 | THE YANKEE. Myrtis |  |
THE YANKEE.
And heart with pious thoughts embued.”
There is sometimes a period in the life of nations,
as well as of individuals, when the energies work in
diseased channels, and a morbid imagination pictures
“destruction before them, and sorrow behind.” Such
seemed the condition of the oldest colony, the mother
of New England, when about to pass the seventieth
year of her existence.
Within her borders she beheld a savage foe, wronged
and inexorable, the print of whose stealthy footstep
was red with the blood of the defenceless. The
fathers who had been her guides; the ancient priests,
whose wisdom was as the Urim and Thummim to the
multitude, were with the dead. We, in whose minds
respect for age is less deeply rooted than of old, can
but imperfectly realize the “horror of great darkness”
that settled upon her soul as the last vestiges
of that patriarchal race disappeared. One by one
the stars were muffled, the beacon-lights withdrawn,
and she left to steer her lonely barque amid the troubled
waters.
Other causes conspired to harass and depress the
people: heavy taxation; the almost utter extinction
of commerce; and a sea-coast infested by piratical
Canada, menaced the colonies with her vengeance.
“They were becoming,” says Upham, in his Lectures,
“the victims of political jealousies, discontent,
and animosities; their minds were startled
and confounded by forebodings of dark and dismal
events; and, as it were, to crown the whole, and fill
up the measure of their affliction and terror, it was
their universal and sober belief, that the Evil Being
himself was in a special manner let loose, and
permitted to descend upon them with unexampled
fury.”
It was from the midst of this discomfort and gloom,
this “fearful looking-for of judgment,” that the delusion
at Salem sprang forth. Though not without
precedent in an older continent, it derived peculiar
elements of sternness and inveteracy from the locality
and circumstances of its birth. Few of those
influences that soften and unbend the minds of men
were then in operation. Literature and science gave
but a feeble infusion of their spirit, and social intercourse
seldom sparkled with hilarity. Seeds of religious
dissension were vegetating, and whatever
form of bitterness or superstition seized upon the
mind, was pursued with the exclusiveness of monomania.
An isolated and ascetic state of feeling was doubtless
nourished by the tardy and infrequent communication
between the settlements. No post-roads or
periodicals diffused intelligence, and, penetrating to
the heart in strong and warm vitality. The adventurous
traveler encountered not only fatigue, but peril,
for he knew that he must pass dense and overshadowing
forests, where the watchful Indian prowled.
So slow was the transmission of news, that the
awful tragedy at Salem, which commenced early in
1692, did not reach for several months a colony of
Huguenots, planted about forty miles from Boston.
Few in number, and occupied with those labors on
which existence depended, vague rumors, as of some
distorted and horrible dream, at length floated to
their hermit residence.
It was at that period when autumn fosters the fading
beauties of summer, and yet announces the approach
of winter by infusing a slight chill into the
evening atmosphere. The harvest of maize had
been principally gathered and deposited in a rude
tenement, which served as a public granary. Lights
were seen there to glimmer, after they had one by
one vanished from the surrounding habitations. A
few men, employed in separating the golden sheaves
from their investing sheath, still prolonged their
pleasant toil, listening to the narrations of a hardy
New England yeoman, who for the past year had
assisted these more delicate natives of France in the
ruder labors of husbandry. While in the midst of
an animated description of the festivities of what he
called a “real huskin' frolic,” which he had sometimes
shared among his own people, he was interrupted
entrance of a wearied stranger. A word or two in
an under-tone caused an exclamation of amazement.
“Why, Cousin Jehiel Wigglesworth! it can't be
you! in such torn and awful riggin'! Have the Indians
come down upon Malden? and was you necessitated
to fly for your life?”
“Indians, do ye say? What is a host of cowardly
heathen to the terrible visitations of the spirits of
darkness? We read in the Bible of only one witch
of Endor, and she busied herself with calling up the
dead; but Salem town is full of witches, from one
eend to t'other, and they do nothing but torment the
living.”
To the inquiry of his cousin respecting the reasons
of his removal from Malden, their native place,
he answered,
“You know I come of age last winter, and so I
told father he might as well get some work out of
brother Titus, who is a stout youngster, and I would
go and hire myself out a spell and 'arn a little money.
