The Canterville Ghost

`You don't know anything about America. The best thing you can do is to go there and improve your mind. My father will be very happy to pay for you to go there. I have to say that there is a heavy tax to pay for any kind of spirits, but there will be no difficulty with the immigration officers, because the officers are all Democrats like my father. When you are in New York, I am sure that everyone will want to know you. I know lots of people who would give a hundred thousand dollars to know who their grandfather was, and they would pay much more than that to have a family ghost.'

`I don't think I would like America.'

`I suppose that is because we have no ruins and no strange and interesting old things' said Virginia, not very nicely.

`Of course you have ruins and strange things!' answered the Ghost; `You have your navy and your manners.'

`Good evening; I will go and ask papa to get the twins an extra week's holiday.'

`Please don't go, Miss Virginia,' said the ghost; `I am so lonely and so unhappy, and I really don't know what to do. I want to go to sleep and I can't.'

Vocabulary:

Tax: Money the government takes from you.
Spirits: Spirits can mean strong alcohol or ghosts..
Immigration: What happens when you go to live in another country.
Democrats: A United States political party..
Ruin: What is left after something big has fallen to pieces.