Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-01-09
pen to the south. They will not en-
dure cold currents Of air, and they al
ways want shelter from the rains.
massachusetts, Ploughman.
FEMALE CURIOSITY

A naval officer, who some time ago
came TO reside in Edinburg, having
previously engaged large mansion on
a short lease, despatched his butler to
receive his furniture, and have the house
put in order. The butler engaged a
young woman, residing in theneighbor-'f
hood, to clean out the rooms and ar
range part fthe furniture, and he assis-
ted her himself to carry up large chest
of rather singular appearance. This
gigantic box his master had purchased
as curiosity; but unlike that described
in the song of the "Misleto Bough, y
itdidnot shu t, but opened with spring
attached to the lock; which be-
ing touched, the lid few open, and a
tall, brawny Highland man, in full cos-1
tune, stood erect, and struck out his
right arm, in which was wooden
sword.
The gentleman had purchased it as
curious piece ofmechanisn, and was
wont to amuse his children with it.
"That's heavy chest,'' says the
woman as they placed 1t on the floor.
/" Yes" answered the butler, who
was a wag of the first water, "these's
something heavy in it, certain; but
there's something mysterious about it
also, for although the key hangs at the
end of it, no one is allowed to open it. -
"Did you ever see the inside of it,"
replied she, walking around it.
" Never" said he, otis as much as
any four places is worth even to speak
about it."
So saying, the knight of the cork
screw looked first at the woman, then
at the chest, then on the floor, and then
retired slowly down the stairs whistling,
to work on the ground fat. The girl
proceeded to put things in to rights
in the room; but every time she
passed the chest she thought it looked
more odd. s'Frai.ty, thy name is wo-
man!'' She raped on the lid with
her knuckles-it had a curious hollow
isound-very! And none of the ser
wants had dared to open it! What on
earth could it contain? Well, it was rome
other business, so she went diligently
to work for five minutes, at the end of
which time she saw herself standing,
with her arms akimbo, gazing on the
chest. 'It can DO no harm to look
into it," thought she: so she quickly
took the key from the nail and applied
it to the lock. OF course she heard
footsteps on the stairs-as every one
will do when afraid of detection in the
commission Of some act they wish to
keep secret. Again she regained con-
fidence, and returned to the chest; she
stopped and turned the key. Up flew
the lid; and the wooden Highlandman
kilt, and philabeg sprang on his legs
with more than humanagility, and fetch
ed the petrifed girl sharp whack a.
cross the shoulders with the fiat of his
"Andata FeHara." Aprolonged shrek,
ending in moan of despair, indicated
that the poor woman had sought re-
Ii eff in a swoon.
In the course Of a few moments the
woman rose on her elbow looking
wildly around the room, till her eyes
caught the Highlandman bending over
her. Seeking nothing but destruction
awaiting her, two springs took her to
he door, down stairs she went; nordid
she slacken her space till the found
herself standing in the house of a lady
q the neighborhood. The poor VIC
man did not recover from her fright. for
several days.