“Ain’t you gonna open it, Mama?”
Mama didn’t give an answer as she took the package into her room. Through the doorway, I could see that she was puttin’ the package in her big wooden trunk. Then she sat down on the bed and read the letter from Aunt Floss over and over.
Mama’s trunk was a big pine box that her papa made for her when she was a girl. It’s what they called a “hope chest.” It was for collectin’ things that you’d need when you got married, like pots and pans and blankets. But now, Mama kept her secret things in there. We were never allowed to look inside of the trunk, not even Papa. It was her only privacy. Sometimes she would show us things that were in the trunk, like locks of our hair from when we were babies and the ribbon that she wore in her hair when she and Papa got married.
—The Christmas Barn written by C.L. Davis
I never had an actual hope chest, but I did have many things saved up for when I got married. I would never have thought to collect things, but Granny did.
For a long time she was really into couponing and saving boxtops. She’d get four of this or that. One for her to use the other three to put up for my brothers and me. She also made us many quilts, blankets, curtains, etc. for future use.
Miss Cindy gave me a wonderful old cedar chest. I’ve used it for at least twenty years to hold sweaters and other seasonal clothing. It’s hidden away in my closet and sometimes I think I should get it out where everyone can see it, but then I hear a conversation with Miss Cindy in my head.
Miss Cindy: “Would it be more useful in your closet?”
Me: “Yes.”
Miss Cindy: “Then why in the world would you want to put it out in the living room where someone else might or might not enjoy it all the while you wished you still had it in your closet to hold your sweaters?”
Me: “You’re right.”
Today’s Thankful November giveaway is a used copy of The Christmas Barn written by C.L. Davis. To be entered in the giveaway leave a comment on this post. Giveaway ends December 9, 2025. This little book is a wonderful Christmas story about a family who lived right here in Cherokee County where I do. You can hear me read it here.
Last night’s video: The Panther on Cold Mountain & Other Stories 6.
Tipper
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Thank your jogging my memory, my grandmother had a hope chest and it was beautiful.
I remember getting the little Lane cedar box…..and my sisters and I received cedar chests for high school graduation…from our Dad and Mom. Precious gifts. The name “hope chest” is precious, too.
The Christmas Barn is the sweetest little story. I listened to you read it when you first posted the videos.
I love love love the old tradition of hope chests. I’ve long wished I could get my hands on a couple cedar chests for my girls to set things aside in for them. I guess for now I’ll settle for plastic bins! We do all keep “special boxes” in our closets.
I really enjoyed listening to you read it. I’d love to share it with my family!
love this story. I didn’t have a hope chest, but when I graduated high school, someone gave me a little cedar jewlery box where I stored trinkets that were meaningful to me.
What sweet thoughts of snips of baby hair and a wedding ribbon. I would love to have that story to read again. Ty for your generosity, Tipper. I plan on mailing my book to you tomorrow, along with cards. Prayers for Granny to feel better and for a blesses Christmas for each of you.
Great book!!
Good remembrances. I didn’t have an actual cedar chest till many years later when my mother-in-law gave me one of her two. Among her first gifts to me were the set of Revere copper bottomed pots and pans that I use to this day, extra serving pieces for my flatware, a set of useful grapefruit spoons, and some pretty cups and saucers from her own large collection. She did love beautiful china. It took us awhile to appreciate one another, but she was a good woman who raised a good son. That cedar chest originally lived in my small dining room under a window because there was no room for it anywhere else. I made a long cushion for it for sitting there. Our large dignified cat was sleeping on it till she stretched, rolled over—and landed right in the cats’ water dish! That was one mortified cat, but it sure was funny to see that slow motion roll!
This story is a beautiful one. TY for reading it to us. Prayers for all the sad, grieving, hurting people. There is hope and comfort for you in the Hands of GOD, our FATHER. I love y’all.
I just started saving stuff in the trunk of my car when I knew I was going to be moving out pretty soon. I wasn’t getting married.
Tipper, I think it was awful nice and thoughtful of Granny to think of you and your brothers like she did. That’s a wonderful testament of her love for you all. 🙂 ❤
Hope chest, I had one before I got married. My sister however took stuff out without asking. I was devastated. My granny bought me a foot locker truck with a key, solved that problem.
