Page:Salem - a tale of the seventeenth century (IA taleseventeenth00derbrich).pdf/54

 she is very outspoken, and there is always an ill bird in the air to catch up such thoughtless words and make the worst of them; and mother is too free—I wish she was not.'

"But, grannie, the girls have got so bold, it seems they don't mind any body; and last Sabbath-day, it seems, they spoke right out in meeting."

"Spoke in meetin'? What, them children spoke in prayer an' exhortation? Gude save us; did I ever!"

"No, no, grannie; far worse than that. Prayer?—no, indeed! Mr. Lawson was to preach that day, and Abigail Williams spoke right out in meeting, and spoke impudently to him. Before he had time to begin, she cried out, 'Come! stand up, and name your text;' and when he had given it, 'That's a long text,' cries she. And then, while he was preaching, another cries out, 'Come! there's enough of that,' and more like that. Was it not shameful? And they said Ann Putnam was so rude that the people next her in the seatings had to hold her down by main force. Goody Nurse said it was shameful that Mr. Parris did not