How we cite our quotes:
Quote #4
“What would you have me read, sir?”
“I would suggest Proverbs, 24th Chapter, 21st verse,” said the old minister, with a canny gleam in his eye which Kit understood as John began to read.
“My son, fear the lord and the King, and meddle not with them that are given to change, For their calamity shall rise suddenly, and who knoweth the ruin of them both?” (6.24-26)
Dr. Bulkeley makes use of scripture to defend his political position. His conflation of religion and politics suggests the close alliance between the two in this period.
Quote #5
“There was another boy, after Judith,” Mercy continued. “He lived only a week. Mother said it was the will of God, but sometimes I have wondered. He was very tiny, born early, but on the third day he had to be baptized. It was January and terribly cold. They said the bread froze on the plates at communion that Sunday. Father bundled him up and carried him to the Meeting House. He was so proud! Well, of course that was a long time ago, but after that Father changed. And it has been a struggle, trying to manage without a son to help.” (8.47)
As Mercy’s story suggests, the Puritan’s are a rigidly faithful people. Uncle Matthew, for example, baptized his premature son in the middle of winter. Mercy, who is speaking here, seems unsure about the rightness of this.
Quote #6
“Play-acting! And with the Bible!”
Reverend Woodbridge stared incredulously at Mercy. “What could have been thinking of, Mercy, to allow such a thing?” (9.30-9.31)
The strictness of the Puritan faith forbids the kind of flippant attitude that Kit’s playacting would seem to suggest. Do you find Kit’s behavior at the dame school disrespectful?