The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-08-31
6eueral Misffllanu.
A Mysterious Box.

Mr.. David Sears of Boston, has presented
Amherst College with a sealed box, not to be
opened for one hundred years. Ifit is open
ed before the time appointed, the gift which
it contains is forfeited. MIR. Sears being a
man noted for his benevolence, there is no
little speculation as to what the box contains.
The Boston Transcript thus hits off
THAT Box. The Springfield Republican
says, that the treasurer of Amherst College
has received from Mr.. David Sears a small,
carefully sealed box, not to be opened for
one hundred years, on pain of forfeiture Of
the gift it contains. l am very sorry that
Mr.. Sears has done this thing for it has a
most distressing effect upon my Aunt Moody.
The painful curiosity excited by Mr.. Irving's
stout gentleman, was mere triHe compared
with the effect produced, by this confounded
box, upon my poor aunt. l am really afraid
she may die of it, unless Mr.. Sears will just
tell her, in strict confidence, what that box
contains. 1t shall go no farther than to her
particular friends, the Miss Tibbettses so
nobody will know of it, of course.
You may not be unwilling Mr.. Editor, to
know what various opinions were expressed,
upon this interesting subject, by my Aunt
Moody's visitors,who took tea with her few
evenings since. is your box agreeable 2
said my aunt to Miss Simpkins-'your tea
mean how forgetful am; but cannot get
that box out of my head I'm dying to
know what's in it, so am |, Miss Moody
saiG Miss Simpkins 4 reckon it must be an
oratorio, or some sich philosophical instru-
ment.' i think you are Mistaken said Miss
Judkins its a small box. think you told
me, Miss Bingham 'Hingham q said old
Madam Popkin, who is very deaf, did you
say it was bingham box p 'Oh Lord, no
ma'am,' said Miss Judkins, it is small box,
carefully sealed mp, with the Sears arms i
wonder if it is very heavy said my aunt, for
if it is, you may be sure that it is full of
goold.' Ladies' said my Uncle Prouty, you
are quite wrong. DO you suppose Mr.. Sears
would put box Of gold up in Amherst Col
lege, and lose the interest for hundred
years ? why then, for mercys sake, didn't
he put it in the savings bank . said Miss
Pinkham. Put what in the savings bank !?
said Mr.. Prouty, losing his temper, you dom,
know what's in the box. Some folks suppose
it's an offer to Amherst College of part Of
the back bay lands, if they'll remove the col
lege down here others suspect the box con.
tains dissertation on the thirty-nine arti
cles.'
Well said Aunt Moody, it seems to mt
to be treating the college like child, ant
giving it penny-box, not to be opened til
it comes of age. don't see, for the life of
me, what right Mr.. Sears has to keep US al
on tenterhooks, for hundred years; anC
I'm sure shall have no piece Of mind till
know what's in that box I'm thinking,
said Mrs. Partington, who had just stepped
in, that the only sure way to getat the truth
and open that box at once, would be to appl!
to the supreme court for an injectioE.' Non
sense y said Uncle Prouty MIR. Sears has
right to try the patience of the trustees ant
faculty at Amherst, as long as he pleases
and if their curiosity gets the better of the
discretion, then they will forfeit the gift
whatever it may be- Gracious me- criet
Mrs. Partington, 4 wouldn't for the who'll
internal world, be one Of them professors t
open that box why, it may be an eterna
machine, and distinguish the professor in al
instant
Ladies' said Uncle Prouty, fyou will on
ly listen, think l can explain this mystery
have no doubt that this box contains some
thing Of value and that it is neither gol
nor silver nor bank notes. 1t is gift, per
haps, of wild lands-so very wild that on
hundred years must pass before they will b
ripe for the market, at any price. The dona
ton may be coupled with requirement fo
the erection of Sears professorship 4
with such peculiar conditions as to prever
its acceptance by the college. The views O
the donor are very far reaching, certainly
and it is not unlikely that the avails Of tn
sale of the property are to accumulate, for
few hundred years more, before their finalal
nlication. In the meanwhile, the Devil ma
be let loose, for thousand years the be
NAV be broken open, or stolen, or consume
in conaagration of the college buildings
Jest what expected said Mrs. Pinkhan
now, in the name O natur. why couldn't NJ
Sears have made handsome present to tt
college at once, without all the fuss and my
: ,ery of sealed box and hundred years.
The reasons, Miss Pinkham,' said Unc
Prouty, may be easily staed-Let not I'll
left hand knom rhqt thy right hand doefh-
this maxim of Holy Writ is enough for az
Christian philanthropist. A modest CIV
: naturally shrinks from notoriety. he ca
not endure, without much mental sufierln