Oscar Wilde, (1854-1900) was a popular Irish poet, novelist and
dramatist. His most famous works include The Picture of Dorian Gray',
The Importance of Being Earnest \ as well as some excellent short
stories like The Canterville Ghost \ This story is about an American
ambassador and his family who buy a house although the locals warn them
that ghosts live in it. After several incidents, the Otis family begin
to notice the Canterville Ghost.
The Canterville Ghost
When
Mr Hiram B Otis, the American ambassador, bought Canterville Chase,
eveiy one told him it was a very foolish thing to do, as the place was
haunted.
At eleven o'clock the family went to bed, and by
half-past all the lights were out. Some time after, Mr Otis woke up
because of a noise outside his room. It sounded like the clank of metal.
He got up at once, struck a match, and looked at the time. It was
exactly one o'clock. Mr Otis was quite calm. The strange noise
continued, and with it he heard the sound of footsteps. He put on his
slippers, took a small bottle out of his dressing case, and opened the
door. Right in front of him he saw an old man. He looked terrible. His
eyes were red; his hair was long and grey; his clothes were
old-fashioned and dirty, and there were handcuffs and rusty chains on
his wrists and ankles.
"My dear sir," said Mr Otis, "those chains
need oiling. Here take this small bottle of lubricant. I will leave it
here for you and I will give you more if you need it." With these words
the ambassador put the bottle down on a marble table, and went back to
bed, closing the door behind him.