exhorting him at the same time to seek for worldly wealth by application to his business, prayer, and industry.  Observing, however, that his efforts were unavailing, he promised to comply with the man’s request.  On arriving at midnight at the tradesman’s house, he found him in company with his wife and several female relations, who still affirmed that they had seen the apparition.  They were seated in a circle in the middle of the apartment.  Suddenly the whole company turned pale, and the man exclaimed, “Do you see, sir, the count is standing opposite to you?”

“I see nothing.”

“Now, sir,” exclaimed another terrified voice, “he is advancing towards you?”

“I still do not see him.”

“Now he is standing just behind your chair.”

“And yet I cannot see him; but, as you say he is so near me, I will speak to him.”  And then rising from his seat, and turning towards the corner where they said that he stood, he continued, “Sir Count, they tell me you are standing before me, although I cannot see you; but this shall not prevent me from informing you that it is scandalous conduct on your part, by the fruitless promise of a hidden treasure, to lead an honest man, who has hitherto faithfully followed his calling, into ruin—­to induce him to neglect his business—­and to bring misery upon his wife and children, by rendering him improvident and idle.  Begone! and delude them no longer with such vain hopes.”

Upon this the people assured him that the ghost vanished at once.  Oberlin went home, and the poor man, taking the hint which in his address to the count he had intended to convey, applied to business with his former alacrity, and never again complained of his nocturnal visiter.

No ghost was ever more easily laid; but supposing the story to be accurately related, Oberlin’s presence of mind is not more remarkable, than that the whole company should have concurred in affirming that they saw an apparition which was invisible to him.

* * * * *

A SCHOOLMASTER “ABROAD.”

Bishop Percy has observed, that it might be discerned whether or not there was a clergyman resident in a parish, by the civil or brutal manners of the people; he might have thought that there never had resided one in the Ban de la Roche, if he had seen the state of the inhabitants when M. Stouber went thither to take possession of the cure in the year 1750.  He, who entered upon it with a determination of doing his duty like a conscientious and energetic man, began first by inquiring into the manner of education there; and asking for the principal school, he was conducted to a miserable hovel, where there were a number of children “crowded together without any occupation, and in so wild and noisy a state, that it was with some difficulty he could gain a reply to his inquiries for the master.”

“There he is,” said one of them, as soon as silence could be obtained, pointing to a withered old man, who lay on a little bed in one corner of the apartment.