"I and My Chimney" by Herman Melville is a short work of prose is riddled with secrets and symbolism. It was advertised as a short story about a man who stubbornly refuses to let his over-active wife rid their house of its central, massive chimney. Written in a style that still feels contemporary, readers are left with two options, search for the symbolism, or enjoy the story as a charming little tale on its own.