my chest."

Maria led the way to the spare-room on the second floor, a large square
room furnished in old-fashioned country style: a rag carpet, rag rugs,
heavy black walnut bureau and wash-stand, the latter with an antique
bowl and pitcher of pink and white, and a splasher of white linen
outlined in turkey red cotton. A framed cross-stitch sampler hung on the
wall; four cane-seated chairs and a great wooden chest completed the
furnishing of the room.

The chest became the centre of attraction as Aunt Maria opened it and
began to show the hooked rugs she had made.

Phoebe waited until her teacher had seen and admired several, then she
tugged at the silk sleeve ever so gently and whispered, "D'ye want to
see some of the things I made?"

Miss Lee smiled and nodded and the two stole away to the child's room.

Phoebe closed the door.

"This is my room and this is my Hope Chest," she said proudly.

Among many of the Pennsylvania Dutch the Hope Chest has long been
considered an important part of a girl's belongings. During her early
childhood a large chest is secured and the stocking of it becomes a
pleasant duty. Into it are laid the girl's discarded infant clothes;
patchwork quilts and comfortables pieced by herself or by some fond
grandmother or mother or aunt; homespun sheets and towels that have been
handed down from other generations; ginghams, linens and minor household
articles that might be useful in her own home. When the girl leaves the
old nest for one of her own building the Hope Chest goes with her as a
valuable portion of her dowry.

"Hope Chest," echoed Miss Lee. "Do you have a Hope Chest?"

"Ach, yes, long already! Aunt Maria says it's for when I grow up and get
married and live in my own home, but I--why, I don't know at all yet if
I want to get married. When I say that to her she says still that I can
be glad I have the chest anyhow, for old maids need covers and aprons
and things too."

"You dear child," Miss Lee said, laughing, "you do say the funniest
things!"

"But"--Phoebe raised her flushed face--"you ain't laughing at me to make
fun?"

"Oh, Phoebe, I love you too much for that. It's just that you are
different."

"Ach, but I'm glad! And that's why I want to show you my things."

She opened the lid of her chest and brought out a quilt, then another,
and another.

"This is all mine. And I finished another one this summer that Aunt
Maria is going to quilt this fall yet. Then I'll ha