or when I awoke again it was almost light.
I then walked up and down all the aisles of the church to keep myself
warm; and though I went into the vaults, and trod on Lady
Ducklington's coffin, I saw nothing, and I believe it was owing to the
reason Mr. Long has given you, namely, that there is no such thing to
be seen. As to my part, I would as soon lie all night in a church as
in any other place; and I am sure that any little boy or girl, who is
good and loves God Almighty, and keeps his commandments, may as safely
lie in the church, or the churchyard, as anywhere else, if they take
care not to get cold, for I am sure there are no things either to hurt
or to frighten them; though any one possessed of fear might have taken
Neighbor Saunderson's dog with his cold nose for a ghost; and if they
had not been undeceived, as I was, would never have thought
otherwise." All the company acknowledged the justness of the
observation, and thanked Little Two-Shoes for her advice.

REFLECTION

After this, my dear children, I hope you will not believe any foolish
stories that ignorant, weak, or designing people may tell you about
ghosts; for the tales of ghosts, witches, and fairies are the frolics
of a distempered brain. No wise man ever saw either of them. Little
Margery was not afraid; no, she had good sense, and a good conscience,
which is a cure for all these imaginary evils.

VIII

OF SOMETHING WHICH HAPPENED TO LITTLE MARGERY TWO-SHOES IN A BARN,
MORE DREADFUL THAN THE GHOST IN THE CHURCH; AND HOW SHE RETURNED GOOD
FOR EVIL TO HER ENEMY, SIR TIMOTHY.

Some days after this, a more dreadful accident befell Little Madge.
She happened to be coming late from teaching, when it rained,
thundered, and lightened and therefore she took shelter in a farmer's
barn at a distance from the village. Soon after, the tempest drove in
four thieves, who not seeing such a little creep-mouse girl as
Two-Shoes, lay down on the hay next to her, and began to talk over
their exploits, and to settle plans for future robberies. Little
Margery, on hearing them, covered herself with straw. To be sure she
was frightened, but her good sense taught her that the only security
she had was in keeping herself concealed; therefore she lay very still
and breathed very softly. About four o'clock these wicked people came
to a resolution to break both Sir William Dove's house and Sir Timothy
Gripe's, and by force of arms to carry off all their mon