Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-04-03
w. ID. WALLACH.
THE MAHOGANY BOARD.
BY L. A. WILMER

while a storm of unusual violence was raging
In the neighborhood of Philadelphia, was
walking on the outskirts Of that city with
William Maryine, young friend Of mine, whose
singularities OF character and conduct some
times amused me, and sometimes caused me to
feel good deal Of uneasiness and apprehen-
sion on his account. Marvine was a constant
student Of German literature, and, as might be
expected, man much inclined to reverie and
fantastic speculations. In his religious creed
he was far from orthodox; but, while he be-
lieved less than the church enjoined, he ac-
cepted, without scruple, many strange doc
trineS taught by those mythical writers of
Germany who seem to delight in whatever the
common sense of mankind rejects as improb-
able and absurd.
Maryine had applied himself to the study of
law, but his erratio habits of mind unified
him tor the sober and practical duties of that
profession. Fortunately for him, his patri-
mOny was sufficient to maintain him without
any active exertiOn on his part. lie resided
with his mother "a fine old Methodist iady)
and his sister Ellen, of whom shall say little
lest it should be suspected that she was an OBJ
ject of my idOlatry; in fact, she has but little
connection with the incidents Of this nara
tive. All of Marvine's thoughts were tinctured
with the sobre hues Of his fsyOrite readings,
and his conduct was controlled by the same
evil influences to such degree that I began
10 have serious fears that the morbid condition
of his mind would end in a hopeless form of
insanity.
Like most melancholy persons, however, he
had his seasons Of joyous excitement, and
while these lasted-vhich was generally for q
very brief period he was a most delightful
companion. On the day to which my nara
tive refers, he was unusually hilarious The
tempest appeared to have an exhiliarating eff
feet on his spirits. He insisted on continuing
our walk, though the thunder nearly stunned
US with Its reyerberations, and the lightning
was almost one continuous CLEAN. We were
now beyond the limits of the city; only a few
buildings-chiehy manufactures Of one kind
or auother-could be seen; and it soon became
manifest that we should need some kind of
shelter, for the rain already began to fall
quite rapidly.
The first open door which presented itself
was that OF mill-a very gloomy eiifce
inside Of which the putting of the steam en-
gine and the harsh noise Of the machinery pro-
duced almost as much racket rs the elemental
war without; We entered and took seats on a
pile OF huge logs which were soon to be sub
mltted to the action Of the saw. At this time,
Marvine was indulging himself in one Of those
ttS OF bolsterou. merriment which always re-
garded with painful apprehension, as they
were suggestive of a maniacal prscliyity.
'Ha ha' ha,-bravon" shouted he. ''What
delicious life light be passed in a steam saw
mill love the rattle of those cog-wheels.
The saws themselves seem to be dancing to the
music. That broken winded steam engine,
like an old asthmatic minstrel, does its best to
assist the melody. By heavens I'd work here
sill day and half the night for the mere fan of
the thing The hustle Of the place excites, in
toxicates me- more than the whirlng, tumul-
tUOus delights of a ballroom"
Just then, one of the laborers brought out a
board which had been separated from the log
which was then on the movable framework
that hangs on the timbers in contact with the
teeth of the saw.
"I say, old fellow" cried Marvine, "what
sort Of wood is that? Mahogany! Sure
enough, it is nshogany. l might have known
that. What kind Of cabinet work is that in
tended for, old dry bones, What is to be made
Of these, eh ?''
"Cofins," said the man, in tone of impress
siVe sOlemnity as if il were intended TO rebake
the levity of his questions. These here boards
sir, is intended for collins"
.'Avaunt thou bird of i'll omen - cried
MarVine. :" What oroak the detestabie fell
low has "a very raven, by Jupiter, tell
you what, my gloomy friend you are not fit
for this lively business. and If see your en-
ployer, / shall advise him to discharge you at
very short notice. Confound your church
yard intonations. The very machinery seems
TO have caught 1t up,-and the stesm appara-
tus, which discoursed such pleasant music
few minutes ago, now sighs like broken
hearted widow"
''That board" continued the laborer, with
out cOndescending to take any notice of Mar
good strong box for somebody. The grain
is crooked, too, and there's a queer-loOking
knot in one end OF it
At this moment, Maryine grasped my arm
fOrcibly, like man in conyulsOns. His face
had become deadly pale, and his whole frame
was excessively agitated. With q quivering
finger, he pointed to the knot in the board, to
which the laborer had called our attention 1t
resembled the form Of the letter NJ.
= You see," said Marvine, cit is marked
with my initial. As soon as l saw that hoard
l felt that it had some connection with my des-
tiny. Yes, l felt chilling presentiment at
the first sight of it. That board is to make my
cofhn,'
AS the rain bad now abated, hurried him
out Of the building. There was such a change
IN his appearance and behavior that he scarcely
seemed 10 be the same person who entered the
mill fifteen minutes before He now looked
like an image Of despair, and remained obsti-
nstely silent as / conducted him HON eward
His mother and sister who were we'll acquaint-
ed with his infrmities, had entreated me to
keep watch on his conduct. This proved to
be q very troublesome duty but friendship and
humanity called for its performance, and did
not shrink from the task. Having committed
Maryine 10 the care of his family, left him
for awhile, hoping that the soothing attentions
of the ladies would dissipate the ''thick-coming
fancies" which tormented him. But within an
hour after separated from him, received a
note from his sister, with the information that
he was dangerously i'll.
was in some measure prepared for this in
telligence, but conceiying that it would be in
my power to give some explanation of the
causes Of his illness, fastened to his dwelling
place, and found him laboring under a violent
brain fever. In his wild ordinations he made
frequent mention Of "the mahogany board -
and this Circumstance was very perplexing to
the anxious friends who stood around his bed
did not find an opportunity to make them
acquainted with the event Of the morning, but
L conceived project which l thought wsuld
be likely to remove the cause Of Msryine's dis
order. In short, I resolved to get possession
of the board, and either destroy it or have it
used for some purpose which would efectually
counteract Marvines fear that it would become
his coffin.
As quickly as possible, therefore, 1 returned
TO the saw mill, and sought an interview with
the proprietor. He was a gentlemanlike and
humane man, and ! deemed il advisable to en-
trust him with q full aecoeht of Marvine's g
strange illusion, and the affection which it had
brought on his relatives, hoping that this con-