As always praying for Granny.
Thank you for thankful November!
My grandmother gathered stuff for me also. So glad I had this when I went to housekeeping.
I think there is something kinda Magical about a cedar chest. My parents bought me one and I keep all of my very special keepsakes in it. So many of the special lil treasures that my daughter made for me through the years. Also I have her baby items and pictures in it. My high school year books and a table cloth that I embroidered for my great grandmothers birthday. My grandfathers Bible to name a few. I don’t look in it very often, but when I do, it brings back so many special memories. When I was a young girl and I read any book that told of someone having a hope chest I always thought that was so romantic because I thought getting married was so exciting. Of course then I would day dream about being a bride in a beautiful dress and living happy ever after.
I have my mother’s hope chest. I loved to look into that hope chest as a young girl. I even collected a few things to keep inside. Guess what, I have this hope chest in my closet also. It just seemed the perfect place for it.
I love this little story ! I so look forward to sitting down in the afternoons with my cup of coffee and opening up your email! I can always count on something to treasure or bring up a memory!! Thank you for faithfully sending out the daily blog! My mom was a single mother, and although I didn’t have a formal hope chest I remember her buying a place setting of fancy China from her bank each time she deposited her weekly paycheck! That was hard for her but she wanted me to have something put back for when I married. I’ve been so blessed to celebrate 53 years of marriage and now my daughter and her family enjoy the beautiful “Bank Dishes”. Thank you for all you do, Tipper, and May God Bless You Greatly! Love to your whole family….especially Granny . Merry Christmas!
I have a cedar chest that was given to me for my high school graduation 37 years ago. It was made from cedars cut on my great aunt’s farm which is no longer in the family. Like Tipper’s, it sets inside my closet and holds my quilts and winter covers.
I never had a hope chest but I did have a few things saved for marriage someday. My baby sister went to a neighbors yard sale when she was 10 and I was 18. She bought me four beautiful dessert dishes and four brown glass cups with her own money and gave them to me to save for when I was married. I have been married almost 45 years and they are still in my kitchen…the sweetest gift from the heart of my sweet little sister. ❤️. This post reminded me that I should thank her again today.
That is so sweet.
This sounds like an interesting and heartwarming read.
I have my grandma’s cedar chest that was both her and my hope chest. She was an avid Fingerhut shopper and put a lot of her “free gifts” in that chest for me. I still use the potato peeler she gave me more than 35 years ago. I sure miss my grandma. She was a tough and spicy lady but she loved me and I loved her. That chest now sits in my office with an old quilt on it. It holds pictures, cards, and letters, along with things from my wedding and my kids’ baby books.
I love The Christmas Barn book! Would enjoy a copy!
Cedar chests are wonderful furniture pieces. I feel bad for those that don’t know the magic of cedar chests, of storing things for one’s future or for keeping well-loved toys, clothes, books, cards. letters, baby stuff, etc. in one to pull out and remember.
Hi Tipper
I would love to have a copy of this book. When I was in high school in the 1970s, every girl received a mini hope chest (jewelry and keepsake chest) I still have mine. The Lane Company who made actual full size cedar chests donated them to give out at graduation. Not sure what the boys got but I love my little Lane chest still.
Barbara, my wife also received a mini hope chest like in your comment when she was a high school senior. I would guess it was made by Lane. I drove her to a furniture store in Greenville, SC to pick up this chest. This would have been in 1973.
Barbara, I still have my little lane chest from when I graduated.
I think that chest is meant to be in your closet for you to enjoy, and you like useful things, there it is useful holding clothing, and a nice memory for you knowing where it came from.
I have my sister’s little chest she got at graduation time from Lane. She graduated in 1966
Good morning, Tipper and Tipper fans! Overcast and ugly looking here in SC but it’s a new day and I embrace it. When I moved down here from Iowa 5 years ago, one of my daughter who lives here gave me her hope chest because she wanted the space for something else. I put blankets and such in it. A year before my husband passed he bought my youngest daughter an early 1900 huge steamer trunk that the seller said her grandmother from Germany used once a year when she came to see her American family. It has history written all over it! I imagine her in my mind dressed in late 1800 style or very early 1900, getting on that ship and the excitement she felt seeing her family when it pulled into an American harbor! If that trunk could talk!! It is filled with things my daughter treasures, too. One has to love their hope chests and steamer trunks! Thanks for yet another great e mail, Tipper. May God shower us all with his love and blessings and especially cover Granny!!
