The Spare Bedroom

[ remember, when a youngster' of the happy hours I spent, When to visit Uucle Hiram in the country oft I went, And the pleasant recollection still in iiu-inory bas a charm )f iiiy dajsot romp and ramble round the dear olü fasliion farm. But at nlight all joyous fancies from my youthfui bosom ciept, For I knew they'd surely put me where the "corap'ny" always slept, And my spirit sank witlnn me as upou it feil the glooui, Aud the vast and soleinn grandeur of the best spare room. Ah, the weary waste of pillow where I laid my lonely head. Sinking, like a sbipwrecked sallor. in a patchwork sea oi bed, While the moouligbt, tbrouirh the casement, cast a grim and ghastly glare O'er the stift" and staiely presence oí each dismal haircloth chair, And it touched the mantel's spleudor, where the wax fruit used to be. And the alabaster image "Uncle Josh." brought home from sea, While the breeze thut shook the curtains spread a musty, faint perfume Aud a subtle fceutof camphor through the best spare room. Round the walls were hung the pictures of the dear ones passfd away, 'Uncle Si. and A'nt Luiauy," taken on their wedding dav, 'Cousln Kuth," who died at twenty, in the corner had a place Near tbe wreath froiu "Eben's" eoflïu.dipped in wax and in a case ; 'Grauctpa Wilkins," done in color by some artist of the town. ïars askew and somewhat crosseyed, but witii ñxeil and awiul irown Beeraing some to be waitiug to eujoy the dreadinl doom Of the irightened little sleeper in the best spare room. Every ruslle f the corn husks in the mattress underneatb Was to me a ghostly whisper muttered througb. a phantoni's teeth, And the mice behind the wainscot, as they scampered round nUout, Filled my soul with speechless horror when I'd put the candle out. So I'm deeply sympathetic wheu the story I have read, Of some victim burled living, by bis friends who thougbt him dead ; And I thiuk I kuow his leelings in the eold and silent tonib For f've slept at Uncle Hiram's in the best spare room.