Richard Francis thesis for chapter four “The Yellow Bird” is Samuel Sewall facing a crisis for family devotions and the start of the Salem Witch Trials. Samuel Sewall's daughter Betty had been previously experiencing a number of episodes of spiritual despair. For example, during her childhood her spiritual despair was affecting her father's emotions; causing them to change every time she had an episode. Additionally Samuel told his son Samuel Jr. (often referred as Sam Jr.) about a young boy who had recently contracted smallpox and later passing away. With this being said Sewall's son had started to become afraid of death at a young age because of Sewall telling Sam Jr. to be prepared. Subsequently later in the chapter “The Yellow
