Produced by Donald Lainson
KEZIAH COFFIN
by Joseph C. Lincoln
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I.-- IN WHICH KEZIAH HEARS OF TWO PROPOSALS AND THE BEGINNING OF A THIRD
II.-- IN WHICH KEZIAH UNEARTHS A PROWLER
III.-- IN WHICH KEZIAH ASSUMES A GUARDIANSHIP
IV.-- IN WHICH KEZIAH'S PARSON DECIDES TO RUN IT BLINDFOLD
V.-- IN WHICH THE PARSON CRUISES IN STRANGE WATERS
VI.-- IN WHICH OLD FRIENDS MEET
VII.-- IN WHICH CAPTAIN NAT PICKS UP A DERELICT
VIII.-- IN WHICH THE PARSON AND MR. PEPPER DECLARE THEIR INDEPENDENCE
IX.-- IN WHICH MISS DANIELS DETERMINES TO FIND OUT
X.-- IN WHICH KEZIAH'S TROUBLES MULTIPLY
XI.-- IN WHICH CAPEN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER
XII.-- IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN MAKES PORT
XIII.-- IN WHICH KEZIAH BREAKS THE NEWS
XIV.-- IN WHICH THE SEA MIST SAILS
XV.-- IN WHICH TRUMET TALKS OF CAPTAIN NAT
XVI-- IN WHICH THE MINISTER BOARDS THE SAN JOSE
XVII.-- IN WHICH EBENEZER CAPEN IS SURPRISED
XVIII.--IN WHICH KEZIAH DECIDES TO FIGHT
XIX.-- IN WHICH A RECEPTION IS CALLED OFF
XX.-- IN WHICH THE MINISTER RECEIVES A LETTER
XXI.-- IN WHICH MR. STONE WASHES HIS HANDS
XXII.-- IN WHICH KEZIAH'S PARSON PREACHES ONCE MORE
KEZIAH COFFIN
by Joseph C. Lincoln
CHAPTER I
IN WHICH KEZIAH HEARS TWO PROPOSALS AND THE BEGINNING OF A THIRD
Trumet in a fog; a fog blown in during the night by the wind from the wide Atlantic. So wet and heavy that one might taste the salt in it. So thick that houses along the main road were but dim shapes behind its gray drapery, and only the gates and fences of the front yards were plainly in evidence to the passers-by. The beach plum and bayberry bushes on the dunes were spangled with beady drops. The pole on Cannon Hill, where the beacon was hoisted when the packet from Boston dropped anchor in the bay, was shiny and slippery. The new weathervane, a gilded whale, presented to the "Regular" church by Captain Zebedee Mayo, retired whaler, swam in a sea of cloud. The lichened eaves of the little "Come-Outer" chapel dripped at sedate intervals. The brick walk leading to the door of Captain Elkanah Daniels's fine residence held undignified puddles in its hollows. And, through the damp stillness, the muttered growl of the surf, three miles away at the foot of the sandy bluffs by the lighthouse, sounded ominously.
