Beadle's Dime Novels No. 142: The Sagamore of Saco — page 35: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Cs BUSY FINGERS AND BUSY TONGUES. 87 picter ; there’s no getting over tiat, so don’t spin out what you are going to say, but out with it.” . “ Well, then, if I must say it, here ’tis, I believe Hope Vines is a born devil—an incarnate imp, and that the soul of John is in jeopardy.” Mistress Bonyton had not removed her eyes from the pair fishing upon the rocks, and Dame Higgins had continued to knot mesh after mesh, twanging the knots, each one with a sharp bite, like a hiss, while the two girls pursued the above conversation in a low but querulous tone of voice. “If that was a boy of mine, exposed to the snares of—of —a girl like that, Mistress Bonyton, I should go and call him in—a wise woman looketh well to the ways of her household.” For the first time Mistress Bonyton withdrew her eyes, and mechanically pursued her knitting, and she answered, with a — somewhat sorrowful smile : “If you had my son John to deal with, you would most likely have a good time calling.” . “ He is of no earthly use in the world, while that girl is about. I shall be glad when the vessel is ready to go.” This from Perseverance. “Tf I had my way, he shouldn’t go at all, to fight agin’ the parliament,” was Nancy’s response. “ Never you mind, gals; there is more than one way to kill a cat.” And, as Mistress Bonyton said this, the click of her kunit- ting-needles was like so many sharp stubs. “ Oh, yes, mother, but they are long a-dying,” said Perse- verance, tying a double knot in her thread, and digging her needle into her work. Dame Higgins had been steadily tying the mesh after mesh of her net, drawing out the thread with a twang, and she now laid her hands in her lap, and tooking Mistress Bonyton straight in the eye, said slowly : “There will be no good come to this land, this church planted in the wilderneas, till the heathen are rooted out ; root and branch must be destroyed, and all that deal with ‘ wizards that peep ’—eh—and enchanters—eh—and witches—ah— and dealers in familiar spirits—eh—shall be cut off and wholly shall show them no mercy—eh.” 142 2 conniclooks.conn