The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-01-23
r,,r np.ru or aOODY NURSE.
/ Ballad Of salem.
BY ROSE TERRY COOKE.

kOsE WYNN
The chill New England sunshine
Law on the kitchen door;
The wild New England north wind.
Came rafting at the door.
And by the wide old fireplace,
Deep in her cushioned CHAIR,
Lay back an ancient woman,
With shining snow-white hair.l
The peace of God was on her face,
Her eyes were sweet and calm,
And when you heard hel earnest voice
IL sounded like psalm.
In all the land they loved her well
From country and from town
Came many heart for counsel,
And many a soul cast down.
Her hands had fed the hungry poor
With blessing and with bread;
The face was like comforting
From out the Gospel read.
8 weak and silent as she lay,
Her warm hands clasped in prayer,
A sudden knocking at the door
Came on her unaware.
And as she turned her hoary head,
Beside her chair there stood
-Four grim and grisly Puritans-
No yisitants for good.
They came upon her like a host,
And babe her speak and tell
Why she had sworn a cruel oath
To serve the powers OF he'll;
70 work the works of darkness
On children of the light.
A witch they might not suffer here
Who read the Word Alright.
Like one who sees her tireside yawn,
A pit of black despair,
Or one who wakes from quiet dreams
Within "A lions lair,
So dared at them her starting eyes,
Her voice essayed no sound;
She gasped like any hunted deer
That eager dogs surround.
81 Answer us :" hoarse and loud they cry;
She looked from side to side
No human help" oh, gracious God =
IN agony she cried.
Then, calling back her feeble life,
The white lips uttered slow,
- | am as pure as babes unborn
From this foul thing, ye know.
{" II God doth visit me for sin,
Beneath his rod bend"
Bat pitiless and wroth were they,
And bent upon their end.
They tortured her with taunt aud ieer,
They vexed her night and day
No husbands arm nor sisters tears
Awaited their rage to stay.
Before the church they hailed her then;
The minister arose
And poured upon her patient head
The worst Of all its Woes.
He babe her be accused OF God
Forever, mere and there:
He cursed her with heavy curse
No mortal man may bear.
She stood among the covering crowd
As calm as saint in heaven,
Her eyes as sweet AS summer skies,
Her face like summers even.
The devils wrought their wicked will
On matron and on maid.
- Thou hast bewitched us ~ cried they all,
But not word she said.
They fastened chains aboutiher feet,
And carried her away;
For many days in Salem Jail
Alone and i'll she lay.
She heard the scythes along the field
Ring through the fragrant air,
She smelt the wild-rose on the wind
That bloweth everywhere.
Reviled and hated and bereft,
The soul had plenteous rest,
Though sorrow like frantic hooi
Beat sore upon her breast.
At last the prison door stood wide,
They led the saint abroad;
BY many an old familiar place
Her trembling footsteps trod.
Till faint with weakness aud distress,
She climbed a hillside bleak,
And faced the gallows built thereon,
Still undisturbed and meek.
They hanged this weary woman there,
Like any felon stout;
Her white hairs on the cruel rope
We're scattered all about.
uhts body swung upon the tree
In every fitting wind,
Reviled and Knocked by passengers
And folk of evil mind.
woman old and innocent
To die death of shame,
With kindred, neighbors, friends tn 'reby
And move to utter blame.
oh. God, that such thing should be
on earth which thou hast made
A voice from heaven answered me,
Father, forgive" He said.