Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1904-07-16


Ing hurriedly dressed. sought my
father.
Somehow. IN an ill-deflned way. /
was conscious OF the opening Of n new |
era in my life. Whether IL was what |
had transpired between my father and |
uncle on the previous night. or the |
toyousness OF the opening day. which !
was OF a sort that seemed to confirm
the death OF winter and herald ap-
preaching summer. or both. l know.
,nos. but 70 seemed 20 me that I had
hidden adieu TO boyhood and had be-
come a man.
Ny father had risen fun hour be-
fore me. and was pacing the outer
path OF our old garden. with his hands
'c,asped behind him-his usual contem-
plative attitude.
why" said he. after had acQuaint-
ed him with my difficulty. ats only
yesterday that l noticed you sitting
upon one or the chests. reading. They
stand in the library. one beneath each
window. where they have stood for
the last 500 years or more. 1t was
your grandmother. think. wig
worked cushions and valances for.
them. and so converted them into
strange looking bu; comfortable set
tees"
As soon rs we had breakfasted my
father began TO search for the keys OF
the chests. for he had but a vague
idea as 20 where they might be found.
While he was employed rummaging
old bureaus and cabinets. removed
the coverings from the chests. marvel
inS greatly that they should have so
long escaped my notice. To do this.
and 70 clear the table ready TO receive
the documents. did not engage me
many minutes. and was impatient TO
obtain the keys.
But the keys could not be found. I
assisted my father in the search for.
them. and together we turned over as
many knick- knacks - quaint jewelry.
miniatures. pocketbooks. tokens. old
coins. packets OF love letters tied with
faded silk and dated early in the last
century. metal purses. scent bottles.
etc.-as would have stocked n first
class curiosity shop. But that which
we sought we could not find
IL was now past noon. and my uncle
and aunt were expected 10 arrive NJ 4
O'Clock Though we had been search
ing for several hours we had not Vet
examined the contents OF half the cab
iuets and closets which abounded in
our old manor house many OF which
had not been opened within the MEM
CRY OF our oldest servant. Ny father
would have given up the search but
FOR my advice 10 him 10 continue IL.
Wisely or unwisely. my father seldom
or never refused 10 comply with any
wish that I expressed. and ne saw that
. I was Interested in the odds and ends
accumulated by our family.
After another two hours OF search
ing my father found the keys Of the
chests. tied together and labeled. IN
the place where he had first looked
for them. With a peculiar facial ex-
preston. IN which IL was difficult 10
determine whether fatigue. annoyance
or triumph predominated. he tossed
them 10 me. and remarking that he
had had as much OF this affair as he
cared FOR in one day. left me 20 do as
I pleased
Having hurriedly deposited the few
things before me in the places where
they had been found. I FASTENED 10 the
library and proceeded 20 open the
nearest chest. The key entered the
lock az easily as might be wished. but
was turned with difficulty. and made a
harsh. grating sound. had no sooner
raised the lid than the air became so
charged with minute fungi that vol
UNFAIRLY stepped back and opened a
window.
The chest was quite filled with
parchment Or vellum documents. some
! rollea and OTHERS nat. gud 10 nearly al
! o. them were attached large pendu
ious seals. did not pause 10 exam
.ne them. bat transferred them all L
t-c L. bic. and opened the second chest
wherein I discovered nearly as man,
documents as in the first. all OF smi
Jar character. But there was also
thick folio volume. filed with close
z. neat writing. every letter OF whicl
{ appeared 10 be formed with grea
are and accuracy. About TWO
Thirds o. the book was English an,
the remainder strange characters
which ! had little doubt were Orien
= 49, t-~--- N.-n AoN nN-~.-. ~--'ur
a TO determine the language 20 whic
: they belonged This book. and a COZ
: per box. about eighteen inches b.
/, twelve. and five inches deep. were a
/ found besides the documents Tn
= box. which was locked. was muc
discolOrcd; but / could discern writ
ing upon the lid such as may be pro
/. duced by nitrate OF silver upon cor
. per. All / could decipher at a hast