A TALE.

BY MARIA REGINA ROCHE,

AUTHOR OF THE CHILDREN OF THE ABBEY, MAID OF
THE HAMLET, VICAR OF LANSDOWNE, AND

CLERMONT.

"Thou com'st in such a questionable shape,
"That I would speak to thee."

VOL. I.

SHAKSPEARE.

PHILADELPHIA :

PUBLISHED BY JOHN CONRAD, & Co. No. 30, CHESNUT
STREET, PHILADELPHIA; M. & I. CONRAD, & Co.
NO. 144, MARKET-STREET, BALTIMORE; AND RAPIN,
CONRAD, & co. WASHINGTON CITY.

WQR 19 FEB 36

NOCTURNAL VISIT..

CHAP. I.

X

"Unskilful he to fawn, or seek for pow'r

"By doctrines fashion'd to the varying hour;
"Far other aims his heart had learn'd to prize,
"More bent to raise the wretched than to rise."
GOLDSMITH.

IN a little hamlet called Wyefield, situated between Chester and Holywell, and about two miles from the great road, there lived, many years ago, a curate, of the name of Greville, whose memory is loved and venerated by all who had the happiness of knowing him: like the good pastor so beautifully described in Goldsmith's Deserted Village, he was, though "not passing rich," dear to all the country round, from his unaffected sanctity" and simplicity of manners.

He practised what he preached; and though a narrow income sometimes compelled him to bound his charities, his benevolence knew no limitations. With cheerful alacrity he visited the sick and the afflicted, administering to their wants, and calm