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: Keziah Coffin by Joseph Crosby Lincoln
- 2: Ellery had written that he should probably come on the coach
- 3: What do you think Uncle Eben would say if he heard that
- 4: Just as if that wasn't a crime here in Trumet
- 5: When Kyan ran away she followed him to Boston
- 6: Keziah and her friend were surprised
- 7: Laviny can spare you for a few minutes
- 8: Kyan protested that he did not need the hammer
- 9: Kyan grasped the pipe with both hands
- 10: I never was so surprised and upsot in all my life afore
- 11: Captain Elkanah looked the part
- 12: First Kyan and then Cap'n Elkanah
- 13: They decided Mehitable wouldn't do
- 14: I've been happier in Trumet than I ever was anywhere else
- 15: Passed Captain Mayo's big house the finest in Trumet
- 16: Langley died only three months ago
- 17: Ellery to live in before he comes
- 18: Her grip upon the broom handle tightened
- 19: Keziah holding the broom like a battle ax
- 20: John Ellery made his appearance
- 21: And she's lived in Trumet since she was six years old
- 22: Captain Elkanah and the gracious Miss Annabel
- 23: And Cap'n Elkanah and I signed articles
- 24: The Trumet Daily Advertiser had
- 25: It was dinner time before the catechizers departed
- 26: Trumet lays to bed Sunday mornin's
- 27: John Ellery passed out of the parsonage gate
- 28: Ellery promptly tore the chart into small pieces
- 29: Captain Zeb took him up into what he called his cupoler
- 30: Snippet was not in his dictionary
- 31: Captain Elkanah cleared his throat
- 32: Keziah closed the dining room door
- 33: In the black shadow of the hornbeam Mr
- 34: The melodeon and the hymn book were in accord as to the tune
- 35: Ezekiel was the father of Susannah B
- 36: That phthisic settled her for Reg'larism
- 37: But I tell 'em to h heave ahead and p pup pup POKE
- 38: The congregation dispersed in chattering groups
- 39: I cal'late I won't be the only town fuf fuf fool from now on
- 40: The minister hurriedly raised his umbrella
- 41: Ellery gazed blankly at her through the rain streaked dark
- 42: I hope Cap'n Elkanah won't know
- 43: He found Keziah in the sitting room
- 44: It was a long time before John Ellery fell asleep
- 45: Had the Trumet Daily Advertiser suspended publication
- 46: You crept up the back way and threw cranberries at me
- 47: And Elkanah was goin' to turn you out of house and home
- 48: Dad is just a little mite crazy on Come Outers
- 49: As for Zach and the packet Ho
- 50: But the society began Elkanah
- 51: And then they all heard it all 'cept Zach
- 52: Zach and 'Bije both looked at each other
- 53: Zebedee lingered a moment behind his companions
- 54: Ellery did not again mention it to her
- 55: Some fisherman driving out his weir
- 56: Ellery looked his companion over
- 57: Nat Hammond sniffed impatiently
- 58: Ellery replied that he had been for a walk out to the bar
- 59: Miss Pepper had hinted several times
- 60: Ellery walked around the corner of the building
- 61: But er Laviny she's got the key
- 62: Bein' shut up in a darned old excuse my swearin'
- 63: Captain Elkanah was gracious and condescending
- 64: Ellery emerged from the shadow
- 65: Captain Hammond helped me out of a bad scrape
- 66: Of course I'm glad you weren't drowned
- 67: In her delight at hearing Keziah praised
- 68: Uncle respects and is fond of Aunt Keziah
- 69: But John Ellery was provokingly calm
- 70: That was afore three this afternoon
- 71: Kyan clutched at his companion's arm
- 72: Laviny ain't what you'd call fleshy
- 73: Kyan had listened to this recital
- 74: The summer in Trumet drowsed on
- 75: Took the spyglass from its rack
- 76: 'specially in the huckleberry season
- 77: Keziah returned to the parsonage
- 78: Coffin looked at the daguerreotype
- 79: Keziah was silent for a moment
- 80: Coffin is dead these ten years
- 81: As if the slam of the door had been an electric shock
- 82: Don't you dare I WILL see Laviny
- 83: But Keziah stepped in front of him
- 84: Just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest
- 85: But but he and uncle have quarreled
- 86: Not if Betsy's all over spines
- 87: 'THEM ants don't care for no brimstone
- 88: Captain Elkanah visiting a Come Outer
- 89: Maybe she's over in Peters's pines
