One night, very soon
after the removal, when the house was still, and all the family were
in bed, these unearthly musicians once made their appearance in the
kitchen of the new house, and after looking around peevishly, and
sitting with a discontented frown and in silence, they arose and went
out of the back door, and sprang on a pile of cornstalks, and I saw
them no more.
"Our new dwelling was a low-studded house of only one story, and,
instead of an upper chamber, I now occupied a bedroom that opened into
the kitchen. Within this bedroom, directly on the left hand of the
door as you entered from the kitchen, was the staircase which led to
the garret; and, as the room was unfinished, some of the boards which
inclosed the staircase were too short, and left a considerable space
between them and the ceiling. One of these open spaces was directly in
front of my bed, so that when I lay upon my pillow my face was
opposite to it. Every night, after I had gone to bed and the candle
was removed, a very pleasant-looking human face would peer at me over
the top of that board, and gradually press forward his head, neck,
shoulders, and finally his whole body as far as the waist, through the
opening, and then, smiling upon me with great good-nature, would
withdraw in the same manner in which he had entered. He was a great
favorite of mine; for though we neither of us spoke, we perfectly
understood, and were entirely devoted to, each other.
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