In colonial days

"In Colonial Days" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a window into the world of colonial New England as seen through the eyes of an elderly narrator who tells tales of history, memory, and the supernatural, all interwoven with the legends of the Province House in Boston in the late 19th century. The scene is set as the reader is introduced to the Province House and the narrator's fascination with its historical importance. Recounting a visit to the old estate, complete with architectural details and a sense of nostalgia for when British governors ruled, the narrator hears a mysterious story from an elderly bar patron about a grand masked ball, a legend that opens the door to the supernatural and colonial ghosts. This introduction blends fact with fiction, setting a stage full of intrigue as the reader looks forward to hearing the tales of characters and events to come.