hat he cried out, "A witch! a witch! a witch!"

Upon this she, laughing, answered, "a conjurer! a conjurer! a
conjurer!" and so they parted; but it did not end thus, for a warrant
was issued out against Mrs. Margery, and she was carried to a meeting
of the justices.

At the meeting, one of the justices who knew little of life, and less
of the law, behaved very idly; and, though nobody was able to prove
anything against her, asked who she could bring to her character. "Who
can you bring against my character, sir?" says she. "There are people
enough who would appear in my defense, were it necessary: but I never
supposed that any one here could be so weak as to believe there was
any such thing as a witch. If I am a witch, this is my charm; and"
(laying a barometer or weather-glass on the table) "it is with this,"
says she, "that I have taught my neighbor to know the state of the
weather." All the company laughed; and Sir William Dove, who was on
the bench, asked her accusers how they could be such fools as to think
there was any such thing as a witch?

After this, Sir William inveighed against the absurd and foolish
notions which the country people had imbibed concerning witches and
witchcraft, and having proved that there was no such thing, but that
all were the effects of folly and ignorance, he gave the court such an
account of Mrs. Margery, and her virtue, good sense, and prudent
behavior, that the gentlemen present were enamored with her, and
returned her public thanks for the great service she had done the
country. One gentleman in particular, I mean Sir Charles Jones, had
conceived such a high opinion of her that he offered her a
considerable sum to take care of his family, and the education of his
daughter, which, however, she refused; but this gentleman sending for
her afterwards, when he had a dangerous fit of illness, she went, and
behaved so prudently in the family, and so tenderly to him and his
daughter, that he would not permit her to leave his house, but soon
after made her proposals of marriage. She was truly sensible of the
honor he intended her, but, though poor, she would not consent to be
made a lady till he had effectually provided for his daughter; for she
told him that power was a dangerous thing to be trusted with, and that
a good man or woman would never throw themselves into the road of
temptation.

All things being settled, and the day fixed, the neighbors came in
crowds to see the wedding;