against the grain, and, whilft my stomach rofe against its food, I flattered what I naufeated.

A grave, well-looking perfonage stood at the fideboard, with whom my aunt entered into converfation." Johnfon," faid fhe, "I think "I muft lodge my nephew in your room, which "is warm and well-aired, and difpofe of you in "the tapestry chamber, which has not lately "been flept in."-" Madam," replied Johnfon, "I am ready to give up my bed to Mr. Wil

liam at your command; but as to fleeping in "the tapestry chamber you must excuse me." "Why?" replied my aunt, "what is your ob"jection?" "I am almoft afhamed to tell "you," anfwered Johnfon, "but every body has "his humour; perhaps my objection may be "none to the young gentleman, but I confefs I "don't chufe to país the night in a chamber, "that is under an ill name." "An ill name "for what?" demanded the lady. "haunted," anfwered the butler, "vifited by noises, and rattling of chains and

"For being

"for being

apparitions; the gentleman no doubt is a "fcholar and can account for these things; I "am a plain man, and don't like to have my imagination difturbed, nor my reft broken, "though it were only by my own fancies."

"What

"What then is to be done?" faid my aunt, directing her question to me; "Johnson don't chuse "to trust himself in a haunted chamber; I fhall "have my house brought into difcredit by these "reports: Now, nephew, if you will encounter "this ghoft, and exorcife the chamber by fleep❝ing in it a few nights, I dare fay we shall hear "no more of it. Are you willing to under"take it?"

I was afhamed to confefs my fears, and yet had no ftomach to the undertaking; I was alfo afraid of giving umbrage to my aunt, and im preffing her with an unfavourable opinion of me; I therefore affented upon the condition of Johnfon's taking part of the bed with me; upon which the old lady, turning to her butler, faid, "Well,

Johnfon, you have no objection to this propo"fal." "Pardon me, madam," said he, “ I have "fuch objections to that chamber, that I will "not fleep in it for any body living." "You "fee he is obftinate," faid my aunt, cc you must ❝ even undertake it alone, or my house will lie "under an ill name for ever." "Sooner than this fhall be the cafe," I replied, "I will fleep in the chamber by myself." "You are "very polite," cried my aunt, "and I admire your fpirit: Johnson, light my nephew to his "room."

F 3

❝ room." Johnson took up the candle, but abfolutely refused to march before me with the light, when we came into the gallery, where, pointing to a door, he told me that was my chamber, and haftily made his retreat down the stairs.

I opened the door with no fmall degree of terror and found a chamber comfortably and elegantly furnished, and by no means of that melancholy caft, which I had pictured to myself from Johnson's report of it. My first precaution was to fearch the closet; I then peeped under the bed, examined the hangings; all was as it fhould be; nothing feemed to augur a ghoft, or (which I take to be worfe) the counterfeit of a ghoft, I plucked up as good a spirit as I could, faid my prayers and turned into bed: With the darkness my terrors returned; I passed a fleepless night, though neither ghoft, nor noife of any fort molefted me.

"Why," faid I within myself, " could not I "be as fincere and peremptory as Johnson? He takes his reft and is at peace, I am fleeplefs " and in terrors: Though a fervant by condition, in his will he is independant; I, who have not the like call of duty, have not the fame liberty of mind: he refufes what he does not 'chufe to obey, I obey all things whether I "chufe

"chufe them or not; And wherefore do I this? "Because I am a flatterer: And why did I swal"low a whole naufeous dofe to humour my aunt's caprice, which her own chamber-maid, "who receives her wages, would not touch "with her lips? Because I am a flatterer: And "what has this flattery done for me, who am a "flave to it? what did I gain by it at my "uncle's? I was the echo of his opinions, "fhifted as they shifted, fided with him against "truth, demonftration, reafon and even the ❝evidence of my own fenfes: Abject wretch, I "funk myself in my own efteem first, then loft "all fhadow of respect with him, and was finally "expelled from his doors, whilft I was in "the very act of proftituting my own judgment "to his grofs abfurdities: And now again, "here I am at my aunt's, devoted to the "fame mean flattery, that has already fo fhame"fully betrayed me. What has flattery gained "for me here? A bitter harvest truly I have "had of it; poisoned by an infernal dose, "which I had no plea for fwallowing; furfeited "by dainties I had no appetite to taste, and r now condemned to fleepless hours within a "haunted chamber, which her own domeftic "would not confent even to enter: Fool that

"I am to be the dupe of fuch a vapor as "flattery! despicable wretch, not to affert a "freedom of will, which is the natural right of ແ every man, and which even fervants and

hirelings exercife with a spirit I envy, but "have not the heart to imitate: I am afhamed "of my own meannefs; I blush for myself

in the comparison, and am determined, if "I furvive till to-morrow, to affert the dignity ❝ of a man, and abide by the confequences."

In meditations like thefe night paffed away, and the dawn of morning called me from my bed I rofe and refreshed my fpirits with a walk through a most charming plantation: I met a countryman at his work-" Friend," faid I,

you are early at your labour."-"Yes," anfwered he, "'tis by my labour I live, and whilst "I have health and strength to follow it, I "have nothing to fear but God alone." So! thought I, here is a leffon for me; this man is no flatterer; then why do I worship what a clown defpifes ?

I found my aunt ready for breakfast; she queftioned me about my night's reft; I anfwered her with truth that I had enjoyed no rest, but had neither feen nor heard any thing to alarm me, and was perfuaded there were no

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