Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-21
NAT TURNER'S RESURRECTION.

ssN vTEGIN1A-AT-1ARGE pccemoef "
sissyhat talks so oloouent'y as cid furniture?
only 10 certain people, 1t is true arc IN
as-.er.ain atmosphercs wifi it speak but as.
iisl5;,,s,reIy as the setter dog In his closeHess
asse his master is evolving a soul, so surei!
a5r,iIl hundred years OF intimate family
sas.se invest furniture with human kiashi7.
sygise rhv Is < that when antique cor
s4,,.r-cunboaYds, four-pcstcrs. end arm
sNcha;rs arc subjected 10 tho degradation
aof the auction, or OF private bribery. ana
& aSceor,c the property of the fashionable
81 Sfesdamcs Newly Rich they assume an
s.,..e-c dignity. and Invariably iii their
Sr,reh;sn owners viii, awe and discomfort.
Il sometimes gong SO fas' as TO emit
thauntss into the paiatal new homes
ssrto which they arc introduced.
RI Jerusalem. the old--rery old-county scat
81 Of southampton is now rechristencd, ana
isis known as Courtiand It's 5000 old name
saspas suppressed because. 1t is said some
Of It's thriving Inhabitants oooec,e0 20 'i1e
Is r,st-u,ark Jerusalem" on their letters
IS however that may be. twas around Je-
##-,sal.rn that the events Of my old fur
S nitu-c story conferred.
8 II was told me IN a quaint old country
& home about twenty miles from the county
Z eoat. a house with graceful stopins roof
Il and CORNER windows and plain English
black oak furniture was visitor at
ehe house but was also q descendant CT
Its founder, ane tho furniture hao Silent
q IL eut warmly welcomed me on my ar
+ rival. The hour was late the fire bright
nv book ended had looked several
e.uies towards the majestic four-poster.
c5th Its feather bed and turned-down
q o,,fIts-but the armchair. and the IRE,
/ end the pervadins comfort around the
i hca-f.! still held me- fell to observing
and rausinG upon The other occupants OF
che roora-t.le furniture. On my right:
.rsr Tho foo, OF the bed stood the iron
chest, as It was feraiiiarly known IL the
] Family. II WAS undoubtedly the great
creat-granttathe- Of the modern fire and
{ bu.e,er-proof safe. !. was raised about
e.x inches from the foor by stout wooden
legs. and was composed OF iron at least
En- inch thick: 81 was probably three feet
h.sh. and about eighteen inches In depth
and breadth. It's ponderous ooor was
locked with huge key that hung above
St, and ! knew that IT was n'teo with
pigeon and small drawers. I was
gain 70 conceal from this important Gus
eodIaa Of the family papers-wills. deeds,
and rnaps-the irrepressible smile that
erose as pictured 6 burglars face when
thus confronted!
! In the corner on my left stood q, tail
etght-day clock OF glistening mahogany.
WIS somehow conscious that this aristo-
cratic t!me-,tece was stranger TO the
house-but wi;ha. welcoule and congo
NAL guest.
Ths four-poste- was evidently anxious
60 settle for the night. for It creaked COM
olainingly from time 80 time but the
chairs were resting quietly. Only the
pei clock seemed thoroughly awake
& was surely more ioquacious and noisy
char. usual Rapidly and loudly It count
ed the seconds. then It cleared It's throat
with q clicking sound. and emitted rom
Its resonant chest twelve clear strokes
Then II spoke IN rasping, quick tones. 70
which the iron chest replied ponderously
and slow; and what I learned was his
tory. and IS here set down for the curious
10 read
The Historic Clock: There's a machine
made wheel IN my insides that / don't
like ct all It is al outrage that the Nat
Turner Historic Clock should have such
g modern. common thing stuck in Its me-
chsnisrn Positively, 7 don't feel really
genuine.
The IRON Chest: Pardon me e appear
sisoourtcous or lnhospita bIe-whict
truet would be impossible in one Of my |
r-enteel associations-but il would give !
me infinite satisfaction to learn your his
tory. / am sure it is honorable and IN |
teresting Cor you come of fine Old |
family. The Blounts, Of Belmont, are
the peers of any in the land. not even
excepting my own house.
The FIistoric Clock: With pleasure The |
ho,.r and plac. are propitious for we are. /,
I MAY say. among ourselves. and ] can
npeak freely.
To begin with, must remind you that,
though the manner OF my arriving here
was perhaps unGignified, there was moth |
,ne In il. You also know that 1t was all |
because a daughter OF your house-which,
like mine. has fallen upon evil daEs-con-
ceived q consuming desire TO possess |
tall clock blush for her motive. must |
confess: IT had Its origin IN a fashionable |
Fad alnong the plebians-the dregs that |
have risen to the top of the pot since
fhe Yankees stole OUT slaves-but enough (
Of that II is an unsafe subject for me; it
sends my sap TO my head. Well. TO re- |
surle: One of our boys. hearing her ex- |
press This intense desire. remarked that |
when our house passed into the possession !
IF its present unworthy owner. l was LETT |
inadvertently. Of course, in the garnet
There, indeed. I had lain in dust and 81 |
fence for years, listening 70 the strange
voices that echoed In the rooms below.
End glad that my shamed head was hid |
6cn from the world.
whaf small beginnings make large
eads." It was to The teasing Jokes Of two
isds thai ] owe my present comfortable
home. my historic reputation, and most
Of gil, the dear love Of my sweet young
fady. You doubt,ess know that rather
lhan be laughed ct by her brothers for
her fashionable notions, she secretly
bribed q messenger to fetch me home.
She distracted from her respected faith
er's -1arSrobe welI-worn pair Of panta-
Icons and a speckled waistcoat and hung
them behind the pantry door until that
.iaueer-o, OF the kitchen. ragged Davie
stmrs. should bring me IN sate5y 70
her. You must forgive my merrt-
,nent IT The recollection. The Joke Is on