Upon this, the four began their march towards the door, in the figure of a square, each supported by the other. They were now come near the door, when Lambert, with a fearful step, advanced and opened it; but instantly fell back into his former place. The little ones were terrified on seeing an apparition clothed in white, crawling along. In short, our heroes uttered a shriek, and retreated towards their father, who rose from his seat, went to the door to ascertain the cause, and asked who was there.
“I, sir!” replied a voice, that appeared to issue from some part of the flooring.
“I!” said Mr. Friendly, “and pray who are you?”
“The barber’s boy, sir, looking for your wig.”
Think, little friends, what bursts of laughter now succeeded their preceding silence. Mr. Friendly rang the bell for a light, and when it came, perceived the wig-box broken, and the unfortunate wig entangled about the boy’s right foot.
The father now asked his children what they had been afraid of. They could not tell, and really felt ashamed; for they had been accustomed from their infancy not to be afraid of being in the dark; and the servants were expressly forbidden to tell them any foolish stories about ghosts or goblins.
The preceding conversation being thus deranged, it came at last to turn upon this subject: what could occasion those surprising fears, so common to all children, particularly on going to bed in the dark?