Crucible

It stood, dark and threatening, over r their shoulders night and day, for out of it Indian tribes marauded from time to time and Reverend Parris had parishioners who had lost relatives to these heathen.

It was also, in my opinion, one of the tings that a John Proctor would rebel against, for
the time of the armed camp had almost passed, and since the country was reasonably
– although not wholly – safe, the old disciplines were beginning to rankle.

There was a
good supply of ne’er-do-wells in Salem, who dallied at the shovelboard in Bridget
Bishop’s tavern.

This predilection for minding
other people’s business was time-honored among the people of Salem, and it
undoubtedly created many of the suspicions which were to feed the coming madness.

[SOME OF THE INITIAL RAMBLE MISSING] (1) Abigail: Uncle, the rumor of witchcraft is all about; I think you’d best go down and deny it yourself.The parlor’s packed with people, sir.I’ll sit with her.

Which is not to say that h nothing broke into this strict and somber way of life.

Abigail: But we never conjured spirits.

Their creed forbade
anything resembling a theater or “vain enjoyment.”

That there were some jokers, however, is indicated by the practice of appointing a
two-man patrol whose duty was to “walk forth in the time of God’s worship to take
notice of such as either lye about the meeting hous, without attending to the word and
ordinances, or that lye at home or in the fields without giving good account thereof,
and to take the names of such persons and to present them to the magistrates,
whereby they may be accordingly proceeded against.”

When a
new farmhouse was built, friends assembled to “raise the roof,” and there wawould be
special foods cooked and probably some potent cider passed around.

Parris: There is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit?Do you understand
that?

A certain deference springs into him., although his worry remains.]Why

Mrs Putnam [full of breath, shiny eyed]: It is a marvel.

When a
new farmhouse was built, friends assembled to “raise the roof,” and there wawould be
special foods cooked and probably some potent cider passed around.

Their creed forbade
anything resembling a theater or “vain enjoyment.”

The edge of the wilderness was close by.

It was also, in my opinion, one of the tings that a John Proctor would rebel against, for
the time of the armed camp had almost passed, and since the country was reasonably
– although not wholly – safe, the old disciplines were beginning to rankle.

Their creed forbade
anything resembling a theater or “vain enjoyment.”

[SOME OF THE INITIAL RAMBLE MISSING] (1) Abigail: Uncle, the rumor of witchcraft is all about; I think you’d best go down and deny it yourself.The parlor’s packed with people, sir.I’ll sit with her.

Abigail: We did dance, uncle, and when you leaped out of the bush so suddenly, Betty was frightened and then she fainted.And there’s the whole of it.

That there were some jokers, however, is indicated by the practice of appointing a
two-man patrol whose duty was to “walk forth in the time of God’s worship to take
notice of such as either lye about the meeting hous, without attending to the word and
ordinances, or that lye at home or in the fields without giving good account thereof,
and to take the names of such persons and to present them to the magistrates,
whereby they may be accordingly proceeded against.”

The American continent stretched endlessly west, and it was full of mystery for them.

Parris: Now look you, child, your punishment will come in its time.But if you trafficked with spirits in the forest, I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it.

Pause.