I never had a hope chest as I thought I would never be married. I entered the convent when I was 14 but God has other plans for me. I left the convent, became a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and then met my husband at a bible study group. So when I married we just had a wedding shower and that’s where I got a lot of our household items . Would love to be entered in the drawing.
This made me smile. I bet you’ve had a lot of wonderful experiences getting to know our Savior!
I never had a hope chest, but I always wanted one. Mama kept her special things in a drawer in her and daddy’s bedroom. I never asked to see what was inside. When we were cleaning out her things, I found my first pair of baby shoes, a tiny, beaded bracelet, a small wooden jewelry box daddy had bought her when he was in the Navy. I found a diary she had when she was a new bride and daddy away in the war and yes, I read it, so precious the love they had for each other. The last thing was a letter from her youngest brother writing to see if she had had her baby yet. That baby was me. He was living in Georgia with his oldest brother. Mama must have gotten it about 2 days before I was born. Every year on my birthday, I always get out that letter and read it. That was almost 68 years ago. Precious memories!
Hope chest have become Treasure chest. As other writers have mentioned, they hold memories from our past. I inherited my great aunt’s, so now it holds treasures that I hold dear to my heart.
Mom had a cedar chest but I don’t know if she had it before marriage or if Dad made it or they bought it after marriage. After they both died my sisters went through it. They found a letter from Dad to Mom dated a week or so before they married but none from him during the more than three years he was away in WW11 after they married.
I love this so so much !!! And I would love to read The Christmas Barn !!!
Lots of love to you all ! Enjoy ‘the season for the reason ‘ ! 🙂
I never had a cedar chest, but my parents bought my older sister one for graduation, a beautiful Lane. She had it meagerly filled when she married at 18, her and her hubby carried it to the place they rented to live next door. I was 10, and devastated to lose her all the way next door. I married a man that already had an apartment, so I hadn’t needed to set up housekeeping in a chest, thankfully, since I never had one. We’ve been married 34 years, and I bought my parents home, my sister, now widowed, still lives next door, they’d bought it years ago. I did buy a used Lane chest that I keep blankets and quilts in, though.
My Granny had a cedar chest and a cedar wardrobe. When she passed away she left the chest to my sister and the wardrobe to me. It sits in my bedroom and is a wonderful memory of her. In the bottom it contains many memories of my children and loved ones.
When I was a teenager and older, my mom would show me things that she was saving in her hope chest, for my brother and me. Toddler size souvenir t-shirts, baby shoes and special clothes. A really cute red plaid suit jacket that my brother wore for special occasions. Mom saved some of her special wool sweaters for me. I wore and loved them. I think most hope chests do turn into treasure chests!
I remember when I was young and had no money at all, a country store owner would let me trade a coupon for anything with him for candy. Looking back, I know he was not suppose to do this. Not coupons, but how many remember when people would save either S&H green stamps or Gold Bond stamps? For two years, (1972& 73 I think) Coleman made two models of lanterns and one two burner camping stove for Gold Bond. They were painted in the yellow/mustard Gold Bond color and could only be bought with the stamps. My son has all three in his collection of Coleman Lanterns.
Tipper, the wisdom of your mother is so everlasting. The dreams of a young girl and the hope she puts into saving things for her future home is endearing.
I have my grandmother’s cedar hope chest that I store cherished keepsakes in. It came with a matching bed head and foot board that my grandparents bought after they were married. This was the bed held held them through births of 11 children. Sadly, two children that were twins died after birth. The chest and bed are now over a hundred years old, Out of necessity I had the bed head and foot board made into a cedar storage bench. I store my winter blankets in it. Three generations; my grandmother, my mom, and myself, have all cared for and used them. My hope is these cherished pieces of furniture will continue to be cared for and used in my family or extended families homes for generations to come.
