Sunday, March 2, 2014

Journal Entry #5

           Well into my servant's trial, Abigail began to convince the judges that Mary was a witch and she acted as if she was talking to someone up beyond the heavens.  She even stated that Mary could force herself to faint.  We all tried to get her to do it, but she couldn't.  Abigail even proclaimed that Mary was sending spirits her way, but Mary argued that she cannot see any spirits.  Then my wife comes out in order to explain why she fired Abigail.  She was careless with her answer and even acted oblivious about our previous relationship.  After Elizabeth leaves, Abigail continues to say that Mary is sending spirits their way and Mary joins in with them.  I go to touch Mary and I am instantly declared the devil's worker.
           I was astounded when she said this.  I am a man of my religion, though I only go once a month.  Then the court had its focus on me.  It shortly became a battle about if I was the devil's worker or not.  After several back and forth moments, I was put in jail.  Not too long after that, Elizabeth visited me in the jail where we had a private conversation.  She told me about how Giles was stoned to death and how many of the people of Salem are scared out of their wits about being accused.  I then began to question whether or not I should testify and risk my life to make a statement.  I thought that maybe guilt would bestow upon them if an innocent man was hung for a crime he didn't commit.  Maybe that would put an end to all the troubles of Salem.  I then returned to the courtroom with Elizabeth.  After having my name tarnished by the judges, I immediately defended myself and my wife from all they said because I didn't want to sign a paper that would eventually be hung on the doors of the church.  I even got angry to the point of crying.
           When word got out that I had testified, people began to swarm the meeting hall.  It was a difficult choice for me to make whether or not I should risk my own life to save the many people of Salem who were accused of witchcraft.  Some may say it was a bad idea, but I thought it was the right thing to do.  Even if I was giving up my time to live, it meant putting possibly the right idea into Hathorne, Hale, and Danforth's head.  The idea that what they were doing was wrong.  I was then carried off with the other seven prisoners to be hung by the gallows.

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