The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-08-17

spot, overlooking the ocean and a vast pan-
Drama of field and forest. 1t was at a con-
siderable distance from the Jail, and could he
reached only by circuitous and difficult
route. He was carried in cart, with others
through the streets of Salem. When he was
upon the ladder, he made speech, DECLARING
his innocence, with such solemn and serious
expressions as were to the admiration of all
present. His prayer, which he concluded
with the Lords Prayer, was uttered with such
composure and fervency, that many were
affected to tears, and it seemed to some that
the spectators would hinder the execution;
but his accusers said the black man stood by
and dictated to him. Calef says: AS soon as
he was turned off, Mr.. Cotton Mather, being
mounted upon horse, addressed himself to
the people, partly to possess the people of his
guilt, saying that the Devil often had been
transformed into an angel of light; and this
somewhat appeased the people, and the exc
cutious went on. When he was cut down,
he was dragged by halter to a hole, or
deep; his shirt and breeches being pulled off,
and an cid pair of trousers of one executed
put on his lower parts; he was so put in, to-
gether with Willard and Carrier, that one Of
his hands, and his chin, and foot of one of
them was left uncovered
"And did all these horrible scenes 20 on
and no earthquake come to swallow up the
wretches?" asked my Mortified auditor.
81 regret to say, Madam" replied, chat
the innocent suffered without reparation,
save tardy recognition of their wrongs by
the Province, which bestowed some money
upon their families in I'LL. George Bur-
roughs' family received fifty pounds. The
expenses of the trial had been assessed upon
the property of the victims, reducing many
OF them to extreme poverty, and they had
united in asking the General Court to reim-
burse them. 1t is related that Charles, one
of Mr.. Burroughs sons, presented the case of
his dear and honored father declaring that
his innocence of the crime, and his excel
lence Of character were shown in his careful
catechising his children, and upholdlng reli-
gion in his family, and by his solemn and
savory written instructions from prison.
The account of the condition in which his
family OF little children was left at his death
is said to have been very affecting. He had
been married three times; the third wife,
daughter Of Thomas Ruck. survived him,
as also his seven children, George, who after
wards lived in Ipswich, Charles, who pre-
scented the memorial, Jeremiah, who was in
sane, Rebecca, who married johnson of
Boston, Hannah who married a Fox of Bos-
ton, Elizabeth, who married Peter Thomas
OF Boston, and Mary who married man in
Attleborough. Isaiah Thomas, LII. D. was
one of his descendants"
"Do you believe" said the widow, ''that,
the witnesses were entirely false in their tes-
timony. and that their fits were feigned."
81 think the fits were wrought by nervous
excitement which they could direct and par
TALLY control. We have similar examples in
the history Of all ages, and to-day the curious
stories about the Jumping Frenchmen' in
Madawaska, who strike, shout or jump,
when suddenly told to do so, entirely unable
to control themselves, though they strike
friend to his injury, or leap from height in
to river to their own hurt. are remarkable
Illustrations of it."
''Do you think Mr.. Burroughs was affec.
tionate to his wives? ?" continued my fair
questioner.
II think he was. The utmost his enemies
could produce on that point was that in Sa-
lem he was harsh and sharp with his wife,
and scolded her for telling his secrets which
made difficulties in the congregation. Also
that being abroad with his wife and her
brother, he occasionally stayed behind letting
them walk forward, and then suddenly COM
ing up he was angry about their discourse.
When they expressed amazement that he
should know what they had said, he replied,
MY God, whom serve, makes known your
thoughts to me- But these were trivial
charges; and the language of his children ex-
presses deep love and affection for him, and
what little we know of his life here bears
equal testimony in favor of his amiability and
goodness"
~ hope his last wife got nice second hus-
band" sighed the widow.
At this moment my friend walked up, and
perceiving that the sun was getting low and
that I had been discoursing at length, he
musingly murmured, ga blessing on him
who invented sleepp Then came the pleas.
ure steamer, with her shrill whistle, and
bidding our friends goodbye we fastened to
the landing and returned to the city.
A sat in my solitary room that night,
meditatively smoking my meerschaum,
seriously asked myself if that lovely little
widow was really fond of hearing old stories,
or whether she was fattering the foibles of
silly old fellow who loved 10 talk. Was 1
really in danger? The cold -blooded way in
which she had formerly spoken of the duty
OF husbands to die early and give their wives
another chance, gave me cold chill. When
have seen in the old cemetery, the grave of
the veteran captain with his four wives lying
beside him it has seemed rather nice and
patriarchai; but to reverse the picture, and
look at oneself as one of the four victims takes
some philosophy. And then it occurred to
me that the changing of name by women in
marrying, prevents US from knowing how
many husbands they lay away in that quiet
retreat, and thought with shudder, of the
widow whom the Sadducees spoke of, that
survived seven husbands, and of the woman
Of Samaria who was living with the sixth.
Sometimes it is an even thing like that case
in Rome, where a woman had survived some
thirty husbands and man as many wives
and the gay young Romans made match be-
tween them to see which would conquer.
The man held out longest in that case, but
he was veteran, and started fair, while I
have not begun to score and the widow has.
On the other hand it was a question whether
could perish in better cause? whether old
bachelors are of any great use in this busy
world? and whether it is well to be left like
the last of the pickles,
sin LIES waste of vinegar floating alone?"
These speculations proved too deep for me,
and my pipe going out, I went to bed to
dream of witches, widows,
Sand Summer pictures of old White Head