My Mom had (still in the old house) a cedar chest. When I went through it doing probate inventory I found several keepsakes. One was a US Signal Corp collar pin from WWII. Another was a letter of recommendation for her from the doctor she worked for in the late 40’s. And there was her nearly worn completely through wedding ring. Whatever they are called, I still think every girl, woman, wife, mother or grandmother needs a keepsake chest. Cedar is a good choice because the cedar smell when it is opened recalls the past all by itself. We bought one at a thrift store not long after we married. Like Randy, I don’t know what all is in there.
It’s been years since I heard of a hope chest collecting household necessities for a young girl’s dream home when she gets married. My cedar bedroom set has a hope chest that is overflowing with dolls, and not one piece of bedding or linens it was intended for.
that brings back memories! I have my Mom’s pine box her dad made her probably in ’40s. Grandpa was not a carpenter. but he had sold a load of pulp wood, and got one log cut into boards. he made one for each of the girls. I purchased a beautiful cedar chest from Amish in the late ’80s, in area south of Wooster Ohio. Thought my allergies have gotten the best of me I’m allergic to cedar LOL but it still sits in the bedroom but I don’t dare open it unless in the summer I can take stuff out and air it to get the smell out of it. life has its turns for sure. love and prayers for all.
Oh Miss Cindy….how we miss you…❤️
Hope chests were much appreciated when I was growing up in the 50’s but I never had one. Mother was always putting away things for me and I was too:) Our oldest son made a beautiful walnut gun cabinet when he was in high school, but didn’t make any furniture as he worked through his college years. Years later one of his good friend’s daughter was getting married and he made a hope chest for her lining it with cedar and inscribing her and her husband’s name and date of marriage on it. Oh my it was beautiful. I do have an old chifforobe that is lined with cedar and our son has his great-grandmother’s chifforobe lined with cedar. Doctor said I can start using my left hand with out brace so I can use both hands now to type:)
Great news and answered prayers!
Reminded me of the old hope chest at my grandparents’ house filled with old evening gowns and hats and high heels, baseball uniforms, etc! On Sundays, we cousins could play all afternoon up the”back stairs” dressing up and pretending. Even the boy cousins liked to dress up.
I love this memory you have! What fun.
Love the hope chest story.
During WW II, my Uncle Gene was stationed in the Pacific, and my brother and I stayed with Grandma and Grandpa while Mama and Daddy worked at the Bell Bomber Plant building B29 bombers in support of the war. Uncle Gene sent Grandma a little blue silk pillow from the Philippines with a sweet verse on it. It was trimmed with fringe, and as a child, I thought that was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen! Grandma gingerly placed it in the big ol’ wooden trunk she had in the back bedroom where she kept things she treasured. I don’t know what ever happened to the trunk or little pillow, but I remember to this day the sweet verse on the pillow: “When the golden sun is sinking, and your mind is trouble free, when you sometimes think of others, won’t you sometimes think of me.”
I was given a hope chest when I was 16 back in 1976. It’s in my closet, too. It now holds all the memories of EVERYTHING I ever “hoped” for.
Mom had a old cedar chest and us kids were told to stay out of it, I don’t know about the rest but I took her at her word.
I loved hearing you read from this book. We carried water that we dipped from a well. I would love a copy of this book.
I also have a chest in my living room that I use as a coffee table. I haven’t opened it in years and it finally got the best of my 11 and 13 year old grandsons. So we looked because I was just as curious. I’d forgotten my mom gave me her dress she wore from her wedding. What a treasure. Thank you for letting us peek into your life.
My future husband bought me a “cedar hope chest” for my seventeenth birthday in 1966. I put some kitchen items, linens and other keepsakes in it. Now, it sits in my closet with extra blankets piled on top. It contains my wedding dress, my nursing school uniform, a sweater I knitted for my father over forty years ago, a blanket I crocheted for my grandson, my granddaughter’s graduation robe from elementary school, her doll she played with when she visited me, and some other items I kept from different periods of my life. I call it my “treasure chest” now. Full of memories from my past.
I have my Mom’s cedar chest that Daddy bought her when they first were married. I use it and cherish it. I have my grandmother ‘s iron bed that I sleep in and Mom’s cedar chest is at the foot. ❤️. Loved the post today!
