ss. The
figure was tall and thin, and the countenance expressive of care and
anxiety; but there was something in the hue of the skin, and gaunt and
unearthly appearance of the whole form, which no being of this world
was ever seen to wear. 'Who are you?' said the new tenant, turning
very pale, poising the poker in his hand, however, and taking a very
decent aim at the countenance of the figure. 'Who are you?' 'Don't
throw that poker at me,' replied the form. 'If you hurled it with
ever so sure an aim, it would pass through me without resistance, and
expend its force on the wood behind. I am a spirit.' 'And, pray,
what do you want here?' faltered the tenant. 'In this room,' replied
the apparition, 'my worldly ruin was worked, and I and my children
beggared. In this press the papers in a long, long suit, which
accumulated for years, were deposited. In this room, when I had died
of grief and long-deferred hope, two wily harpies divided the wealth
for which I had contested during a wretched existence, and of which,
at last, not one farthing was left for my unhappy descendants. I
terrified them from the spot, and since that day have prowled by
night--the only period at which I can re-visit the earth--about the
scenes of my long-protracted misery. This apartment is mine; leave it
to me.' 'If you insist on making your appearance here,' said the
tenant, who had time to collect his presence of mind during this prosy
statement of the ghost's, 'I shall give up possession with the
greatest pleasure; but I should like to ask you one question, if you
will allow me.' 'Say on,' said the apparition, sternly. 'Well,' said
the tenant, 'I don't apply the observation personally to you, because
it is equally applicable to most of the ghosts I ever heard of; but it
does appear to me somewhat inconsistent that when you have an
opportunity of visiting the fairest spots of earth--for I suppose
space is nothing to you--you should always return exactly to the very
places where you have been most miserable.' 'Egad, that's very true;
I never thought of that before,' said the ghost. 'You see, sir,'
pursued the tenant, 'this is a very uncomfortable room. From the
appearance of that press I should be disposed to say that it is not
wholly free from bugs; and I really think you might find much more
comfortable quarters, to say nothing