Curious, if True: Strange TalesGaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn
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Curious, if True: Strange Tales
Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn
Curiosities and wonders -- Fiction; Horror tales; Short stories
The next day, she was led before Mr. Hathorn and Mr. Curwin, justices
of Salem, to be accused legally and publicly of witchcraft. Others were
with her, under the same charge. And when the prisoners were brought
in, they were cried out at by the abhorrent crowd. The two Tappaus,
Prudence, and one or two other girls of the same age were there, in the
character of victims of the spells of the accused. The prisoners were
placed about seven or eight feet from the justices and the accusers
between the justices and them; the former were then ordered to stand
right before the justices. All this Lois did at their bidding, with
something of the wondering docility of a child, but not with any hope
of softening the hard, stony look of detestation that was on all the
countenances around her, save those that were distorted by more
passionate anger. Then an officer was bidden to hold each of her hands,
and Justice Hathorn bade her keep her eyes continually fixed on him,
for this reason--which, however, was not told to her--lest, if she
looked on Prudence, the girl might either fall into a fit, or cry out
that she was suddenly and violently hurt. If any heart could have been
touched of that cruel multitude, they would have felt some compassion
for the sweet young face of the English girl, trying so meekly to do
all that she was ordered, her face quite white, yet so full of sad
gentleness, her grey eyes, a little dilated by the very solemnity of
her position, fixed with the intent look of innocent maidenhood on the
stern face of Justice Hathorn. And thus they stood in silence, one
breathless minute. Then they were bidden to say the Lord's Prayer. Lois
went through it as if alone in her cell; but, as she had done alone in
her cell the night before, she made a little pause, before the prayer
to be forgiven as she forgave. And at this instant of hesitation--as if
they had been on the watch for it--they all cried out upon her for a
witch, and when the clamour ended the justices bade Prudence Hickson
come forwards. Then Lois turned a little to one side, wishing to see at
least one familiar face; but when her eyes fell upon Prudence, the girl
stood stock-still, and answered no questions, nor spoke a word, and the
justices declared that she was struck dumb by witchcraft. Then some
behind took Prudence under the arms, and would have forced her forwards
to touch Lois, possibly esteeming that as a cure for her being
bewitched. But Prudence had hardly been made to take three steps before
she struggled out of their arms, and fell down writhing as in a fit,
calling out with shrieks, and entreating Lois to help her, and save her
from her torment. Then all the girls began 'to tumble down like swine'
(to use the words of an eye-witness) and to cry out upon Lois and her
fellow-prisoners. These last were now ordered to stand with their hands
stretched out, it being imagined that if the bodies of the witches were
arranged in the form of a cross they would lose their evil power.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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