Letter 2 ((Mary Warren to Abigail *before they were confronted in the court*))

Dearest Abby,

I don’t understand your reasoning for all these lies. You are beginning to tear our town apart. Accusers are crying spirits, spirits and innocent victims are being hung. Animals are roaming without owners and farms are being left to ruin. This is all pretense. I do not see spirits and neither do you. The other girls follow you and believe it is the truth. It is not! At first, it was all a sport, but it is becoming harmful. Please, Abby, I beg of you. Stop this destruction. Let us go and tell the truth. Proctor always tells us that the truth will be the means of escape, so we must stand by it. I’m scared Abby, I want to walk with God.

I know you meant no harm when you bid me give the doll to Goody Proctor. Hale and Proctor think this good deed was done by a false heart but how could you have known? You can be a good person Abby, I know you can! It is much better if we confess our wrongdoings now, and then maybe we will not be hung. Maybe we will be praised for saving lives. Maybe we will just get a whipping. Despite the consequences, it is time to put an end to this. Before we are summoned, you need to tell me of your plans. Proctor implores that I confess. I don’t want to hurt you, but I have to Abby. This is wrong. It is hurting me. I am sick and shudder in my sleep thinking about this very matter. It’s a sin to mettle with people’s good names! Confess with me Abby! The Lord will save us!


Mary