I had heard of a minister in Salem, one Mr.
Parris, who wanted help, and I reckoned 'twould be
a good notion to live with a minister, because, their
portion not being in this world, they would not be
likely to insist on so much hard slaving. But I was
rather discomfited at our first meeting. He obsarved
that he was particular in inquiring the character of
sarvants, because he chose to have only those of good
report. `Sarvants!' said I; `I never was any body's
go off, thinking he was too mighty topping for me.
But he said over a text or two of Scripture, which
made me as quiet as a lamb, how that we all had a
Master in heaven, and that he only wanted me to be
his help. Then I felt ashamed that I had been so
mad and hasty, and made an agreement with him,
and lived quiet and peaceable, till I was carried to
Salem jail.”
“To the jail! to the jail! You don't say so!
None of our relations ever come to such disgrace
before! No wonder you look so exceedin' dumpish.
Tell me all that you did, without any prevarication.”
“Cousin Jehoshaphat Jones, have a little patience.
Every thing in its right place. I guess you had better
hear first consarning my dealings at the minister's.
My business was to dig in the gardin, and to
chop wood, and to take care of the dumb critturs,
which consisted of an old horse, quite lean in flesh,
and a cow with balls at her horns, 'cause she routed
down fences when she could get a chance, and a
flock of hens, which it was a power of trouble to
watch and scare out of the neighbor's corn; moreover,
to mind the minister's wife in all she directed.”
“And was it really a great sight easier to live with
a minister than to be on the good old farm at home?
Did you get enough to eat?”
“I liked all well enough except the Sabba-day
dinners; for then they never got any victuals. They
good eating and drinking there right well.
But Salem folks seemed to me more for skinching
and saving. However, there was really nothing
worth complaining on, till them great and grievous
trials come down like a clap of thunder. The minister's
darter and his niece, who lived with them,
both smart, sprightly gals of eleven or twelve years
old, were brought all of a sudden under the power
of the Evil One, and tormented just like the children
of Mr. John Goodwin at North Boston, a few years
before. Cousin Jehoshaphat, did not you read that
marvelous account published by a godly and larned
minister?”
“Yes, I did; but it seemed to me a deal more
like their own ugliness than any other sort of witchcraft.”
“Jehoshaphat Jones, just in that same way other
bold ones blasphemed and made their mocks, but
some of them got hung upon the gallows like proud
Haman, a spectacle to heaven and airth. It is true
that them two gals was the most tormentedest critters
that eyes ever beheld. Sometimes we'd find them
a standing in brooks of water, saying that the Wicked
One wanted to drown 'em; then they'd be a
clinging to the tops of high trees, where they'd no
way in natur' of getting, crying out that he commanded
'em to throw themselves down from thence.”
“Jehiel, wasn't there apples or some sort of fruit on
them trees? I guess I've seen children climb pretty
help.”
“Well, what should they run upon the ridge-pole
of the barn, and bemoan themselves there for? You
don't s'pose any green apples grew there, do ye?
And when the poor souls set down to comfort themselves
with a meal of victuals, who do you calculate
drew their tongues out of their mouths, and laid
them all along upon their chins, so that they were
not able to eat a single mou'ful?”
“I don't know. I guess they did not see any
thing they liked on the table, and thought they'd
make a push to get something more to their taste.”
“Who do you reckon run pins into 'em, and left
the marks of great pinches and bites on their innocent
flesh? And what made 'em, when they was
told only to do the least little chore, fall into fits like
one about to die?”
“Why, Jehiel, I have made believe to be sick myself,
when I was a small boy, and told to hoe corn
or weed the gardin; but I was always mighty well
if any play was going on. And I have seen bigger
folks sarve their master in that way time and again.
Who pinched and bit those gals, I don't undertake
to say; but I rather guess, if the minister had given
them a smart box on the ear, as father used to me,
they'd gone to work and felt better.”
