s days by a lingering illness, the cause of
which has given rise to many unpleasant reports. It is, however,
commonly believed that he died of a broken heart." The new incumbent's
curiosity being excited, he pressed the sexton to disclose what more
he knew of the subject. "Nothing respecting it," answered he, "is
absolutely known, but scandal has propagated a story of his having
formed a criminal connection with a young woman in the neighbourhood,
by whom, it is asserted, he had two sons. As confirmation of the
report, I know that there were two children who were seen at the
parsonage--boys of about four or five years of age; but they suddenly
disappeared, some time before the decease of their supposed father,
although to what place they were sent, or what became of them, all are
ignorant. It is equally certain that the surmises and unfavourable
opinions formed respecting them reached his ears, and precipitated the
disorder of which he died." This information recalled to the new
pastor's mind, and seemed to give proof, of the existence of all that
he had seen. Soon after, when winter approached, it became necessary
to light fires in various apartments in the parsonage. Some difficulty
was experienced in heating the room in which the figures of the man
and two boys had appeared, as the stove not only smoked, but emitted
an offensive smell. Having procured the assistance of a tradesman to
make an inspection, he discovered in the inside, at the farthest
extremity, the bones of two small human bodies, corresponding exactly
in size, as well as in other respects, with the description of the two
boys who had been seen at the parsonage.

Mozart, the celebrated composer, was extremely apprehensive of death,
and at all times he laboured under profound melancholy. The
circumstances attending the composition of his last piece were
remarkable. One day, when his spirits were unusually depressed, a
stranger, of a tall dignified appearance, was introduced. His manners
were grave and impressive. He told Mozart that he came to request he
would compose a solemn mass, as the requiem for the soul of a friend
recently lost, and whose memory he was desirous of commemorating by
this solemn service. Mozart undertook the task, and engaged to have it
completed in a month. The stranger immediately paid a hundred ducats
for the piece, and departed. This visit, somehow, had a serious effect
on the mind of Mozart. He brooded over it for some time, th