{"id":"01KG6YGB4YGMSWP37Q3C76QM69","cid":"bafkreiaop2myyq2shathdgqotxw7eq2inmuirwapp4qh7wuiaetrzp5tsy","type":"segment","properties":{"description":"# The Letter from Hiram Scribe\n## Overview\nThis is a segment extracted from the short story [I and My Chimney](arke:01KG6YFYGCYAYC9GHGT2Z086S9), specifically lines 778-820 of the source file [i_and_my_chimney.txt](arke:01KG6YDDFE1YJ2Q37Q9JT1AJVB). It contains the full text of a letter from a character named Hiram Scribe. This segment is part of the [Melville](arke:01KG6YCG626JN4FCG8QK17CQCF) collection.\n\n## Context\nThe segment is preceded by [Arrival of a Note from Wife](arke:01KG6YGB4RH5YD3K1TWGSD9X3A) and followed by [Narrator's Initial Reaction and Recollections](arke:01KG6YGBV28HH5CBNE0GB7Q4B1) within the narrative of \"I and My Chimney.\" The story and this segment were extracted from the text file [i_and_my_chimney.txt](arke:01KG6YDDFE1YJ2Q37Q9JT1AJVB).\n\n## Contents\nThe segment contains the complete text of a letter from Hiram Scribe to the narrator. In the letter, Scribe, who apparently examined the narrator's chimney, informs the narrator of a suspicion that there is a concealed, hermetically sealed chamber or closet within the chimney. Scribe speculates that the closet might contain treasure or some other extraordinary object, but leaves the determination of its contents and the appropriate course of action to the narrator. The letter is dated April 1st from New Petra and closes with Scribe's expression of respect and humility.\n","description_generated_at":"2026-01-30T07:57:52.548Z","description_model":"gemini-2.5-flash-lite","description_title":"The Letter from Hiram Scribe","end_line":820,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T07:57:24.702Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"The Letter from Hiram Scribe","source_file":"01KG6YDDFE1YJ2Q37Q9JT1AJVB","start_line":778,"text":"no correspondents except Solomon, with whom, in his sentiments, at\r\nleast, I entirely correspond, the note occasioned me some little\r\nsurprise, which was not diminished upon reading the following:—\r\n\r\nNEW PETRA, April 1st.\r\n\r\n\r\nSIR—During my last examination of your chimney, possibly you may have\r\nnoted that I frequently applied my rule to it in a manner apparently\r\nunnecessary. Possibly also, at the same time, you might have observed\r\nin me more or less of perplexity, to which, however, I refrained from\r\ngiving any verbal expression.\r\n\r\nI now feel it obligatory upon me to inform you of what was then but a\r\ndim suspicion, and as such would have been unwise to give utterance to,\r\nbut which now, from various subsequent calculations assuming no little\r\nprobability, it may be important that you should not remain in further\r\nignorance of.\r\n\r\nIt is my solemn duty to warn you, sir, that there is architectural\r\ncause to conjecture that somewhere concealed in your chimney is a\r\nreserved space, hermetically closed, in short, a secret chamber, or\r\nrather closet. How long it has been there, it is for me impossible to\r\nsay. What it contains is hid, with itself, in darkness. But probably a\r\nsecret closet would not have been contrived except for some\r\nextraordinary object, whether for the concealment of treasure, or what\r\nother purpose, may be left to those better acquainted with the history\r\nof the house to guess.\r\n\r\nBut enough: in making this disclosure, sir, my conscience is eased.\r\nWhatever step you choose to take upon it, is of course a matter of\r\nindifference to me; though, I confess, as respects the character of the\r\ncloset, I cannot but share in a natural curiosity. Trusting that you\r\nmay be guided aright, in determining whether it is Christian-like\r\nknowingly to reside in a house, hidden in which is a secret closet,\r\n\r\n\r\nI remain,\r\nWith much respect,\r\nYours very humbly,\r\nHIRAM SCRIBE.\r\n\r\n\r","title":"The Letter from Hiram Scribe"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG6YFYGCYAYC9GHGT2Z086S9","peer_type":"short_story","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG6YDDFE1YJ2Q37Q9JT1AJVB","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG6YCG626JN4FCG8QK17CQCF","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG6YGB4RH5YD3K1TWGSD9X3A","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG6YGBV28HH5CBNE0GB7Q4B1","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"next"}],"ver":3,"created_at":"2026-01-30T07:57:25.534Z","ts":"2026-01-30T07:57:52.732Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF5C36SQEVDHC9CBNZZJH9K"}}