“It is very likely, to be sure, that with your poor
edecation you should know more of their case than
all the wise and rich gentlemen who come to see
to pray and exhort over 'em. And when them that
was the most gifted, and could hold out the longest,
were a putting up petitions, it was awful to see the
sufferings of them children. Every inch of their
flesh would tremble, as if the Evil Spirit was about
to come out of 'em, but it was only because he was
mad and tired to hear the precious saints communing
so long with the Lord. Then the poor babes
might not enjoy the comfort of saying the Lord's
Prayer themselves; for they'd always be forced to
leave out some part of it. And when Mr. Parris
would say, `Begin again, and say it right,' they'd be
speechless. Neither was they permitted to read a
single godly book, whereby their souls might 'a been
comforted under their body's tribulation. The wicked
sarpent would allow them to read silly stories and
jeest books, to be sure, and if they was particular
unchristian and bad, they'd giggle and shout till even
the neighbors heard the racket. But when the Assembly
of Divines' Catechize was put into their
hands, oh! such whooping and hollowing; and if it
was not taken directly out of their sight, they'd have
the terriblest fits, and scare the minister's wife nigh
upon to death.”
“Law, Cousin Jehiel, as for that monstrous long
catechize, I'd have screamed as bad as they, and had
as many fits, if I could only frightened mother out
of the notion of making me larn it.”
“Jehoshaphat Jones, I feel bound to say unto you
about John Goodwin's afflicted offspring: `He that
disbelieveth, must needs be a most obstinate Sadducee.'
I s'pose it will be of no use to certify you that
there was a witch in our house; yea, a black wench,
from a far-distant country, where, I'm told, they have
daily dealings with Satan, as man with man, in buying,
and selling, and trucking of goods. The afflicted
girls, when in their sorest torments, would cry out
upon Tituba; and there would be the cruel jade,
looking as much amazed as if she had never done
any evil in her life. But she had manifested her
ugly temper toward 'em before this calamity, by divers
times discovering 'em in a closet where jellies
and such like sweet trade was kept, of which it was
very natural that they should be just tasting a little,
you know. They could not so much as hook a lump
of sugar, or a spunful of molasses, but they'd hear
her muttering, `I'll tell mistress, for by-and-by sugar-pot
and 'lasses-jug be empty, and she'll say, Tituba
steal—Tituba tief.' So, don't all these doings
plainly prove that she was moved of old, by the Father
of malice against these poor children? Well,
after things had gone on so for a long, lengthy time,
they come to a detarmination to hold a court upon
these dealings of Satan, and try if the authority of the
town could not cast him out, since the godly ministers
was not able. Oh! I never shall forget that dreadful
day. Heads was as thick in the Salem court-house
as green pease in a pod, but no more noise nor
There, on a high seat, sot Governor Danforth, looking
exceeding solemn, and Governor Stoughton, with
eyes as sharp as a needle; and there was the Reverend
Mr. Samuel Parris, with a pen to write down
every word that should be said. I could not help
thinking of the day of judgment. And when the
crowd was so great that we could hardly breathe,
the distressed children was brought in. Close behind
them came Tituba, rolling up the whites of her eyes.
Then they fell into the worst torments that I ever did
see. It seemed as if the Wicked One put forth the
whole of his power and spite in the presence of the
honorable court. `Who hurts you?' said his worship,
the judge. `Tituba! Tituba!' they both screamed at
once; `she afflicts us! She is going to ride on a
broomstick now, and will stick pins in us.' Then
they fell into such awful fits that the honorable court
injoined the black witch to make confession of her
wickedness. And she did confess, so far as this; that,
when she was a slave among the Spanish, she larnt
how to find out a witch. And was not that just the
same as to be one herself? Their honors agreed it
was next akin to it, and ordered her straightway to
prison. After she got there, such a hardened sinner
was she, that she denied having ever made a
league with Satan, and said she would not have told
the court what she did, only her master had[1] most
his eye in the court, she was afeard of the
same punishment again, which was surely no worse
than she desarved. And what a maracle it was, that,
as soon as she was taken away, the poor, afflicted gals
sot up, and looked pleasant and satisfied. But just
as the crowd was beginning to clear out, the minister's
darter betook herself to swooning again, and
foamed at the mouth like a barrel of hop beer a working.
