Ask the honorable mother! Oh, I am so glad! I don't court to excuse me. Let Elder Parris, or like Elder Noyse. Do you, mother? any one else, perform the function. I I don't.” am in no fit mood for edifying public As Noyse sat there alone, his

pasprayer to day. Pray for me, brother : sion at Martha gradually fell, and be my temptations are grievous, though I remembered only the words of Rachel. may not mention them."

Ever and ever, they hatefully repeated Ånd be hurried away, leaving the themselves : " He shall never be my hus magistrate to wonder what could be the band so long as the sun shines.” It was nature of those spiritual assaults which she then, she herself, who rejected him; so perplexed and harassed the soul of and at moments he felt even furious to the minister. Noyse continued bis wards her. Once, in the vibrations of course without looking back, and, enter- bis spirit throught many thoughts, it ing his kitchen, confronted Martha Car- struck him that he ought to pray; but be repulsed the impression, with a feel- ritans was like bis visage ; equally ining of rebellion at that heaven which completo as an utterance of his fervent seemed to be crossing his purposes. credences; equally reserved, considerFinally, the shrill clamor of the bell, ate and tranquil in its phraseology; its ringing for court, startled him from that very tones slow, nasal, and quiet. weary round of sullen and purposeless "Are we certain of Deputy Governor reveries. He locked bis doors, turned Stoughton ?" said one old gentleman, away from the deserted dwelling, and with a peculiarly orthodox cut to his walked alone toward the First Church. solemn face, and his prim, low collar, Numbers of people, who passed or “I hope that be bath no taint of Saddumet bim, salutad him, and hē returned cism." their salutations, but with a feeling of “I can answer for Master Stoughimpatient irritation at being thus dis- ton” replied that tall, hawk-nosed, turbed. He tried to collect himself sbarp-chinned, gray-eyed, slow-spoknow; tried to be resigned to the dispen- en patricien of Salem, Justice Corwin. sation that was upon him; but the ef- “He is Israel's stoutest judge ; he is fort was always lost in a new reverie, no fainting Eli, but a true Samuel, as wbich swept him into another angry our Agags in Essex county will soon whirlpool. It was still the religious discover." element in his character which chiefly “God grant the others may be like contributed to his confusion; for bo him," said a strong, bull-necked man, noticed, over and over again, that no- chiefly noticeable for heavy jaws, highthing so stirred up his rage, shame, and check-bones, and in general a rather anguish as the consciousness that he Indian style of figure-bead. “But what was striving against Providence. Vex- do we know of all these Winthrops, and ed and mortified, he reached the crowd- Sewalls, and Saltonstalls ? There be ed broadening of the street in front of too many Boston men, I say, to judge the meeting-house.

Salem's affairs rightly. Who's going

to tell me that they be justly sensible of CHAPTER VIII.

the awful state of our town? I wish we THE tumult in the unlucky minister's could hang our own witches without mind, was not greater than the exterior asking their opinions.' tumult into which he entered. The "Let us have confidence, Goodman trial of Goody Bishop bad filled the Herrick," struck in a small, thin elder, little town with a murmuring, uneasy whose name, it seems, was Hale, and tide of strong excitement. Scores on who was the pastor of Beverly. scores of citizens had left their occupa- may cheerfully expect a good issue. tions; women had run away from their God will not suffer our judges to be housewifery and their spinning-wheels; blinded with regard to this prestigious farmers had ridden in from the country sinner. She is an ancient, notorious, and the surrounding villages; elders, cognoscible offender." magistrates and social magnates, bad Ay, ay," replied Herrick; “chargarrived from as far as Boston; and all ed with witchcraft twenty year agone. these people were drifting in currents Ought to been hung then. Magistrates and eddies of eager curiosity before the always too milk and watery. I'm one of door of the Salem meeting-house. Noyse your root-and-branch men.” bed to take his eyes out of his wretched “Wal, so I say," mumbled a toothheart, and look around perforce on the less, pinch-nosed old farmer. "I say strenuous little world which caught him ought'er been hung up ever s'long 'go. by his reverend button-bole. Yet the I say hang 'er up now. That's wuat I crowd which hoped and feared, narrated say. Ole popish witch done harm 'ouff. and listened, asserted and contradicted, Dono harm 'nuff to Salem cattle and on every side of him, was not visibly in craps. Spoiled iny crap last year. Illa state of feverish agitation. It was luck ever sen she come here. Done full of earnest, bronzed faces, strong in harm 'nuff, I say. Olo popish witch." feature, zealous and resolute in expres- “Wbat's that you say, Good-man Peasion; but these faces were grave and body?” broke in More, who had come composed also, devoid of all mercurial up at the moment. “What's that about and fretful vehemence—stoical, imper- ill-luck in Salem since old Bridget came turbable, statuesque, with devout con. here? What do you mean? Does noviction. The talk of each of these Pu- thing happen wrong except when old folk are about? Why, three weeks “Not so surely, not su surely," peragone, I heard Elder Samuel Parris sisted More. “How can any jury fail to lay all our misfortunes to altogether see that she is only a poor, ignorant gran. another root. Said he: •The calamities ny, who is in her dotage? She will among us, have beon very much for certainly be cleared; and so this deluthat abominablo sacrilege wherein the sion will be arrested in its outset. I am ministers of Christ, almost all the land glad that the first trial bas fallen upon over, have been defrauded of their duos.' her; for if the first silly old sheep leaps Those were his very words, look you. the fence, the others will easily follow." So, there you are at loggerheads. He "She won't leap it. No, no. Not un. says that our cattle die, and our crops less the devil boosts her,"shouted several fail, because we give short commons to voices at once.

