he Gentleman laughing gave _Margery_ Sixpence; and told her she
was a sensible Hussey.

CHAP. VI.

_How the whole Parish was frighted._

Who does not know Lady _Ducklington_, or who does not know that
she was buried at this Parish Church?

[Illustration]

Well, I never saw so grand a Funeral in all my Life; but the Money
they squandered away, would have been better laid out in little Books
for Children, or in Meat, Drink, and Cloaths for the Poor.

This if a fine Hearse indeed, and the nodding Plumes on the Horses
look very grand; but what End does that answer, otherwise than to
display the Pride of the Living, or the Vanity of the Dead. Fie upon
such Folly, say I, and Heaven grant that those who want more Sense may
have it.

[Illustration]

But all the Country round came to see the Burying, and it was late
before the Corpse was interred. After which, in the Night, or rather
about Four o'Clock in the Morning, the Bells were heard to jingle in
the Steeple, which frightened the People prodigiously, who all thought
it was Lady _Ducklington_'s Ghost dancing among the Bell-ropes.
The People flocked to _Will Dobbins_ the Clerk, and wanted him to
go and see what it was; but _William_ said, he was sure it was a
Ghost, and that he would not offer to open the Door. At length Mr.
_Long_ the Rector, hearing such an Uproar in the Village, went to
the Clerk, to know why he did not go into the Church; and see who was
there. I go, Sir, says _William_, why the Ghost would frighten me
out of my Wits.--Mrs. _Dobbins_ too cried, and laying hold of her
Husband said, he should not be eat up by the Ghost. A Ghost, you
Blockheads, says Mr. _Long_ in a Pet, did either of you ever see
a Ghost, or know any Body that did? Yes, says the Clerk, my Father did
once in the Shape of a Windmill, and it walked all round the Church in
a white Sheet, with Jack Boots on, and had a Gun by its Side instead
of a Sword. A fine Picture of a Ghost truly, says Mr. _Long_,
give me the Key of the Church, you Monkey; for I tell you there is no
such Thing now, whatever may have been formerly.--Then taking the Key,
he went to the Church, all the people following him. As soon as he had
opened the Door, what Sort of a Ghost do ye think appeared? Why Little
_Two-Shoes_, who being weary, had fallen asleep in one of the
Pews during the Funeral Service, and was shut in all Night. She
immediately asked Mr. _Long_'s