And, Cousin Jehoshaphat, can you imagine my
situation when I heard her exclaim, `Jehiel Wigglesworth!
Jehiel Wigglesworth! he afflicts me!' Oh!
I screamed as loud as she, and took to my heels to
run right out of the court-house, thinking I'd get home
like a streak of lightning to father's. But they seized
hold of me, and dragged me before the judges.
Things swum round me, and I was afeard the floor
would cleave asunder, and let me into the suller. So
I held fast on to the sheriffs, and they grabbed just
as tight hold of me; so I was like a crutter shut
up in a vice. But when the chief judge axed me, in
a terrible voice, `How do you afflict this young maid?'
I found marvelous strength to reply, `Please your
honor, I never did offend her, in thought, word, or
deed, saving once, when, about six weeks ago, I s'pose
I did occasion her some sort of worriment by telling
her mother, who axed me the question, that I did see
her take apples from a cart that brought some to the
door to sell. But then she would not a took 'em if
we had only a bought 'em for her to eat; and, as she
she forgot it. So, 'cause my memory happened to
be rather better than hers, she was huffy to me for
two or three weeks, which was no more than natural,
your honor; and then she seemed to get over
her hard thoughts. Most sartingly, this is the only
time in which I ever crossed her since I have abode
under her father's ruff.'
“Then the court ordered me to walk straight up
to her, and look her in the face; whereat she shrieked
so, and vowed that I tore her vitals, that my heart
misgive me, and I begun to wonder whether I had
not, somehow or other, made a league and covenant
with the Old One, and known nothing about it. Howsoever,
I would not confess, though they took vast
pains to make me. Whereupon they said I was obstinate,
and commanded me to jail. Then she come immediately
out of her fits, and was as chirk and cheery
as a bird out of the snare of the fowler. Oh! the
wearisome days and nights that passed over me in
that house of bondage! But plenty of good company
came there afore midsummer. We was like a
bee-hive at swarming time. From the dens around
I'd hear the poor prisoners bemoaning themselves,
and saying, `Oh! that we'd never told such a falsehood
as to confess that we was witches, and so wronged
our own souls.' And then the crying of children
would ring in my ears, for there was some shut up
there not over eight or ten years old. Father and
mother got a seat in neighbor Lynch's wagon, and
cast down bad enough, to meet in such a dolesome
hole. `Oh, Jehiel,' said the old lady, `confess! do,
pray, confess! for they tell me all that confess they
are witches get set at liberty, and all the rest are
hanged without marcy, for a stiff-necked and hard-hearted
generation.' `Mother,' says I, `would ye have
me confess dealings with the Wicked Sarpent when
'taint true?' `Oh! I don't know,' says she; `but do
be sure and save your life; there ain't nothing so bad
as death.' `Why now, mother,' says I, `I remember
you broke me of telling lies when I was a small
youngster; I don't think I shall begin again at this
time of day. And I guess there is something as bad
as death, and worse too, namely, the lake that burns
with fire and brimstone.' `There,' said father, `did
not I tell you 'twould be so? Jehiel was always a
good boy to larn the New Testament by heart; and
now ye see he's got it in his heart. So give over
tempting him, mammy.”'
“I should have thought,” said Jones, “that Aunt
Jemima might have given you better advice. A professor
o' religion as she is, too! She must have been
worse blinded and bewitched than even you was.”
“I felt desp'ate heavy,” continued the narrator,
“when our folks left me, and went and curled down
in the corner upon my heap of straw. But I found
some comfort in a bit of cold gammon, and bread
and cheese they brought me, which was enough
better than the jail victuals. The latter part of August,
One of them was a grand minister, Mr. George
Burroughs, whom they condemned because he had
e'enamost the strength of a giant, which he must
have got from the powers of darkness, for he was
real slim and slender made. But never shall I forget
the awful 22d of September. Then we was all
summoned to look out and see eight of our miserable
comrades marched to the gallows. First walked
Martha Corcy, paler than ashes, whose husband had
been pressed to death with heavy weights, because
he refused to plead when he was indicted before the
honorable court. The next was Mary Esty, who
writ the most beautiful letter to the judges and ministers,
declaring her innocence. When she took the
last leave of her husband, and children, and friends,
she was said to look just as calm and holy as an angel.
