she stepped on shore, she was avoided as the pestilence; and the multitude, forgetting the poor body whose death had established her innocence, moved away with many dark looks, and doubtful shakings of the head.

ONLY a short time was allowed by the inexorable ministers of justice for the fair sufferer to repose, after the endurance of such a severe and agitating trial, previously to her being again dragged into court. Had the governor been at home, there probably would have been less precipitancy; but he was absent several weeks at Quinnipiack, in the matter of the regicide judges, who were reported to be living in the caves and dens of the colonies, and after whom the king had sent pursuivants, that he might obtain the more ample revenge for the death of his father.

When Mercy again entered the court, guarded and attended as before, her pallid countenance and feeble step clearly indicated, that even if her mental powers were not shattered, and her spirits and

fortitude altogether crushed, her physical strength would not much longer endure trials of this agonizing description. The court had already been opened by a prayer from the Rev. Mr. Whitman, in which the Almighty was reminded that vengeance was his, and invoked to give the judges wisdom, to teach them his statutes, and enable them to execute his judgments by enforcing them. The jurors being in their seats, the officers were now called as witnesses to testify of the result of their commission-the ordeal and its effects. A few minutes sufficed for the recital of the occurrences with which the reader has already been made acquainted. The testimony was thereupon committed to the jury, and a verdict of "not guilty" promptly returned in favour of Goody Clawson, although she was not there to receive it. need hardly add what was the fate of Mercy Disborough; although, for decency's sake, the jury retired for a short time.

We

During their absence, she had been reclining upon her father in melancholy silence, heaving an occasional sigh, and pondering upon the scenes through which she had passed, and which were transpiring around her-upon the death she had just escaped, as by a miracle, and the more awful one which probably awaited her. She was aroused from this distressing revery by the usual direction of the clerk-" Prisoner, look upon the jury-jury, look upon the prisoner," and it was with some difficulty that she rose upon her feet. In reply to

the customary question, the jury handed up their verdict in writing: "We do find the prisoner, Mercy Disborough, guilty, according to the indictment, of familiarity with Satan."

No other result was anticipated. But neither father nor lover displayed at this crisis as much 'firmness of soul as the fair convict, whose courage and faculties seemed to gather strength as the clouds of adversity thickened around her. Being sternly asked by the court if she had any thing to say why the judgment of the law should not be pronounced against her, summoning her fortitude once more, she replied: "I have but a poor maiden's wit, and know not how to say more than to protest mine innocency again-though peradventure my words will seem as one that mocketh,, wherein there is no righteous Daniel to render me justice against the false accusations of the wicked elders. But notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee, that thou wouldst hear me of thy clemency a few words. And verily is it not a great marvel now, that whereas our fathers-yea, many of this present generation, were driven by severities and persecutions to take up their abode in these wilderness ends of the earth, ye should so soon be imboldened to practise the like severities. Nevertheless, I would remind ye of what even the bloody Henry, more merciful than ye all, writ to his judges, and put up on the gate-posts-that ye may see now, if ye be not more bloody than he: To you, judges, beware of

innocent blood-shedding-take heed of justice innocently administered-work discreetly, as the Scriptures doth command: Look to it that ye make not the truth to be forsaken by your false glosses.' And now ye must do with me what ye will. The three holy children were preserved from the fierce vengeance of Nebuchadnezzar, even in the midst of the fiery furnace; and upon the like trust of God's gracious goodness, if it please him, he can yet save me out of your cruel hands.”

But a far stronger appeal than any that Mercy Disborough could make extemporaneously, would have been of no avail. The prevailing delusion infected the whole community-blinding alike the magistrates and the people-the judges and the ministers at the altar. And the determined and unrelenting spirit of fanaticism was not to be arrested in a case which had already been pushed to such extremities. Sentence of death was consequently pronounced upon the prisoner, and the same was directed to be carried into effect, by burning, on the following Friday.

The whole proceedings had been marked by the stern and unyielding severity of the Puritan character. The prevailing delusion, fortified by prejudice, if not by passion likewise, was too deeply seated, and too universal, to allow the still small voice of reason, or the tender pleadings of compassion, to interpose in behalf of the accused. Consequently, neither Mercy, nor her father, nor her lover, were surprised at the result. And yet the

shock was severely felt. For however much we may flatter ourselves while the clouds are gathering blackness, and the artillery of heaven muttering at a distance, that we shall be prepared to encounter its nearer approach without agitation or alarm, yet the thunder-crash is equally startling when it breaks, and the red lightning's glare equally appalling. And although a lingering disease may keep the object of our tenderest affection long suspended, as by a hair, over the verge of eternity, yet, when the silver cord of life is cut, the tear will start, though unbidden, and the bosom swell with anguish, in defiance alike of preparation, philosophy, and fortitude. But our unhappy heroine exhibited the least emotion of the three. The quiet life she had led, though affording frequent opportunities for a modest exhibition of the excellent qualities of her character, had never furnished an occasion to call forth its higher and nobler traits. These were now disclosed by the severe trials she was enduring, and which seemed only to brace, with additional firmness," the unshaken temper of her soul."

The court was adjourned without day, and slowly and silently the spectators retired, bending their solemn steps towards their respective homes -the prisoner, meantime, being remanded to the place of confinement. The brief period intervening between the passing of the sentence, and the day assigned for the execution, was a time of heaviness throughout the whole settlement of Menunkatuck. Austere as were their habits, and