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STORY OF A BOX.

The 'Glasgow Herald' has the following curious story : —For several days a curious story about a box, or it might be more accurate to say a story about a a curious box, has been freely making the conversational rounds of the city. Having heard it in the common meetingplace for merchants and in more private circles, we have caused careful inquiry to be made in various quarters, and we now proceed to tell the story, which is perfectly accurate, so far as it goes, how much farther it may be supposed to go, we leave the fancy to the reader. Some time since a well-known messenger-at-arms paid a visit to the neighbouring burgh of Renfrew, and made a number of inquiries with reference to a certain box which had been made by a joiner in tne place. The thing itself being neither rich nor rare, the country town was all the more curious to know why the officer should concern himself so greatly about it. But he kept his own counsel, as messengers-at-arms have a habit of doing, and for a time the secret was well preserved. It has at length, however, oozed out that the box in question was made to the order of James Morton, Esq, of Eklerslie House, and that it has rather a curious history. The order for its construction was given about the end of October last, the joiner being instructed to make it of inch-anc 1 -quarter, yellow pine, hooped with iron, its dimensions being three feet square by two feet deep. The commission having been executed, the joiner sent the box to the tinsmith of the town, who lined it with his favourite metal, and thus fashioned it into as strong and snug a box as could be desired. It was sent to Elderslie House. A day or two afterwards the carrier between Renfrew and Glasgow was instructed to go to Elderslie House and convey the box to a ship which was about to leave the Broomielaw for New Zealand. The carrier called in clue course, and proceeded to take possession of the box, which was addressed to—well, we need not divulge the name. He found, however, that in fact, as in law, taking possession is sometimes a matter of difficulty. He tried to lift the box, with the assistance of one of the men-servants, but it couPd not even be moved. In the end four stalwart fellows staggered out with it to the cart, and it was conveyed to the city and duly placed on board ship. We leave the reader, as already hinted, to come to any conclusion he pleases with regard to the contents of the box, the weight of which was ascertained to be five cwt. Perhaps it may be as well to suspend the exercise of private judgment until the. arrival of the ship at Dunedin, when the person to whom the box is addressed may find that it is a subject of great though pardonable curiosity.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TEML18790322.2.14

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 131, 22 March 1879, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
503

STORY OF A BOX. Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 131, 22 March 1879, Page 3

STORY OF A BOX. Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 131, 22 March 1879, Page 3

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