In the second paragraph, what does the "building" represent? The colonies in danger of being destroyed by England.
Massachusetts in danger of the citizens revolting.
The Adams' home in danger of vigilantes destroying it.
The English parliament in danger of turning on one another.

It represents peace and unity

third person

explanation:

note the usage of names and pronouns, "james" & "the old man". this alone can confirm it as third person, as first person uses "i" and the like, while second person uses "you" and the like.

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jenkins wanted the narrator to write a ghost story for his magazine. he wanted the narrator to give the readers a story based on the supernatural. he wanted him to give the readers real 'horror' stories and not the type of live ghosts which he had presented in his earlier stories.