A Book for the Young
fear nothing but acting wickedly; and I feel very sure be will not shrink from passing the night where I do; however he can please himself." 

 Mrs. Davis actually looked aghast! and though I again expressed my readiness and determination to go, I own I was a little, a very little afraid. 

 "Well, it must be as you please, I see you are a gentleman not very soon turned, when you make up your mind to do a thing." 

 "What time may we expect, this said ghost to visit us. When does it usually appear?" 

 "Why, Sir, generally they say from twelve till two; well you may smile," said she seeing papa unable to control his features, "but its not once I have warned you, nor twice either." 

 "You have done so" said papa "and I feel certainly much obliged by your kind intentions. I always heard the Welsh were superstitious; but could not have believed they carried it to such an extent as you do in this neighbourhood." 

 "It may be so; but you are so very unbelieving. May be you don't believe in corpse candles." 

 "Oh yes, when they're lighted I do." 

 "And ain't they always lighted." 

 "What do you mean," said papa, "are they not the lights you burn during the night, while a dead body lies unburied." 

 "Bless your innocent heart! No. The corpse candies, are seen burning and moving of themselves, afore people die; coming down the roads from the houses they live in as a warning." 

 "A warning for what my dear Mrs. Davis? what earthly purpose can they answer? have we not warning enough in the daily events of our lives to impress us with the instability of life, and yet how rarely does death find us prepared." 

 "Well, well; you may be as unbelieving as you like, and talk as you will: I shall always believe when I see a corpse candle, there'll be a death but just wait till you pass one night in Castle Hill; may be you'll tell a different story then!" 

 "The long and the short of the matter, Mrs. Davis is this, I liked the property, and have bought it; and am determined to reside in it if God, spares my life. As to the ghost or ghosts, I am well persuaded that, although some natural causes may render the house and premises untenable; supernatural ones I am sure have nothing to do with it." 


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