"Look! look, where Goodwife Corey sits on the beam, suckling her yellow bird betwixt her fingers!"
At this, Ann Putnam, the daughter of Thomas Putnam, said:
"There is a yellow bird sitting on Mr. Lawson's hat, where it hangs on the pin in the pulpit."
Those who sat nearest the girls tried to restrain them from speaking aloud; but it was in vain; for, despite all precaution, they would occasionally blurt out some ridiculous nonsense, which the people attributed to the results of witchcraft.
"Charles Stevens, what say you, now that your eyes have witnessed these abominations?" said John Bly.
"I say, if I had my way, I would cure them," answered the youth.
"How would you, pray?" Bly asked.
"With a good whip about their shoulders."
"Beware, Charles Stevens, how you speak so lightly of these afflictions, lest you bring on yourself the same condemnation of those on Witches' Hill."
There are some spirits so bold, that they overawe and intimidate even an enraged populace. Martin Luther's very audacity saved him, on more than one occasion, and something like the same spirit enabled Charles Stevens to overcome or overawe the deluded populace of Salem.