Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-11-19
THE CEDAR CHEST.
BY coRINNE ARTHUR STEWART.

L y ,
perhaps, as can be found on the coast of
Maine. 1t has one long street borderod
around which, IN summer, the brig hi
flowers bloom, and in winter the snow
piles high in dazzling drifts.
The village has two broad brooks that
cross the road at right angles, and stamp
their strAgth on the rocks hard that
the water filings up in spray that vets
the passers on the bridges.
1t is not here, however, that Hiram
lived, but directly opposite. across the
Union river bay that runs on one side of
Surry, in picturesque little house, in he
dingle between two wooded hills. The
road that passed his door went on to he
summer resorts of Buehll and South
surry, where the vivid villas looked like
butterflies beside he farm houses, and he
fashionable ladies in their radiant be-
deckings, like paradise birds.
Hiram, when at home, often watched
these beribboned beings flash past in
their trim turn -outs, but he worshipped
not their pride or position, their wealth
or glittering WORTH for within his home
pretty girl had lately come to dwell
to reign there as his BRIDE one whose
happy laugh and CHEEKY smile ranked
more with him than all the gay beaut les
arts and wiles.
But he had come to wonder, and visit
fully wish to see, how his Pollys wild
rose face would look beneath a broad,
white hat, all hidden with floating
plumcs like those the ladies wore, and he
determtn u to get her one. But Polly
ehided ham for such extravagant castle
buldu-. and vowed she had come to
hep his save, and not spend money.
Now Hiram was carpenter, and one
morning one of the fine ladies wanted n
cedar chest made that would be long
enough to hold princess dress without
folding its velvet lengths, and deep and
wide enough to make couch, if uphol-
stored aud placed beside Il wall. Hiram
un rtool to make he chest, and Mas to
&c, fifteen dollars. He vas told there was
no hurry for it, however, a tie daIue
Was going away soon, -an4 the chest would
not be needed before the next spring.
IN make it Mt odd times heteId him
self, land Polly small hnve every cent Of
the money and buy one Of those
hats
1t wa4 one day three months Iator
Hiram Was in his norkroom.
"W hen are you going to finish that
chest?' L was Poly's voice that spoke,
and Polly stood before him looking most
imperious.
ooh. don't know" said Hiram glanc-
ing up from his work in surprise.
Outside, the woods We're white with
frozen snow, and the roads were slippery
and hard. But Polly pouted and sudden
ly burst into tears.
81 wish you'd take the old thing out to
the barn or shed, then she sobbed.
For you're dlisuys wanting apple pies,
and Ive got no other place to keep my
dried apples and things but i'll here, and
| do hate dreddjaUy 10 see it standing
there; it 5 long and narrow, it looks
Just like a coffin. SO it does!'
Hiram put down his tools in dismay.
''Why, Polly" he said, you never told
me this before. And it's to get you a
hat, you know. \ big hat with feat hers
on it, and you'll look lovely in it"
But Polly still sobbed
"Do take it away she pleaded.
And Hiram, utterly miserable at
Polly's distress, made haste to move the
chest and ali his tools to the barn.
Whereupon Polly wiped her pretty eyes,
and beamed upon him gratefully.
But Hiram found it cold, uncemfor-
table work, carpentering in the barn
where there was no stove, and the outside
air much below zero; but all the time he
would say to himself Its for Polly,
for Polly TO get hat WITH
At last it was fms he'd, and even to him
self Hiram could not disguise the fact
that it looked like an unusually long
coffin. The cedar wood was whittier than
ordinary, and gave forth II dry dusty odor
like "a room hat has been closed and I'M
touched for years. Polly came to view 1t,
and went pale hen she saw 1t.
Its Just like coffin, Il ghostiy coffin, "
she said.
Spring arrived, and soon the summer
resorts were again respondent with life
and fashion, and the fine dame sent word
to Hiram to bring the cedar chest that
her stately silks and beaded satlns might
be laid in it, vi here no moth would stray.
But it fell out that upon the very day the
word was brought to Hiram the
dame was taken suddenly i'll, SO i'll, in
fact, that her life was despaired OF, and
Hiram had scruples against delivering the
chest at such a time.
81 don't like said Hiram to Polly, ITO
90 bringing that cottin-looking chest
down there when she is so i'll. 1t might
prove all omen, and If it did, d feel ter
ribly."
So Hiram waited and delayed, and stu
the dame continued i'll; until one day