places without losing their popularity, the latter of which they well knew to be their chief support; but the lord was not to be so satisfied, and he signified his pleasure that the household should resign their offices!!

"Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone."

CHAPTER XI.

MERRYMAN'S DREAM OF HIS DESCENT INTO THE

THE AUTHOR

DESCRIBES

REALMS OF PLUTO.
WHAT HE SAW AND HEARD THERE; AND FLAT-
TERS HIMSELF that HIS DESCRIPTION WILL RANK
AS HIGH IN THE BRITISH CLASSICS, AS HOMER'S
AMONG THE GRECIAN, VIRGIL'S AMONG THE LA-
TIN, OR FENELON'S AMONG THE FRENCH CLAS-
SICS.

PENDING the discussion of the Catholic emancipation, and before the Brushites had the most distant ideas that Farmer Gildrig would venture upon dismissing them, they were in the highest spirits, as they vainly imagined that their master had found it necessary to acquiesce in the measure, and that they should stick another popular feather in their caps. Merry`man retired to repose one night, as usual, much

more overpowered with brandy, than with the

fatigues of office, and soon sunk into the arms

'Twas at the midnight hour, when close is drawn Night's sable shroud, and ghosts are said to glide Thro' grove obscure, across the dusky lawn,

Or by the murm'ring brook's moon-silver'd tide.

J

That is, the gloomy ghosts; for, some there are
Of sprightlier cast, who make of men their sport,
Undraw their curtains, rattle chains to scare
The full-grown babes, that vanish into air.

Some shake the plates and saucepans on the shelves,
Or knock against the wainscot once!-twice!!

thrice!!!

Now here,-now there, the very pleasant elves
Scamper about the house, like rats and mice.-

-At this same hour,-(Reader, we are already tired, and shall not risk thy neck, or our own reputation, by climbing any higher up the Parnassian steep;)—the facetious Merryman was snug in bed by the side of Mrs. Merryman, -as every good husband should be, playing a nasal duet with the winds. His sleep was not sound: -- but happy is the courtier who can

sleep at all!-- and he appeared so agitated that Mrs. Merryman, who was not yet composed, put her hand upon his face, and found it bedewed with clammy drops. She awoke him.He started up; beheld the rushlight's gleam, and heard his wife's soothing voice asking him, if he had not been disturbed by some horrid dream, or oppressed by a night-mare? The following dialogue then ensued:

Merryman. I've been in Hell;

and rather

than pass such another night, I would willingly never close my eyes again.

Mrs. Merryman. Poh! my dear!- Dreams arc but indigestions.

Merryman. True: but then they sometimes mock us with the semblance of reality. Mrs. Merryman. Well, but what was this terrific dream?

me.

Merryman. Still it leaves a horror upon

Mrs. Merryman. Pray relate it.

Merryman. Is the brandy-bottle by the bed

side?

Mrs. Merryman. I suppose it is—as usual. Merryman.Do hand it to me.- (Drinks.)

-I dreamed that I had departed this life without a penny to bury, and actually wandered about with other pennyless shades on this side the river Styx, without being permitted to get into Charon's boat, till relieved by the hand of charity. I then crossed the Styx, and, on my landing, was instantly seized by some horrid spectres, and dragged before the infernal judges Minos, acus, and Rhadamanthus.

-

I

made them a very low bow, and was about to express my happiness at seeing the shades of those upright Grecians, whose names were still so celebrated on earth, and whose justice had secured them such honours in his infernal majesty's dominions: but Minos, eyeing me with a most severe aspect, (he was the very picture of the late Hurlothrumbo,) exclaimed: 66 Peace Babbler! Thou art not in the Common-Hall of Freeland now; neither are our ears to be tickled like those of the fools whom thou hast left behind with empty sounds. Thou comest hither not to deceive us, but to hear thy doom await it in silence." The uner ring record lay before them, wherein not only every transaction of my life was faithfully re