- 90: What I'm fighting for is the Trumet Regular church
- 91: For Captain Eben Hammond had not made his appearance
- 92: Keziah would have joined their hands and rejoiced
- 93: A moment later Keziah followed him
- 94: Keziah looked longingly toward the door
- 95: Whispered Keziah from the kitchen window
- 96: Looked up at Nat significantly
- 97: Nat and the doctor started forward
- 98: An hour later Keziah sat alone in the dining room
- 99: I'm glad Nat and the girl have agreed to cruise together
- 100: I was there and Captain Eben dead
- 101: Grace Van Horne is goin' to marry Cap'n Nat Hammond
- 102: I've prayed to die myself afore now
- 103: The housekeeper opened the door
- 104: Wearily Keziah set about preparing breakfast
- 105: And this young feller I'm tellin' you about went away to sea
- 106: I come back here to keep house for Sol
- 107: Keziah lingered to speak a word with Grace
- 108: Josiah protested and the captain replied
- 109: Long as Elkanah was feelin' that Mr
- 110: Annabel was not satisfied with this explanation
- 111: To which Kyan paid little attention
- 112: John Ellery heard the discussions at the sewing circle when
- 113: But Ellery knew and she knew he knew
- 114: Ellery answered that he was all right and
- 115: And it was winter John Ellery's first winter in Trumet
- 116: Bending to scream the question into the ear of Gaius Winslow
- 117: But her darin' to go and leave Kyan at home is past belief
- 118: And John Ellery forebore to mention it
- 119: Didama said she was all but dyin'
- 120: In spite of of in spite of everything
- 121: His foot was on the step when Keziah spoke again
- 122: Gracie might come and I'd like for you to meet her
- 123: Grace entered the house and John Ellery went out at the gate
- 124: Keepin' Didama still is good Christian work
- 125: I'll steer and Thoph and Bill'll row
- 126: Thoph and Bill pulled more slowly now
- 127: Thoph pointed to the open hatch
- 128: Ellery began to climb the ladder
- 129: Thoph and Bill sprang over the rail into the boat
- 130: He seized Ellery by the arm and drank and drank
- 131: Assisted by old Ebenezer Capen
- 132: And if he don't get the smallpox and die
- 133: Capen and I will put you off the premises by force
- 134: Ellery was obliged to use force to hold him down
- 135: Capen bent over him and gently moved the bandage on his face
- 136: Capen remained at the shanty another week
- 137: John Ellery did not feel cheerful that afternoon
- 138: The lightkeeper was there and two or three other men
- 139: Called Ellery weakly from the next room
- 140: Captain Elkanah said My dear
- 141: Keziah answered her soothingly
- 142: Keziah leaned against the boards and drew a long breath
- 143: As you might say you see Cap'n Zebedee Mayo
- 144: Marshaled his forces and proclaimed that Ellery
- 145: And then Keziah began to fulfill her agreement with Dr
- 146: Nor Elkanah ain't goin' to do it
- 147: Sniffed Beriah Salters dolefully
- 148: ' And 'twas signed 'Nathaniel Hammond
- 149: A hundred miles they sailed in the longboat and
- 150: But Trumet did not hear the yarn immediately
- 151: I could stop a hay cutter when it got too noisy
- 152: Keziah was on her knees in her room
- 153: Elkanah was the moving spirit in the preparations
- 154: Kyan whirled and clutched at the gate
- 155: Captain Elkanah frowned his disapproval
- 156: I don't like Elkanah any better'n you do
- 157: Does anything ever happen in Trumet
- 158: Higgins had said for a day or two
- 159: Ellery and the congregation more than that
- 160: John Ellery was still seated in the chair by the window
- 161: Seems she left Trumet Wednesday afternoon
- 162: Neither does Aunt Keziah the whole of it
- 163: 'I used to know Anse Coffin in New Bedford
- 164: ' 'Because I'm not goin' to Trumet with you
- 165: Is buried in the Trumet cemetery
- 166: Keziah had appeared at his office
- 167: Grace believed that Keziah would go to him at once
- 168: She is with James Hallett Co
- 169: Upham was the foreman of the workroom
- 170: Keziah bent lower over the wedding coat
- 171: He raked John Ellery fore and aft
- 172: ' But Elkanah held up his hand
- 173: I never see Keziah look so well
- 174: Pratt will take his bride home to Sandwich
- 175: Laviny says there's a good openin' for one in this town
- 176: What do you think of Hannah Poundberry
