The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-07-02

brass, the base was spindle-legged,
with acorn-shaped projections breaking
the line. Beneath the five large
drawers were u collection of smaller
ones, three on each side with deep
space or cupboard in the center.
This was inclosed by door, orna-
mented with brass knob and quaint
little l1nocker. The cupboard was like
tiny porters lodge, and enveloped the
whole piece of furniture with un air of
mystery. 1t warded off intrusion, and
suggested the propriety of lifting the
knocker to ask permission of some
shadowy specter if one might venture
to examine more closely this genuine
antique.
The owner was evidently proud of
her possession; and we found one day
that it had history--a true one. She
told it to us with the keen interest that
age finds in rehearsing the story of its
youth.
81 always wanted chest of drawers;
and, when l went to work in the fac
tory, determined to have one. l didn't
think much about gettin' married. and
havin' parlor of my own. l just
wanted that.
cold Judge Pettingell had died, and
his niece was willin' to sell everything
that belonged to Mis- Judge. l offered
her twenty-five dollars for this chest,
not knowin' whether it was cheap or
not; but meant to have it. Sol worked
hard; and every quarters payment |
put by little money in silk purse, all
by itself, until I'd saved enough.
''When had it brought home, father
didn't seemed pleased, and said l was
silly, and I'd better have put my money
in the bank; but mother, she looked at
it, and her eyes shone, and used to see
her standing up before it, and openin'
and shuttin the drawers.
Then got acquainted with my first
husband l always called him Hiram,
and so do to this day. We were mar
ried; but l wouldn't take away the
chest from mother while she lived.
knew she set store by it, as did.
''After mother died-father went first
then I brought it home, and this
china. 1 set the drawers up where
they stand now.
'Four or five years went by. Hiram
and I were happy together and then he
was taken sick. We hadn't any chill
dren. He used to say that he must
make his will; but lie put il off, and put
it off, and by and by he died without
doin' it.
81 never thought that anything /
bought myself could belong to Hiram.
! knew should get my thirds, and that
they would give me the house. l sup
posed the furniture was mine.
'"The day after the funeral Hiram IS
two brothers came in, with lawyer.
They said everything valuable had got
to be sold at auction. l could bid 'em
in if l wanted to; but all the property
had got to be praised, in order to see
how much ought to have.
'Then they went round the rooms,
saying what this thing was worth and
what that thing was worth, and pretty
soon they came to the chest The
lawyer whispered to Hiram's brother,
but heard him: This is worth con-
Siderable
81 almost screamed out: You can't
touch that. earned every cent of it
in the factory, and paid for it, and
brought it over here
"The lawyer answered pretty sharp:
well, ma'am, that don't make bit of
difference. Whatever you brought here
belonged to your husband That's the
law of the land
Ezekiel, Hirams youngest brother,
stood close by, and he put in: why,
Abigail, you can buy back what you
want now if we give permission Twas
mad and so just let the auction go on;
and when the day came, | bid pretty
low on my things.
"The neighbors were real good, and
never tried to bid against me. When
It came to that chest of drawers, just
spoke up loud, so everybody could hear,
and said It's burning shame for me
to have to buy what's already my own
and if men folks have made such law,
they ought to take it back, and make
another Then / bid twenty-five dol
lars, and paid for the chest over againi
for | knew Ezekiel would get all he
could for it.
"There was just enough from my
thirds to keep the house and garden,
but Hiram's brothers had all the rest OF
the land. They sold it TO Mr.. Jones,
our nearest neighbor; and shut up my
house, and went back TO work in the
factory. 'Twarn't very long before
Mis- Jones died. used to think, while
1he looms were goiD', about our tive