"God have mercy upour clders; you say it is all of Goody on us, if such bags are to go unhung !" Bishop. Put that and that together, if Tbus opinions succeeded and woro you can, neighbor. Who's right, and contradicted; yet the believers in Bridgwho's wrong?"

et's guilt were ever loudest and longest ; “Dunno nothin' bout it," muttered they reasoned better because they were Good-man Peabody, with a look of sulky more positive and numerous ; they had obstinacy. “Ill-luck ever sen she come with them all the ministers, pbysicians here. Done harm 'nuff, I say. Ole and magistrates ; tbe mere fact of a popish witch."

commitment and trial, argued in favor Meantime, Justice Corwin smoothed of their opinions ; more than that, prosehis long chin with his bony hand, cutions and convictions for witchcraft and frowned solemnly upon the defend- had happened many times before ; sotu: er of Bridget, as if about to demolish cerers had been tried and condemned him by ono mighty reproof.

" Hold and hung in all Christendom, if not there, Master More," said he.

" Let us

among the very infidels. not speak lightly of sacred things. I In the midst of one little squad of deopine that our troubles may very well baters, which included some of the como as providences, from both those staunchest and loudest-mouthed trackcauses ; heaven, as it were, hitting two ers of Beelzebub in all Salem, stood birds with one stone. But we must dis- Deacon Bowson, listening with the wholo tinguish between the judgments of God length of his ears, and turning from one and the mischiefs of the devil; and the to another of those persuaded and reso plagues inflicted upon us by this old lute dogmatists in a perfect cramp of wrinkled hag are, doubtless, of this credulous terror. Their goblin narralast, order and come straight from the tives and sulphurous arguments, trickled pit."

down to the bottom of his soul, and "There

you go again,", retorted seemed to scoot his poor brain with

always judging this poor fumes from the lake of fire and brimBridget for being old and wrinkled, stone. He broke out of the dreadful as if those were hanging matters. Sup. circle on seeing his brother-in-law, and, pose we hang Good-man Peabody here; sidling up to him with a scared grin, suppose we hang Elder Higginson ; made fast to his coat-skirt. “Ob, brothhaven't they wrinkles enough! I have er More! these are woeful tales, woeful read of a barbarous people in the Indian tales !" said he. “Oh, this is a fearful seas who eat their fathers and mothers time for a poor man like me to fall upon. when they get aged and helpless. Sup. Lord have mercy upon me! though I pose we eat ours; it were more profit- say it as should not say it. Here I able than hanging them.”

was, attending to my business, and try“Stand not in the way of heaven's ing to get through the world as I best justice, or it will crush you,” cried Cor- could, without harm to any one, when win, indignantly. "There is no use of all of a sudden these witcheries break wearying yourself, to save this besotted upon us; and who knows who will be creature. She hath confessed, and will taken next? I don't, no more nor the surely be hung, whether you fret against dead. Oh, brother More, it is a sore it or no."

warning to poor fellows and cold pro"Yes, yes; that's what I say," struck fessors like me, who have neglected 50in the old farmer. “ Done harm 'nuff

cret prayer and the like." aready: No use to fret. Surely be May the devil ily, away with you!" bung, I say. Ole popish witch." roared More, in a burst of profano im.