Close behind come Goody Parker, with her
hood partly drawn over her face, and her lips moving
in prayer, and Ann Pudeator, with the large
tears like hail-stones rolling down her face, and
Margaret Scott, with the ruddy bloom still upon her
cheeks, whom all the young men had so admired
for her beauty. There was Wilmot Read, too, with
whom I had played at school, and Goodman Ward-well,
who was accused by his own wife and daughter,
and a broken-hearted man was he, with his head
hanging down upon his breast. Last of all, with a
fresh, goodly countenance, walked Molly Parker,
stepping as light, as if she knew she was about to
was that spake so bold to the Reverend Mr. Noyes
when he bid her confess the sin of witchcraft. `I
am no more a witch than you are a wizard; and
if you take away my life, God will give you blood
to drink.' Oh! how my heart sunk within me, and
cold chills run through all my veins, to see them
walking along with the bright sun, and the clear,
blue sky over their heads, which they was never
more to behold. And I said to myself, Make haste,
Jehiel Wigglesworth, and get out of this strong hold,
or you will be dealt with in like manner. In the
arter part of that memorable day, there came a pious
good minister to preach to the poor prisoners, and
exhort them to sarch into the plague of their own
hearts, while yet it was a time of hope. We, in the
upper story, flocked together into the largest cell to
hear him. He spoke exceeding well, and had a
wonderful smooth delivery, but he'd only got as far
as sixteenthly, when down fell Molly Lacey in a fit,
a curious talking creature, who had charged both
her mother and grand-mother with witchcraft, and
got them both into Salem jail with her. Down she
fell, calling out the name of Mr. Willard, a grand
Boston minister, and the names of some of the highest
powers of the state, saying they had a commission
from the Prince of Darkness to afflict her, and
to burn her flesh from her bones with fire. Great
was the stir indeed, and when I see the jailer was
as busy as the rest on 'em, I watched my chance,
reached the second story, the door was locked so
tight that the Old Dragon himself could not start it.
I made for the window through which we had looked
at the poor, condemned people in the morning,
and lo! it was left a leetle open, to admit a morsel
of air. `Jehiel Wigglesworth!' said I, `cast yourself
down from thence. Ain't it as well to grind your
bones to powder, as to have your neck stretched by
these Philistines?' So I snatched up the minister's
broad-brimmed hat, which had been left on the stairway,
and thrust it on my head, thinking I would not
go into etarnity with a broken skull, if I could help
it. But what do you think appeared just at that critical
minute? A huge load of hay passing directly
under, and nobody in sight. As quick as thought,
I plumped down upon it, and kivered myself up in
the cutest manner. The boy who driv was wandering
along in front, and gazing around, but hearing
a strange sound as I plunged down, gave his
cattle a stroke or two, and said, `Gee up, Dimond.
Haw! old crooked-horn! what d'ye start for? D'ye
see any o' the Salem witches?' So whistling, he
went on with his load, while the sweet smell of the
new-mown hay, and the fresh air that I had not
breathed so long, and the thought that I had got out
of that dismal den of lamentation, though but for
one half hour, even if they clawed me back the next,
made both my heart and head so lightish, that I
could scarcely keep from outright singing and shouting.
hat well under the hay, lest some of his parishioners
might know it and hunt me out. I obsarved the
boy arter a while to be looking round, and calling
`Jehu, Jehu.' Thinks I to myself, Jehu and Jehiel
are pretty much alike. So when we'd got past
the house where I used to live, I takes courage, and
says, `What d'ye want? Don't ye see that I'm up
here on the hay?' `On the hay,' said he. `How
on airth did ye get there, and I not know it?'
