MOTHS AT THE FIRESIDK. ^7 



close around us, little known by most men, and, indeed, 

 their presence little suspected." 



"It's a mighty good thing," remarked Dan, " dat 

 dem mo'hvs doan fly inter de winders often." He 

 placed his elbows on his knees, leaned forward, rested 

 his chin upon his fists, shook his head oracularly, and 

 assumed a very solemn air. " ISTo, it ain't bes', noways, 

 to have too much to do wid dem critters. Dar was my 

 brudder Wash, 'fore I cum up from ole Marylan' ; de 

 berry week 'fore he died one ob dese big mo'hvs flew 

 inter de winder, flickered aroun' de candle, and 'fore we 

 know'd brushed it right out. Dar we wur, all in the 

 dark ; an' I tell you, a fearder set there never was. I 

 'member dat night to dis day ! We knowed we w\as 

 warned, an' dat some 'v us mus' go. But which ? — 

 Good Lor', dat was de question I Shore 'nough, a week 

 arter dat, Wash was taken sick an' died. He knowed 

 he had to go w'en he was tuk, an' jis lay down and kin' 

 o' faded out. No ! It doan do to have too much to do 

 wid dem mo'hvs. 



" An' dat ain't all," continued the venerable servant, 

 perceiving that w'e were all encouraging him to continue 

 his discourse. " Dat ain't all, needer. Dar's one ob 

 dem mo'hvs dat goes flyin' roun' wid a reg'lar raw- 

 head-and-bloody-bones on it, like de pirate flag ob Cap- 

 tain Kidd. Dey calls it de ' Death's-Head Mohf,' or 

 somethin' like that " 



" Did you ever see one, Dan ?" I asked, interrupting 

 him. 



The old man started, spread his open palms upward, 



