The Quakeress, Number II [pp. 660-665]

1840.] The Quakeress. _61
of the families in the colony began to act in an
unaccountable manner. They would creep into
holes and under benches and chairs, put themselves
into odd postures, make antic gestures, and utter
loud outcries, and ridiculous, incoherent and unintelligible expressions. At this the attention of
their friends and neighbors was arrested. No satisfactory explanation of such strange conduct of
the children being given, the physicians were consulted. After much consultation and careful investigation, in which they could come to no agreement, one of them gave it as his opinion that the
children were bewitched. Events already past
had fully prepared the minds of the public for the
reception of such an opinion. It began to be believed that the Evil One had now come among
them in earnest, and was commencing operations
with a bolder front and on a broader scale than at
any previous period. Other children, especially
two very young girls, aged nine and ten, soon began to exhibit similar indications of beingbewitched.
In all times of despondency and affliction it was
the custom of the good pilgrims to seek the divine
will and direction. Hence the witchcraft excitement came to be strangely mingled with enthusiasm, superstition, and religion. It was a custom
for the families to which the afflicted children belonged to apply themselves immediately to fasting
and prayer, invoking the instrumentality of the
Divine Being to deliver them from the snares and
delusion of Satan. The clergy were invited by
their parents to assemble and join with them in
devoting a day to solemn religious services, and to
supplicating Divine mercy for deliverance from the
power of the Evil One. During these exercises,
the afflicted children would often have fits and vio lent convulsions. Many crowded to the spot to
gratify their credulous curiosity, and all felt anx ious to discover by the cooperation of what ma lignant powers they were afflicted. This the poor
sufferers were continually importuned to disclose,
it being incessantly demanded of them who were
the witches, through whom the Evil One acted upon
" Margaret, it is no t my purpose to injure you,"
said he. " You are in no danger-confide in me,
and do my bidding, and you shall yet be safe. I
will provide the means for your release, and preserve you from all harm."
"Ah, Master Brown," answered the poor old
them.
At length the public sentiment being now
wrought up to the highest pitch of excitement, the
pretended sufferers, who were now increased to a
larger number, were not long in making a selection
of a victim; and it would have been easy to conjecture who was to become the first accused. Old
Margaret was too prominent an object, and accordingly was the-first to be "cried out upon."
The object of Brown was now in a fair way of
being accomplished. Margaret once apprehended
he cared little for her safety, provided he might
secure his own, and bring about his own designs,
even when he had promised to be her protector.
Such a sensation once produced, and the imaginations of the people once aroused, he felt sure of
success, believing their minds would be plastic to
creature-" such has ever been the music you have
sung me; and I have listened to this song o f safety
till my spirits are sunk wit hin me, my poor frame
wasted and withered to a skeleton, and my only prospect of release from suffering a miserable end here
in this dark dungeon, or the awful alternative of
a disgraceful public execution. Margaret, though
deep in guilt, and the injurer of many that were
innocent, has never injured you. I, who have had
many enemies, am now the dupe and victim of a
man I have never provoked. Ohf! Sir-was it to
suffer such a death, that I fled from the fury of she
blood-thirsty to this western world! It is but just.
I have conspired with you against the happiness of
an innocent maiden, and have fallen into the pit
myself."
" Listen to me once Margaret," said Brown,
who now, in turn, began to tremble, knowing that
the success of his schemes still depended upon
her cooperation. "1 I tell you Margaret, you are
safe. No evil shall come to you. If you will be
yet true to me, I will secure your life even at the
hazard of my own. You say you hate this Quakeress. Now is the time if you would gratify
your revenge. Even I myself, Margaret, cannot
forget that she has been very fastidious. I would
tame her pride. You know, Margaret, she prefers
yonder boy to me, and now I would possess her
myself. I have used fair words and fair means to
no purpose, and now I will try foul.
" To-morrow is the day of your trial. You will
then be confronted by those it is said you have be witched. When you come before the magistrates,
confess you are leagued with the devil. If your
confession and penitence do not save your life, and
1840.]
The Quakeress.
661
his will, and bend to his purposes. Old Meg being
now accused, a time was fixed upon for her trial,
when she was to be confronted by the sufferers
themselves. She was committed to the temporary
jail of the town, and orders were given for her safe
keeping.
It was about the hour of sunset on the evening
preceding her trial, that the worthy Mr. Brown
might have been seen wending his way to the place
of her confinement. By the influence of this
worthy with the magistrates and officers of justice,
he could easily at any time find access to the prisoner. On entering her solitary cell he found her
in a state of stupid dejection. But no sooner did
she discern, by the wan lixht of the lamp her visiter
held in his hand, who he was, than raisina her
prostrate form she gazed eagerly upon him, and
asked in trembling accents the cause of this intru
Sion.
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