Beadle's Dime Novels No. 142: The Sagamore of Saco — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

ca suitable to a staid spinster, for Ephraim was not likely to create any very fiery emotion. “* We are straying from the question in hand, gossip,” said the hostess. “I learn, by the last arrivals from home, that the people are not only at their wits’ end in the face of these civil commotions, but that in sundry places have broken out divers cases of witchcraft and possession, whereby the peace and safety of many devout persons has been greatly jeopard- ized !” “ Yea, yea, I have read thereof; it- were a goodly thing if this young church in the wilderness, as yet litile disturbed by heresies, should give the older one a lesson. What think you, mistress ?” Mistress Bonyton did not reply directly to the question, but laying her work in her lap, replied, slowly : “At one time it was thought that your son Ephraim was falling into the snares of this—this—” “Witch devil.” Perseverance came thus to her mother’s “ Yea, it is most true. Ephraim sat day after day, like a— eh—like a sparrow upon the house-top—eh—lamenting.” Perseverance eyed Nancy with a malignant smile, whereat the latter, nothing daunted, replied : “Many a godly youth has been Jed astray, but when he re- turns, and saith ‘ I have sinned, it shall not be accounted to ~ him.” “Thou art of a goodly speech, Nancy, and I thank thee,” returned Dame Higgins. “ There, did you see that ?” cried Perseverance, with a sud- den start. “ Upon my life, Hope Vines jumped off that cliff, the whole hight, and then walked home as if nothing had hap- pened. No goat can do such a thing without help of some kind. I could swear I saw a shape holding her up—there— I am sure I did, and it ran toward the woods in the ‘Shaper & black cut.” All eyes were turned in the direction indicated, where triost certainly was to be seen a harmless cat, making her way Steaithily, in pursuit of ws poem orally; cruel beast when “StSne ae Bonyton now entered with a& fine bass, which he laid Commicloooks.aconn