church got addition, and the souls of men got everlasting benefits.” [Footnote: _More Wonders_, p. 12.] Mather prided himself on what he had done. “I am not so vain as to say that any wisdom or virtue of mine did contribute unto this good order of things; but I am so just as to say, I did not hinder this good.” [Footnote: _Idem_, p. 12.] Men with such beliefs, and lured onward by such temptations, were incapable of letting the tremendous power superstition gave them slip from their grasp without an effort on their own behalf; and accordingly it was not long before the Mathers were once more at work. On the 10th of September, 1693, or about nine months after the last spasms at Salem, and when the belief in enchantments was fast falling into disrepute, a girl named Margaret Rule was taken with the accustomed symptoms in Boston. Forthwith these two godly divines repaired to her bedside, and this is what took place:-- * * * * * Then Mr. M---- father and son came up, and others with them, in the whole were about thirty or forty persons, they being sat, the father on a stool, and the son upon the bedside by her, the son began to question her: Margaret Rule, how do you do? Then a pause without any answer. _Question._ What. Do there a great many witches sit upon you? _Answer._ Yes. _Question._ Do you not know that there is a hard master? Then she was in a fit. He laid his hand upon her face and nose, but, as he said, without perceiving breath; then he brush’d her on the face with his glove, and rubb’d her stomach (her breast not being covered with the bed clothes) and bid others do so too, and said it eased her, then she revived. _Q._ Don’t you know there is a hard master? _A._ Yes. _Reply._ Don’t serve that hard master, you know who. _Q._ Do you believe? Then again she was in a fit, and he again rub’d her breast &c.... He wrought his fingers before her eyes and asked her if she saw the witches? _A._ No.... _Q._ Who is it that afflicts you? _A._ I know not, there is a great many of them.... _Q._ You have seen the black man, hant you? _A._ No. _Reply._ I hope you never shall. _Q._ You have had a book offered you, hant you? _A._ No. _Q._ The brushing of you gives you ease, don’t it? _A._ Yes. She turn’d herselfe, and a little groan’d. _Q._ Now the witches scratch you, and pinch you, and bite you, don’t they? _A._ Yes. Then he put his hand upon her breast and belly, viz. on the clothes over her, and felt a living thing, as he said; which moved the father also to feel, and some others. _Q._ Don’t you feel the live thing in the bed? _A._ No.... _Q._ Shall we go to pray ... spelling the word. _A._ Yes. The father went to prayer for perhaps half an hour, chiefly against the power of the devil and witchcraft, and that God would bring out the afflicters.... After prayer he [the son] proceeded. _Q._ You did not hear when we were at prayer did you? _A._ Yes.