I have my mama’s cedar chest that Daddy gave her when I was a little girl. It must have been in the 1950s when “blonde” furniture was popular. It is cedar on the inside, but has the blonde veneer on the outside. It is full of things precious to me like my late husband’s fire dept. dress uniform; my children’s and my husband’s and my baby clothes; keepsakes of my parent’s; and my kindergarten art work. I have probably looked through it every 2-3 years. A very deep and precious rabbit hole (smile).
Hope means different things to us at different times of our lives from saving for our dream life, saving from our secret life or storing memories. I have a hope chest that belonged to my great grandmother and was refinished by my father. I need to go through it again sometime soon. This story prompts me to do that.
The commentary in your mind with Miss Cindy made me smile. I know you miss her so. I miss her comments here on the blog.
I loved that story. We listened to it last year and the year before. Thank you for reading it!
I love Miss Cindy’s practicality. She knew what it would be useful for. ❤️
Sending love to all and prayers!
I remember you reading that story, Tipper; I loved it!
That was sweet of Miss Cindy to reassure you that it was just fine to leave the chest in your closet. 🙂
I loved when my Granny would go through her cedar chest and share all the treasures she had in there. It was mostly afghans or quilts that were passed down. We all knew like the story said, no one went in Granny’s cedar chest. I love Miss Cindy’s common sense wisdom. Continuing to pray for sweet Granny. Sending hugs and love from southeastern NC
I really want to know what’s in the letter!
I didn’t have a hope chest when I was a kid, but I now have my dad’s old army chest that he used when he moved around in the military. It has different memory type items in it, thinking about it, I need to drag it out and look inside of it again to refresh my memory!
My wife has a very nice cedar chest that blankets and quilts are keep. She has had it a long time before we married we have been married for 38 years. I know all about couponing. My wife and I used to do some of years ago. Also refunding. Sound like another good book to read.
I could have written that story. lol Momma had one. We kids were never allowed to open it. Once she showed us a little china doll she got one time for Christmas. It was in a tin box and about one inch long. She even kept the 7 Bobbie Pins she got from Santa many years ago. I know she had her baby shirt, cap and little dress her momma made her when she was born. I have that now. When momma died, it was like opening something scared just like opening daddy’s billfold when he passed away. I felt strange doing that. Before daddy died, he made all of us kids a cedar chest full size and drew a mules head on the lid. He was always full of fun and had a great sense of humor. I miss them so much. Christmas was always special to them and all of us. I am so thankful to God for all my family. We are still very close and love each other very much. God bless.
Hope chests were very popular years ago. My sister still has hers from the late 1950’s, but now uses it to hold old family photos and memorabilia.
My mom gave my sisters and I “Hope Chests” when we were young. I have my lots of old keepsakes in it…my favorite childhood doll and her blanket, my baptism dress, my dad’s baby shoes, letters from friends, books I wrote as a child, family bibles, etc. I recently found my first pair of eye glasses from the early ‘70’s in there with a letter to my best friend telling her about getting them …gold wire rimmed ones that are now back in style! I had new lenses put in and now I’m wearing them again, 50 years later ;).
Love that so much 🙂
My sisters and I had a hope chest. We filled them with handmade linens and bedding. I wish I’d have saved money in mine! lol
My momma had a cedar chest like the one you’re describing. She had it as long as I can remember, she kept sentimental “treasures” in hers as well, when she passed it came to me. She didn’t have any daughters so I; being the oldest son got the honor of caring for it. Her Bible, baby books of me and my brother, pictures, and many other wonderful things were in there. Some I kept, some I passed along. Today, it’s still collecting treasures for our two granddaughters, things their Papa and Mimi want them to have; some of their daddy’s when he was little, some of ours, and some from generations before us. There is love in that big ole wooden box that’s been handed down from parent to child for as long as I can remember. There’s nothing special about it, yet it’s full of something irreplaceable, the memories of who we came from.
