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had heard the squeaking of a mouse.
If
he tried to persuade her
to speak the Holy Name, she would answer flippantly, "Oh, you
know what it is! It is G and
0
and D!"
All profitable and edifying literature threw her into confu·
sion. Books in favor of the Quakers calmed her, but she could not
endure a word against them. She enjoyed Popish books, and went
blind at the sight of the Assembly catechism. She hugged the
accursed book of common prayer to her bosom, calling it her
Bible. Mather noted with mystification and some chagrin that his
own books worked like a poison
in
her. He gave her his story of
bewitched Ann Cole, of Hartford, who was unutterably pious, even
in her fits. Ann Cole's pieties gave Martha the worst convulsions
of all.
It began to look as if the battle were lost, for Mather was so
enchanted with her vitality and imagination he was losing control
over her. Her tenderness then took an odd turn. She decided
to
flatter him outrageously. Flying as if pursued by an army of
devils she burst in at his study door, paused with a sigh of relief,
and told him she had come there for sanctuary. The devils could
not enter there, the place was holy and God forbade it to them. She
sat the whole afternoon by his side, demurely reading the Bible.
At dark she went to the door and set her foot experimentally over
the threshold. Her ghostly steed was waiting for her, her devils
seized her, and she was off on her wild career seated on air.
Mather had waited long for some demonstration that his study
was in fact a holy of holies. He wished for definitive proof. He
pursued her, and dragged her again over the magic doorsill. She
resisted furiously, fell, scuffled with her feet, and threw her weight
upon him so that he was almost forced to carry her outright. Mter
incredible toil the goal was gained and the delightful miracle
repeated itself. They were both out of breath, but she recovered
first, stood up beaming, and said, "Now I am well!"
This was plainly a marvel very creditable to them both.
Mather called in several ministers and repeated the scene success–
fully half a dozen times before witnesses who infallibly would
spread the story in its proper light.
It
then occurred to him, or was
suggested, that further demonstrations of this kind were danger.
ous, as savoring slightly of witchcraft in themselves. Besides,
it
was no longer necessary. Martha for no apparent reason became
perfectly subdued.
