Page:Salem - a tale of the seventeenth century (IA taleseventeenth00derbrich).pdf/169

 us, in our more enlightened age, simply too tedious and revolting to be transcribed upon our pages; and while we wonder at the marvelous dexterity of the girls in their performances, the principal interest for us is derived from the evidence they give, that all this fearful imagery was beyond the invention of youthful minds, and reveal the fact that some older and more experienced hand was moving unseen behind them.

At the close of this examination, Mrs. Nurse and five others were fully committed for trial, and were sent to Boston jail for safe keeping.

The court met again June 29th, and Mrs. Nurse was put upon trial; but the character of the venerable old woman was too well known not to have created many friends; time had given rise to reflection, and many persons, who had believed in other cases, paused, and hesitated to believe her guilty; and many, who had been silent through fear, now came forward boldly in her defense. Testimonials of her moral worth and unblemished character were got up and signed by persons of the highest respectability, and