Opening a Chestnut Burr

Opening a Chestnut Burr, by
Edward Payson Roe

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Title: Opening a Chestnut Burr
Author: Edward Payson Roe

Release Date: July, 2004 [EBook #6028] [Yes, we are more than one
year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on December 10,
2002]
Edition: 10
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, OPENING
A CHESTNUT BURR ***

Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.

[Illustration: "LET ME OPEN THE BURR FOR YOU." Chestnut Burr.
Frontispiece.]
The Works of E. P. Roe VOLUME FOUR
OPENING A CHESTNUT BURR
ILLUSTRATED

THIS BOOK
IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED TO MY WIFE

PREFACE

In sending this, my fourth venture, out upon the uncertain waters of
public opinion, I shall say but few words of preface. In the past I have

received considerable well-deserved criticism from the gentlemen of
the caustic pen, but so far from having any hard feeling toward them, I
have rather wondered that they found so much to say that was favorable.
How they will judge this simple October story (if they think it worth
while to judge it at all) I leave to the future, and turn to those for whom
the book was really written.
In fancy I see them around the glowing hearth in quiet homes, such as I
have tried to describe in the following pages, and hope that this
new-comer will be welcomed for the sake of those that preceded it.
Possibly it may make friends of its own.
From widely separated parts of the country, and from almost every
class, I have received many and cordial assurances that my former
books were sources not only of pleasure, but also of help and benefit,
and I am deeply grateful for the privilege of unobtrusively entering so
many households, and saying words on that subject which is
inseparable from happiness in both worlds.
I think the purpose of the book will become apparent to the reader. The
incidents and characters are mainly imaginary.
Observation has shown me that there are many in the world, like my
hero, whose condition can be illustrated by the following lines:
Were some great ship all out of stores, When half-way o'er the sea, Fit
emblem of too many lives, Such vessel doomed would be.
Must there not be something fatally wrong in that scheme of life which
finds an heir of eternity weary, listless, discouraged, while yet in the
dawning of existence? It is not in perishing things, merely, to give back
the lost zest. But a glad zest and hopefulness might be inspired even in
the most jaded and ennui-cursed, were there in our homes such simple,
truthful natures as that of my heroine; and in the sphere of quiet
homes--not elsewhere--I believe that woman can best rule and save the
world.
Highland Falls, N.Y., September, 1874.

CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
A HERO BUT NOT HEROIC
CHAPTER II
OPENING A CHESTNUT BURR
CHAPTER III
MORBID BROODING
CHAPTER IV
HOW MISS WALTON MANAGED PEOPLE
CHAPTER V
WAS IT AN ACCIDENT?
CHAPTER VI
UNEXPECTED CHESTNUT BURRS
CHAPTER VII
A CONSPIRACY
CHAPTER VIII
WITCHCRAFT
CHAPTER IX

MISS WALTON RECOMMENDS A HOBBY
CHAPTER X
A PLOT AGAINST MISS WALTON
CHAPTER XI
A DRINKING SONG AT A PRAYER-MEETING
CHAPTER XII
FOILED IN ONE DIRECTION
CHAPTER XIII
INTERPRETING CHESTNUT BURRS
CHAPTER XIV
A WELL-MEANIN' MAN
CHAPTER XV
MISS WALTON'S DREAM
CHAPTER XVI
AN ACCIDENT IN THE MOUNTAINS
CHAPTER XVII
PROMISE OR DIE
CHAPTER XVIII
IN THE DEPTHS

CHAPTER XIX
MISS WALTON MADE OF DIFFERENT CLAY FROM OTHERS
CHAPTER XX
MISS WALTON MADE OF ORDINARY CLAY
CHAPTER XXI
PASSION AND PENITENCE
CHAPTER XXII
NOT A HEROINE BUT A WOMAN
CHAPTER XXIII
GREGORY'S FINAL CONCLUSION
CHAPTER XXIV
THE WORM-INFESTED CHESTNUT--GREGORY TELLS THE
WORST
CHAPTER XXV
THE OLD HOME IN DANGER--GREGORY RETRIEVES
HIMSELF
CHAPTER XXVI
CHANGES IN GREGORY
CHAPTER XXVII
PLEADING