Tipper you are amazing teller, each story you share with us is like you are in side the story looking out and telling us what you see and it makes feel like we are inside with you experience it to and it would be great to be able read it on a cold wintry day snuggled up in a warm blanket and cup of Granny’s hot chocolate , have blessed day Tipper
My Mom had a cedar chest at the foot of their bed. It held things past: our first baby clothes, their high school and college diplomas, her honor cords from graduation, precious things to her. My sister got a hope chest while she was in high school. I always thought they were neat. I never had one, I don’t really know why. It’s such a cool thing to see what people have chosen to keep in theirs!
I would have loved Miss Cindy!
Your reading last night was fun to listen to. I enjoy having someone read to me. To pass the time in a car trip, once, I read To Dance With A White Dog to my husband and he loved it. I never knew until then that would enjoy being read to.
Christmas is almost here and I’m moving slower, it seems. Having my family together is a blessing!
Prayers for your family, as always❣️
When my wife and I were “dating”, I gave her a nice cedar hope chest for her birthday. We still have it along with a much larger Cedar chest the Amish folks around Lawrenceburg, TN made. In the olden times many houses were not built with closets for a variety of reasons. Trunks/chests/bureaus/and chifforobes were functional pieces of furniture. I know our cedar chest has done duty as a “coffee table” in the past. One of my “prized possessions ” is an “homemade chifforobe” made of Cedar wood that one of my grandmothers gave me. It was built by local man in 1947 and has his name and a date of 1947 written in cursive on the back. It is nothing fancy, but entirely functional and like a cedar chest, it is practically moth proof.
I have my Mother’s chest. Right now it holds quilts. God bless!
Miss Cindy was a true treasure wasnt she! What blessings and wisdom she and Granny have shared with you, and you are blessing us by sharing with us…Thank you Tipper.
When I was growing up lots of girls had hope chests. We would gather things we could use in hopes of marriage someday. I remember my first item was four pictures of the dolls with huge eyes. I can’t remember what they’re called but I hung those in my home and enjoyed them for years. I don’t know if my granddaughters even know what a hope chest is today.
Maybe that will be the subject of our next talk. God bless you Tipper & Matt.
I’m praying for Granny.
Hey Tipper. I never had a traditional cedar hope chest but did have a tote that I put things in for the time I left home and got married. One of my favorite things to collect was old dishes like depression glass and the clear cut glass bowls for serving food . Devi egg plates was another favorite item. There was an article once a few years back in Our State magazine that was about how devil egg plates were one simple southern item all young ladies needed. One lady who collected them said she gives them as a baby gift to newborn girls because every girl should have a good egg plates.
I made a mistake in my first comment, a typing mistake, but I do remember Ms Cindy, God bless you very much
I remember Ms. Cindy, God bless you Tipped
My chest holds things that belonged to my mother and both my grandmothers. All good memories wrapped in each item. I am the woman I am today because of these strong, loving women. Corie and Katie are both recipients of that same love from their strong mother and grandmothers. Like me, they are stronger for it.
The hope chest…. it’s what dreams were made of. My daddy gave me a cedar chest when I was about 15 and he wrote my name and the date in it. It contained dishes, small kitchen items, etc. It now sits between my husband’s and my chair and is filled with a few quilts, highschool memorabilia, etc. I haven’t looked in years. That will be on my list to do after Christmas. I love to hear what others had in their chests. I don’t hear of girls doing this anymore. Even our own granddaughters look at us like we have a third eye when we mention marriage. I reckon because they’re 14….but at 14 I was already daydreaming. Wonder what treasures I’ll find!
Have a wonderful weekend.
I always wanted a hope chest. My first set of dishes was acquired through a grocery store promotion. They were a neutral stoneware that served me and my sister well in our first apartment.
My wife did not have a hope chest when we married. I guess with 4 other sisters there was no money or room for each of them to have a chest. I did buy her a cedar chest for a Christmas present soon after we married. Other than her wedding dress that is of no use to anyone any more, I still don’t know what is in it. The memories of her wearing the dress, how pretty she was and the happiness I had on our wedding day and the years of happiness afterward with her are too painful for me to want to see the dress again. I don’t look at pictures of her or my daughter.
Randy, I know you are still grieving so deeply for your Wife and Daughter. I’m sorry. I too have lost a daughter, she was 26 when she passed away. My husband of 46 yrs is gone too. Holidays intensify the missing of our loved ones. Grammy from Texas