"Why, Sir, generally they say from twelve till two; well you may
smile," said she seeing papa unable to control his features, "but its
not once I have warned you, nor twice either."

"You have done so" said papa "and I feel certainly much obliged by
your kind intentions. I always heard the Welsh were superstitious; but
could not have believed they carried it to such an extent as you do in
this neighbourhood."

"It may be so; but you are so very unbelieving. May be you don't
believe in corpse candles."

"Oh yes, when they're lighted I do."

"And ain't they always lighted."

"What do you mean," said papa, "are they not the lights you burn
during the night, while a dead body lies unburied."

"Bless your innocent heart! No. The corpse candies, are seen burning
and moving of themselves, afore people die; coming down the roads from
the houses they live in as a warning."

"A warning for what my dear Mrs. Davis? what earthly purpose can they
answer? have we not warning enough in the daily events of our lives to
impress us with the instability of life, and yet how rarely does death
find us prepared."

"Well, well; you may be as unbelieving as you like, and talk as you
will: I shall always believe when I see a corpse candle, there'll be a