Produced by 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