And it was perfectly delicious, and I could see as Josiah partook of it, that his mean wus a gradually mellerin’ down, and growin’ softer, and more yieldin’ and sweet. And finally when he had got about half through his meal, and he could see that as good as the vittles had been precedin’, better was to come, then I tackled him, and then I got the victory. He consented. The widder Doodle seemed more’n willin’ to stay and keep house for us, and suffice it to say, that the next afternoon saw us a settin’ out on our tower. Aunt Samantha Ann was perfectly delighted to see us, and we spent the most of the time with her, though we made aunt Sophrenia a good, honorable visit; she, too, was glad to see us, very. We staid to Dover town just a week to a day, attended to the fair, which was very interestin’ and aggreable, both to myself and to Josiah. The last day of the fair, we laid out to attend only half a day, and start for home about noon, so as to reach home in good season. We had told widder Doodle we would be there certainly that day before nightfall. It was, probably, about half-past ten A. M., in the forenoon. I was a standin’ in the Hall devoted to picters, and flowers, and piller cases, and tatten and embroidery, and so forth, and I wus just examinin’ a lamp mat, which was perfectly beautiful, when a good lookin’ wemen came up to me, and says she, a lookin’ up above my head: “Have you seen the phantom leave?” or sunthin to that effect. And I says to her, firmly but kindly: “There hain’t been no phantom here appearin’ to me, and how could I see it leave?” And thinkin’ she wus in the dark on this matter, and it was my duty to enlighten her, says I: “Somebody has been a-trying to impose on you, mam. There ’haint no such things as ghosts or phantoms.” She said sunthin’ about “their bein’ a case,” or sunthin’; she talked dretful low, and the noise around was fearful, so I couldn’t heer her over and above well. But from what I did heer, I see she was on the wrong track, and says I firmly: “I defy you, mam, to bring forward a case of ghost, or phantom, that will bear the daylight,” says I, “they are made up of fear, and fancy, and moonshine.” She took up her parasol, and pinted right up to a glass case, and says she: “I ment them phantom leaves there, up in that case.” “Oh!” says I, in a relieved tone. “I thought you ment a ghost!” They looked handsome, some like the frost-work on our windows in the winter. Wall, it probably wusn’t a ½ an hour after that, my pride had a fall. Truly, when we are a-standin’ up the straightest, tottlin’ may come on to us, and sudden crumplin’ of the knees. There I had been a-boastin’, in my proud, philosophical spirit, that there wus no such things as phantoms, and lo, and behold! within 31 moments time, I thought I see a ghost appearin’ to me. I was skeert, and awe-struck. The way on’t wus, I stood there not thinkin’ of no trouble, when all of a sudden, I heerd these words;