The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-08-22
SELECTED STORY.
A Chest of Drawers,

sIindle-legged, with acorn-shaped pro-
i ctions breaking the line. Beneath
the five large drawers were a collection
of smaller ones, three on each side,
with deep space or cupboard in the
center.
This was inclosed by a door, orna-
mented with brass knob and quaint
little knocker. The cupboard was like
a tiny porter's lodge, and enveloped the
whole piece of furniture with an air of
mystery. 1t warded off intrusion, and
suggested the propriety of lifting the
kpocker to ask permission of some
shadowy specter if one might venture
to examine NOE clostly this genuine
antique.
The owner was evidently proud of
her possession; and we found one day
that il had history-a true one. She
tod 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 factory
/ determined 10 have one. | didn't
think much about gettin' married and
havin' parlor of ny own. just wanted
that.
"Old Judge Pettingell had died, and
his niece was willin' 10 sell everything
that belonged to Miss Judge. | offered
her S25 Tor this chest, not KNOWN
whether it was cheap or not, but l
meant to have it. So / worked hard,
and every quarters payment put by
little money in a silk purse, all by itself,
until I'd saved enough.
"N hen had it brought home, ia
ther didn't seem pleased and said l was
silly, and I'd better have put my money
in the bank; but mother she looked at
ii, and her eyes shone, and i used to
see her standiI up before it and openin'
and sbuttin' the drawers.
"Then got acquainted with my first
husband. always called him Hiram,
and 30 do 10 this day. We were mar
ried, but / wouldn't take away the chest
from mother while she lived knew
she set store by it, as she did.
AFTER mother died-father went
frsi-then l brought it home, and this
china. set the drawers up where they
stand now.
-Four or five years " ent by. Hiram
and lived 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 he put it off and put
it eff, and by and by he died without
DOM it.
al never thought that anything l
bought myself could belong TO Hiram.
knew should get my thirds, and that
they would give NE the house. i sup
Iosed the fun niture was mine.
"Tbe day after the funeral Hiram's two
brothers came in, with lawyer. They
said every thing valuable had got to be
sold at auction. ! could bid 'em in il l
wanted to; but all the property had to
he praised, in order to see how much
ought to have.
"Tben they went round the rooms,
sayin' what this thing was worth and
What that thing was worth, and pretty
soon they came to the chest. The law
yer whispered to Hiram's brother, but
] heard him: This is worth considera-
ble.'
81 almost screamed out: You can't
touch that. l earned every cent of it
in the factory and paid for it, and
brought it over here
1.-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, Hiram's youngest brother,
stood close by, and he put in: Why
Abigail, you can buy back what you
want now if We give permission
Was mad, and go just let the auction
so On, and when the day came bic
pretty low on my things. 7Tt
1.-THE neighbors were real good, anc
never tried TO bid against me. WheI
it came TO that chest of drawers just
SPOKE up loud, go everybody could heal
and said: It's burning shame for me
10 have 10 buy what's already my own
and if men folks have made such a law
they ought to take it back and make
another Then bid S25 and paid fol
the chest over again, for knew Ezekie
would get all he could for it.
''There was just enough from my
thirds TO keep the house and garden
but Hiram's brothers lad all the rest o
the land. They sold it to Mr.. Jones
our nearest neighbor, and l shut up m,
house and went back 10 work in tn,
factory. 'Twar'n't very long before
Mis- Jones died. used to think Will
the looms were goin' about our tw'
houses and the Kitchens, with nobod,
there, as it used to be; for Mis- Jone
was real pleasant woman and we wer
always neighborly together.
Gone day, about year afterward,
went up home to look over my things
suppose Mr.. Jones saw the light, TO
he came over to make call. l wa
mighty glad to see an old face, for
had been real lonesome and did wan
TO hear about everything.
"Before he went away he asked m
to marry him. Mis- Jones had gone
he hadn't any children, and he said he'
just as soon come here and live as moi
: You see his house was an old one, an
he thought he could use it for anothe
barn; while Hiram and had fixed u
this one until it was most as nice q
new.
"Perhaps / hadn't ought TO hay
done it 30 quick, for Hiram had onl
been gone about two years; but l wa
all alone, and it seemed SO good
think of keepin' house once more, so
said yes and we were married
three wppka from that night