Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-07-07
NO. l59.
Calls aud Sketehes.
MISTRESS WILSON.
A TALE OF SALEM WITCHCRAFT.
fcoSTINuED FROM YEsTERpAY.1

While these scenes were passing ia
Enoch Dalton's homestead, that lay on the
highway between Salem and the little fish
ing village of Marblehead, the shades of
evening had descended upon the demure
aforementioned town, and the lights
twinkled out here and there from the
houses. while the streets were already de-
serted. In 1893 they were not brilliantly
illuminated, and the inhabitants found it
more agreeable to stay within doors than
to hight their own uncertain steps with
hand lantern. Nearly in the centre of the
town rose Salem Jail, dark and uninvitlng
in outward appearance, though in reality
hospitable enough. 1t held within its four
walls more guests than any house in all
New England could have boasted. Wild
accusations following closely on each 9TH
er had peopled its cells with witches, and
when one was given over to the hang
mans hands, there was no danger but that
new occupant for the vacant place would
soon be found.
Besides these unwilling guests, how
evever, there were on this particular
evening certain others. two or three
worthy neighbors of Mistress Burns,
the jailor's wife. The goodly danes had
the pleasure of hearing from her own lips
how the Reverend Mr.. Pryor and the JUS
tices had made a solemn visit that after
noon to the witch, Mistress Wilson. who
was to be hanged ON the morrow-how
they had exhorted her to confess her evil
practices and her penitence for the same,
and how they had been obliged to go
away with their purpose uneffec ed, be-
cause the witch obstinately continued to
declare that she had done no harm to any
creature. Then had the reverend gentle
man affirmed that he had wrestled long
and earnestly for her sinful soul. and that
now, unless she expressly begged for his
ghosty counsel, he should come to her no
more. That meant that the dismal jail
cart, the sheriff, and the hangman were
the only further assistants she would have
on the journey to another world. The
shudder that such a thought awakened,
token in connection with Mistress Burns
good cheer, amounted to an agreeable ap-
palling sensation. The good wives would
tain see the witch, they said-just little
peep, as it were, for verify to approach
her too nearly in her last hours were i'll
advised.
The room in which Mistress Wilson was
to pass the night before her execution was
somewhat larger and more commodous
than the cell where she had been confined
1t had been thought only fitting that the
worshipful and reverend gentlemen should
be received in decent quarters--a midway
halting- place for her between the narrow
walls of a dungeon and eternity's illimita-
BILE space. The room was made secure by
iron gratings, and locks, and bolts innu-
merable, and it had a small barred window
opening on passage and provided with
shutter, pushed to and fro at will from the
outside, by means Of which the occupant
could be observed. Mistress Burns
opened this shutter little way, and then
several pairs of eyes peered in through the
crack.
The witch was walking slowly up and
down, clad in the widows garb that she
had worn since all hope was lost of her
husbands return from sea. She held in
her arms her child, that she had been al
lowed to have once more before her death,
not so much because of her earnest prayer
as to see if the Dalton babe experienced
i'll effects.
1t was beautiful little creature that
laid its curly head uponsher shoulder, and
passing to and fro before the tallow can
die. forgotten when her inquisitors de-
parted, she never failed to look down at +,
the bloom upon its cheeks, just visible in
that dim light. 1t was hardly to be sup
posed that the witches brat had been very
tenderly cared for during her long CON
tinement, but nevertheless she clasped it
again, with Joy, as fresh and lovely as a
rose. If the proof OF her evil doings lay
in the fact that her child throye while
others peaked and pined. then indeed her
guilt was plain.
'She kisses the babe" whispered the
at the window
''Ay. she makes as though she were
very fond OF it; but know not whether
10 think she is or no.
Il verify think she is" said the iailor's
wife for there can none come nigh her but
she'll beg and pray them to care for the
child when she is gone. Even to-day she
mportuned the worthy gentlemen in most
unseemly manner, and wept and wrung
her hands till they were fain to tell her
the parish would care for it cen though
it be witch's babe"
mistress Burns" came somewhat
deep but clear voice that made them all
start" | pray thee, give me some milk
for the child.' The little creature had be-
-ob W w uiNoSy anu " liCt, iOI, SldtiuS
he mothers confinement, it was con-
iemned to her fare of bread and water,
which had proved in no way to its taste.
"Wouldst. give it herr ?" consulted the
iailer's wife.
Nay, wherefore ?" said one. 'Let her
find charm to still it," And another as
Mistress Wilson made step toward the
clapped the shutter to in all
haste.
''Let her not breathe on us, for then are
we all bewitched | doubt she is very
dangerous tonight"
The women fled. back in alarm 10 the
festive candle light and the evening en-
ertainment of cake and cider with which
heir hostess was presently to treat them.
But she, retiring to the pantry to bring in
hose danties with her own hands, arrang-
ID her tray as ii she were all the time
linking OF something else. Finally, she
ook down pewter mug out of which
Ter children once had drunk, poured it
ull of milk, and went down the passage
gain to the little wooden shutter