Nevertheless Mr. Brown contrived to burrow a passage through the snow-drift , and with his bare head bent against the storm floundered onward to Peter 's door . There was such a creaking and groaning and rattling , and such an ominous shaking , throughout the crazy edifice that the loudest rap would have been inaudible to those within . He therefore entered without ceremony , and groped his way to the kitchen . His intrusion even there was unnoticed . Peter and Tabitha stood with their backs to the door , stooping over a large chest which apparently they had just dragged from a cavity or concealed closet on the left side of the chimney . By the lamp in the old woman 's hand Mr. Brown saw that the chest was barred and clamped with iron , strengthened with iron plates and studded with iron nails , so as to be a fit receptacle in which the wealth of one century might be hoarded up for the wants of another . Peter Goldthwaite was inserting a key into the lock . `` Oh , Tabitha , '' cried he , with tremulous rapture , `` how shall I endure the effulgence ? The gold ! -- the bright , bright gold ! Methinks I can remember my last glance at it just as the iron-plated lid fell down . And ever since , being seventy years , it has been blazing in secret and gathering its splendor against this glorious moment . It will flash upon us like the noonday sun . '' `` Then shade your eyes , Mr. Peter ! '' said Tabitha , with somewhat less patience than usual . `` But , for mercy 's sake , do turn the key ! '' And with a strong effort of both hands Peter did force the rusty key through the intricacies of the rusty lock . Mr. Brown , in the mean time , had drawn near and thrust his eager visage between those of the other two at the instant that Peter threw up the lid . No sudden blaze illuminated the kitchen . `` What 's here ? ''
exclaimed XXXXX , adjusting her spectacles and holding the lamp over the open chest .
Brown Goldthwaite Peter Tabitha century effulgence left snow-drift storm years