A fine, free-spoken woman; a little bold in her manners, but nothing wrong about her." "Did you ever hear such nonsense as that about her tearing down a part of the meeting-house simply by looking at it?
And yet there sat the best lawyers in the colony on the bench as her judges, and swallowed it all down as if it had been gospel." "And then those other stories of her appearing in people's bed-rooms, and vanishing away suddenly; and of her being responsible for the illness and death of her neighbors' children; what could be more absurd ?" "And of the finding of puppets, made of rags and hogs' bristles, in the walls and crevices of her cellar! Really, it would be utterly contemptible if it were not so horrible." "Yes, she is to be executed on Gallows Hill; and next week! I can scarcely believe it, Master Raymond.

If I could muster a score or two of other stout fellows, I would carry her off from the very foot of the gallows." "Oh, the frenzy has only begun, my friend," replied Raymond.

"You know whose trial comes on next ?" "How any one can say a word against Mistress Nurse--that lovely and venerable woman--passeth my comprehension," said Joseph Putnam's young wife, who had been a listener to the conversation, while engaged in some household duties.
"My sister-in-law, Ann Putnam, seems to have a spite against that woman.
I went to see her yesterday, and she almost foams at the mouth while talking of her." "The examination of Mistress Nurse before the magistrate comes off to-day.

Shall we not attend it ?" "Of course, but be careful of thy language, Friend Raymond.

Do not let thy indignation run away with thy discretion." Raymond laughed outright, as did young Mistress Putnam.