FEBRUARY 



301 



there a-hearkenin' to his^ scroopittin' voice, wi' a 

 gnawin' in my innards as made my heart quop like 

 an old pump. You minds, ma'am, how our garden 

 pump quops since he was froze laist winter?" 



"OH, MR. GHOST, DON'T 'EE HURT i!" 



I remember very well. Sterculus reminds me 

 of its ailment about once a week, being desirous of 

 a new one. 



" Listen ! " said the ghost. " For fifty years I 

 have haunted this cottage, ever in the hope that 

 I might compel someone to hearken to my story. 



