The Social Structure of Early Massachusetts
By GILMAN M. OSTRANDER
Settlers of Massachusetts
Were of two sets:
Those by Grace of God elected;
Those rejected.
One good way to tell the sainted
From the tainted
Was that those whose prayers were heeded
Had succeeded.
As a rule it therefore followed
That the hallowed
Were the favored upper classes,
Not the masses.
Quite a number of the lowly
Acted holy,
Hoping they had been elected
Unsuspected.
Others reasoned, after learning
Hell-fire burning
Was to be their fate forever,
—Now or never.
They were common people which is
Why so many turned out witches.
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