`Why forty people might 'a got up and down, and
stole half the hay too, while you have been lazing
and gazing at every thing and every body.' `You
hain't done all your arrants, have ye?' `Yes, indeed,
long ago.' `Well, then, get down and drive
the team. Don't you know master said, “Tim, you
must drive till you get through the thickest of Salem
town, and when Jehu has done my business there,
he shall see to the cattle.” So make haste and come
down, for I'm as tired as a dog.' `And don't you
think I'm tired too, trotting through all the lanes
like a camel, while you've been a loungin' along,
more asleep than awake?' `I declare you shall get
down now, Jehu,' said the lad, beginning to climb
up the load. `I'll tell you what it is, Tim,' said I,
`the great pitchfork is here, and if you come up before
I give you leave, I'll catch you on it. But if
you'll only drive fast and good till we get out of
sight of them housen yonder, I've got a clever clingstone
peach here that I'll give you, and you shall
out of sight of them housen! Why, that ain't a
quarter of a mile from the place where the man
lives that's bought the rowin. You're a real cross-grained
dog, to make me do more than master says.'
So he walked along, muttering. When we'd got
about through the thick-settled part, I called out
suddenly, `Oh! what a beast I am to forget. Run,
Tim, run, as fast as ever you can, to Squire Larkin's
store, at the second corner, and bring a small bottle
of sperrit I left standing on the horse-block. I'm
awful afeard somebody has drinked it up afore now.
Come, gallop, that's a good fellow, and if you happen
to take a small swig out on't, I won't tell master.'
Off he set like a catamount; and no sooner
was he out of sight than I was down, and a running
faster than he, for I was dumb afeard that he'd meet
the real Jehu, and both together take arter me, like
Jehu of old pursuing the false prophets. I struck
into the woods and hid till dark, and then took
the road and traveled right manfully all night. It
made me down-hearted to think I could not go to
father's, for I know'd well that was the fust place
they'd naturally sarch in for me, and I seemed to be
in a worse fix than the returning prodigal. While
I was doubting where to shape my course, I remembered
that Cousin Jehoshaphat Jones, who had always
been a true frind, had hired himself out to
some Huguenot bodies, who lived in an out-of-the-way
sort of a hole, and thought if I could once get
an outlandish region. So I turned my steps hitherward.
But oh! the torment of hunger that I've endured.
Sometimes I have thought I could e'enamost
gnaw a sheep's head off, and eat it with all the wool
on. But I have not been altogether easy in my mind,
for fear the bears should eat me, when I dropped
asleep in the woods, or some ugly rattlesnake give
me a mortal bite, or the beastly Indians start out
from behind some bush and scalp me. Yet have I
been led through the wilderness in safety, through
help from above. I hope the precious minister that
I left preaching in the Salem jail will forgive me for
hooking his hat. Its broad brim has been of vast
use to me to dip up water from brooks, and fend off
the rain and musquetoes. How real thankful I was,
at last, to see a light glimmering here, and, looking
through the cracks of the corn-house, to be sure that
it was indeed Cousin Jehoshaphat, by the side of a
great pile of ripe ears. I doubt whether the poor
critturs who was a drowning in the flood-time could
have been much joyfuller to have set their feet in
Noah's ark, than I to behold my own blood-relation,
and stretch my weary limbs on this floor.”
When the narrator closed his recital, all his auditors
expressed sympathy for his troubles, and gladness
at his deliverance, and hastened to provide him
with fitting refreshment, and a place of repose. It
was afterward decided to offer him refuge among
them, with such compensation for his services as
might be overpast.” For some time after this miserable
delusion had subsided, he remained among
the Huguenot colonists, grateful for their kindness,
and pleased with their gentle manners and reasonable
requisitions.
Afterward, returning to his native village, he settled
for life in those peaceful agricultural employments
to which his ancestors had been inured. He
dwelt in rural comfort and happiness, and enjoyed
the respect of his neighbors and friends. Some lingering
of superstition continued through life to mingle
with that shrewdness and simplicity which so often
mark the Yankee character; and when, in long
winter evenings, beside a blazing fire, he recounted
to his astonished children the evils to which he
had been exposed, and from which he was so remarkably
rescued, he never failed to bespeak their
gratitude that they had never been tempted to the
sore sin of witchcraft, or brought under the visible
and fearful dominion of the great Wicked One.
| THE YANKEE. Myrtis | |