More ;

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patience at Bowson's credulity and minutive presence of mind, be clutched cowardice. “ If you have neglected a neighbor by the arm, and asked, your duty, go home and do it; don't "Who was that profitable shepherd ?" stay here whining about it, and making a Sure, that be Elder Mather," republic spectacle of your poltroon spirit.” plied the person addressed. “ Hearn

And, releasing his button-hole with- him at Boston. Good preacher- loud out much ceremony, he marched off in preacher. Hearn him at Boston. Yes, haughty indignation. While the forlorn yes; that be Elder Cotton Mather.". deacon stared open-mouthed after his “Oh, Good-man Peabody, is that unsympathizing relative, a young gentlo- truly Elder Cotton Mather !” exclaimed man in broad-skirted clericals came up Bowson, with the air of a man who had and addressed him. He was a very no- lost a great opportunity. “Would that ticeable man, although a young one; I could have his prayers. I will ask him for be had a fino mien of cala stateli- for them, as he desires to save a cold ness and authority; a face not more professor." than thirty years old, indeed, but marked And away he went through the crowd, with earnest thought and hard study; with a sidling haste, and a simple, A high forebead, dark piercing, eyes, anxious expression, like that of a scared aquilina nose, and thin lips, mobile yet sheep, as pitiable as it was ludicrous. resolute. The only particular which A minute" afterward, the judges, six detracted from his dignity was an air grave, dignified men, clad in black of conceit, chiefly perceptible in a pro- robes, and browed with a fine air of aucise pronunciation, as if he thought bis thority, swept through the multitude. words worthy of the most minute notice, The church door was flung open for and wished to mark them off, as it were, them, and they passed in, followed by a by vocal italics and capitals. “ Yes, sturdy rush of eager, heavy-limbed comy friend, you do well to be troubled," lonists. Presently came the prisoner, said he. "This is, indeed, a time for her form bent under the burden of each one of us to blow afresh the flames eighty-five years, as under a weighty of prayer upon his altar. If the fire of cross, and each of her manacled hands holiness hath grown cold in your heart, grasped by a stout constable. Her warm it up quickly by prayer. Better bleared, lustreless gray eyes were alhave the soul warmed thus, even at the most constantly fixed on the ground, prioe of many a night's sleep, than have as if watching where she could plant it scorched by these firebrands of Satan least painfully her feeble, uncertain that are hidden among us. Better have footsteps; and, if once in a while they the soul warmed in this world, at no glanced sidelong and furtively at the matter what cost of groans and tears, crowd, it was with a vague and glazed than bave it heated up hereafter in the regard, which expressed no clear comlake of fire and brimstone. Prayer, prehension of the scene, no interest bebrother, bath an incredible potency. Iyond that of silly curiosity. One side have read of a good man who, for a of her mouth twitohed incessantly, as if long time, was grievously tempted of an hor whole frame were convulsed by the obstinate devil, and, in genoral, could effort of keeping pace with her jailors. find no relief. But whenever he went to As she neared the doorway, More came his ordinary place of devotion, the devil up, accompanied by Rachel, and said, wus used to say to him, Well, if you with characteristic boldness : “God be are going to pray, I will take a turn in with you, Bridget." the street. Pray thus, my friend. I She recognized her foster-son, and would plead with you, also, to vomit all strained towards him with a piteous sin with a very hearty detestation. whine and a sudden sidelong motion, And I will tell you, that I verily believe like a chained dog trying to reach his the unpardonable sin, itself, is most master. “ Bless ye, darlint," she whimusually committed by professors of the pered, “I'd like to kiss yer hands ; Christian religion falling into witch- but they won't let the owld woman craft."

go." After a few more remarks, in the same And away she was hurried, mumbling strain of fanciful, though solemn, rhetor- some incoherence about her darlint, her ic, the elder shook hands with the dolls, and her prince. Rachel looked abasbed deacon, and walked away. As after her with large troubled eyes; and soon as Bowson could recover his di- balting there, said that she did not wish

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