Year: 1861

that subject had lost none of their extrava-
gaRce.


He mentioned the hypothesis of some Ger.
man author, that any object which is connected
with our destiny always commands our earnest
attention at first sight. He declared that the
mahogany board had produced a thrilling sem
sstion through his whole corporeal system as
soon as it was brought within his view-even
before the workmen had mentioned the purpose
for which it was intended, and before he OBJ
served the knot which bore such striking re-
semblance to the initial of his own name.
Il firmly believe" added he, " that this
board will be used to make my coffin, but now
that the first shock has passed away, 1 can
contemplate that fact with composure and
resignation"


While he was thus speaking, secretly con-
graduated myself on my success in negotiating
for the board, and believing that would soon
have the power to give him practical demon
stratiOn Of his mistake, L refrained from all
verbal argument on the subject. When took
leave of Marvine. | called on an ingenious
cabinet-maker and engaged him to make a
dressing case of piece of mahogany, which
promised to send TO him on the followip g
morning. This dressing case I intended to
present to Marvine, presuming, that when he
saw the terrific board reduced to that harmless
form, it would cease to be the object of his
melancholy forebodings.


And now, accompanied by sturdy lad whom
had engaged to carry the board, repaired
once more to to the saw mill, intending to take
possession Of my purchase. But on examining
the place where it h ad been deposited we found
that it had been removed, although Mr.. Elk
horn, in my presence, had given strict orders
to the contrary. He was indignant, and in
deed quite angry at their act of disobedience,
and applied himself Immediately to discover
who had committed It. His son, who was also
junior partner in the business, proved to be
IL L. Al
directions concerning the board, and having
received an order for large amount of ma
hOgany timber, on the preceding day, he had
caused the whole building to be ransacked, and
every board in the place was required to meet
the demand. The board which figures in this
story was the last found on the premises, and
when measured, it was found to contain pre-
cisely the quantity which was wanted to make
up the amount which the order called for


On inquiry, found that the wholesale Bur-
chaser who had possession Of the board was a
cOfin-maker in extensive business, who sup
piled half the undertakers in the city. / hast
tened to their main workshop, resolving still
to have the board, if possible. But at their
establishment work was done with almost mag
ic celebrity. The whole amount of boards
brought from tho mill on the preceding day
had been worked up" and a huge pile of
cofins, of all sizes, was the result of their man
ufacturing activity. Resolving not to be baked
even by the Payco themselves, examined
the pile and found, at last, the very coffin
which contained the ominous knot.


The planning and polishing of the board had
made the mark more distinct, and it now ap-
peared "a perfect an M as ever was formed by
the pencil. / bought the coffin, against which
L now harbored the most unrsasonab bic ill will,
and resolved to burn il without delay I di-
rected it to be sent to my lodgings Immediately,
and went home to await its arrival. Two OF
the cabinet makers people soon came with
their load l seized a hatchet with the most
vindictiye spirit, and was about TO split the un-
lucky article 10 pieces as a preparation for
committing it to the flames, when, to my great
astOnishment and dismay, discovered that it
was the wrong box.


Burning with Indignation, few back to the
coHin-makers and began a serious expOstula-
tiOn, but ne handsomely apOlOgized by saying
that Mr. Simon, the undertaken, had prcvi-
Ously selected that particular coffin among u
''lOt' which he had purchased little while
before L had bargained for it. This circum-
stance had been forgotten by the foreman of
the factory when he sold the article to me, but
as the One which had been sent to me was ex-
actly of the same size, appearance, and quality,
no one supposed that any objection would be
made to IL, and indeed the foreman candidly
admitted that he thought would be unable to
discover that ii was not the same


Still in pursuit Of that unlucky cofin n, / pro-
ceeded forthwith to Mr. Simon's place Of bust
ness. But before l reached that place, en-
countered messenger from Mrs MGrvine, who
impored me TO come Immediately to her house.
l could not evade their summons, and on my
arrival, found that Marviae had relapsed and
was now in a dying condition. He was insens-
Bile, and expired within ten minutes after en-
tered the house.


On the fourth day after his disease at
tended the funeral. The body had been placed
in its coffin before 1 entered the chamber of
death. Even at that time, my repugnance for
the fatalistic doctrines which my departed
friend had entertained, made me hope that the
coffin which I then saw in the dimly lighted
room was not the one which had been composed
of the curiously marked board but alas that
hope soon deserted me. On the side of the
coffin which was nearest to the shaded window.
the mark Of ill omen appeared with fearful
distinctness. / glanced at the countenance of
the dead man, and fsncied that saw a smile
Of triumph on the pallid lips, which seemed to
upbraid me for my obstinate skepticism.
However, the reader must not suppose that
my previously conceived opinions were
changed or modified in the least by the Incl
dents related in this narrative; for it is very
easy to conjecture how such things might hap
pen, without any supernatural interposition.
A DISTRESSING AFFAIR occurred day before