a real truth, that it drove every mother's son
away; yes not one of them could stay."

"Well, my good Mrs. Davis, we shall soon see whether I can or not; at
any rate I shall try."

"Well you certainly are a stout-hearted gentleman, and you must please
remember, whatever comes of it, I warned you. Why, there was James
Reece, a bold reckless fellow and a very wicked one into the bargain,
who feared nothing nor nobody, agreed, for five pounds to stay the
night, and was never heard of any more, and some go so far as to say,
his ghost has been seen alongside the others once or twice."

"The others," repeated papa, "why you don't mean to say there is more
than one?"

"Yes, sure sir, two or three; but 'tis no use telling you, for I
really think you are unbelieving as a Jew," and away trotted the old
dame, talking to herself as fast as she chatted to papa.

The next morning, after another ineffectual effort from Mrs. Davis, to
persuade him to give it up, papa went and concluded, what appeared to
him, an excellent bargain, with the lawyer, who was too anxious to
serve his employer, not to try and make light of the reports, and not
only this, but to fix papa so, that he could not possibly retract.

He came to the Inn and dined with us. Poor Mrs. Davis appeared rather
in awe of him; as she never spoke a word, but as she came in and out
with different things, she gave papa some very significant looks; but
always behind Mr. Crawford's back. No sooner had that gentleman left
us, than papa told me, he had made up his mind to take possession of
his new purchase, by passing the night in the haunted house.

Charles you are my most intimate friend; and therefore, I may open my
heart to you, and tell you honestly, (but mind, not a word to the other
boys, when we get back to school) that my heart began to fail me; I
know it ought not, for I had been taught better things, and should not
have suffered myself to have been influenced, by an ignorant old
woman.

There was a bedstead left in one of the rooms, put up by a gentleman
who had nearly bought the place, and who, hearing such dreadful
stories, determined to try and pass a night there, ere he finally
closed:--but people said he heard such strange noises, and saw such
odd sights, that he ran away and never returned; the bed and bedding
had, the country people believed, all vanished at the bidding of the
ghost; indeed, some scrupled not to say, that he had himself been
spirited a