The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-03-03

Notwithstanding the little sleep I had
had. sprung from my bed. and, hav-
ing hurriedly dressed, sought my
father
Somehow, in an ill-defned way,
was conscious Of the opening Of new
era III my life. Whether it was what
had transpired between my father and
uncle on the previous night, or the
ioyousncss OF the opening day, which
was of n sort that seemed to confirm
the death of winter and herald ap-
preaching summer. or both. l know
not. but it seemed to me that I had
hidden adieu to boyhooG and had be-
come man.
My father had risen full 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, "'tis only
yesterday that noticed you sitting
upon one Of the chests. reading. They
stand in the library, one beneath each
window. where they have stood for
the last 300 years or more. 1t was
your grandmother, think, who
worked cushions and valances for
them. and so converted them into
strange looking but comfortable set
tees"
As soon rs we had breakfaSted my
father began to search for the keys or
the chests. for he had but vague
idea as to where they might be found.
While he was employed rummaging
old bureaus and cabinets, removed
the coverings from the chests, marvel.
ing greatly that they should have so
long escaped my notice. To do this.
and to 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.
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 q first
class curiosity shop. But that which
we sought We could not find.
1t was now past noon, and my uncle
and aunt were expected to arrive at 4
o'clock. Though We had been search
ing for several hours we had not yet
examined the contents Of half the cab
inets and closets which abounded in
our old manor house, many Of which
had not been opened within the men,
ory cf our oldest servant. My father
would have given up the search but
for my advice 20 him to continue it.
Wisely or unwisely. my father seldom
or never refused to comply with any
wish that expressed, and he saw that
1 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, N
the place where he had first looked
for them. With a peculiar facial ex-
preston. in which it was difficult TO
determine whether fatigue, annoyance
or triumph predominated. he tossed
them to me. and remarking that he
had had as much of this affair as he
cared for in one day, left me to do as
l pleased.
Having hurriedly deposited the few
things before me in the places where
they had been found. fastened to the
library and proceeded TO open the
nearest chest. The key entered the
lock as easily as might be wished, but
was turned with difficulty, and made
harsh. grating sound. had no sooner
charged with minute fungi that vol
unfairly stepped back and opened
window
The ches: was quite filed with
parchment or vellum documents, some
rolled and others HAT. end to nearly all
Of them were attached large pendu-
lous seals. l did not pause to exam
ine them, but transferred them all to
the table, and opened the second chest,
wherein | discovered nearly as many
documents as in the first, all Of SINH
lar character. But there was also a
thick folio volume. filled with close.
neat writing, every letter OF which
appeared to be formed with great
care and accuracy. About two
thirds Of the book was English and
the remainder strange characters,
which I had little doubt were Orien.
tai. though was not scholar enough
TO determine the language TO which
they belonged. This book, and 4 cop
per box. about eighteen inches by
Twelve. and five inches deep, were all
l found besides the documents. The
box. which was locked, was much
discolored: but 1 could discern writ
ing upon The lid such as may be pro.