NE winter night, at half-past nine,
Cold, tired, and cross, and muddy,
I had come home, too late to dine,
And supper, with cigars and wine,
Was waiting in the study.
There was a strangeness in the room,
And Something white and
Was standing near me in the gloom -I took it for the carpet-broom Left by that careless slavey.
But presently the Thing
To shiver and to sneeze:
On which I said "Come, come, my man!
That's a most inconsiderat e plan.
Less noise there, if you please!" "I've caught a cold," the Thing replies,"Out there upon the landing."I turned to look in some surprise,
And there, before my very eyes,
A little Ghost was standing!
He trembled when he caught my eye,
And got behind a chair."How came you here," I said, "and why?
I never saw a thing so shy.
Come out!
Don't shiver there!" He said "I'd gladly tell you how,
And also tell you why;
But" (here he gave a little bow)"You're in so bad a temper now,
You'd think it all a lie. "And as to being in a fright,
Allow me to
That Ghosts have just as good a
In every way, to fear the light,
As Men to fear the dark." "No plea," said I, "can well
Such cowardice in you:
For Ghosts can visit when they choose,
Whereas we Humans ca'n't
To grant the interview." He said "A flutter of
Is not unnatural, is it?
I really feared you meant some harm:
But, now I see that you are calm,
Let me explain my visit. "Houses are classed,
I beg to state,
According to the
Of Ghosts that they accommodate: (The Tenant merely counts as
HT,
With Coals and other lumber). "This is a 'one-ghost' house, and
When you arrived last summer,
May have remarked a Spectre
Was doing all that Ghosts can
To welcome the new-comer. "In Villas this is always done -However cheaply rented:
For, though of course there's less of
When there is only room for one,
Ghosts have to be contented. "That Spectre left you on the Third -Since then you've not been haunted:
For, as he never sent us word,'Twas quite by accident we
That any one was wanted. "A Spectre has first choice, by right,
In filling up a vacancy;
Then Phantom,
Goblin,
Elf, and Sprite -If all these fail them, they
The nicest Ghoul that they can see. "The Spectres said the place was low,
And that you kept bad wine:
So, as a Phantom had to go,
And I was first, of course, you know,
I couldn't well decline." "No doubt," said I, "they settled
Was fittest to be
Yet still to choose a brat like you,
To haunt a man of forty-two,
Was no great compliment!" "I'm not so young,
Sir," he replied,"As you might think.
The fact is,
In caverns by the water-side,
And other places that I've tried,
I've had a lot of practice: "But I have never taken yetA strict domestic part,
And in my flurry I
The Five Good Rules of
We have to know by heart." My sympathies were warming
Towards the little fellow:
He was so utterly
At having found a Man at last,
And looked so scared and yellow. "At least," I said, "I'm glad to findA Ghost is not a
MB thing!
But pray sit down: you'll feel inclined(If, like myself, you have not dined)To take a snack of something: "Though, certainly, you don't appearA thing to offer
OD to!
And then I shall be glad to hear -If you will say them loud and clear -The Rules that you allude to." "Thanks!
You shall hear them by and by.
This IS a piece of luck!""What may I offer you?" said I."Well, since you
RE so kind,
I'll tryA little bit of duck.
NE slice!
And may I ask you
Another drop of gravy?"I sat and looked at him in awe,
For certainly I never sawA thing so white and wavy.
And still he seemed to grow more white,
More vapoury, and wavier -Seen in the dim and flickering light,
As he proceeded to
His "Maxims of
TO 2
Canto 7
II----Sad-Souvenaunce--
