Books For Autumn Reading

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Some seasons are especially suited for certain genres of books and everyting about fall, from chilly nights and falling leaves to deepening shadows and wool coats and tweeds, call for a mystery. Vintage mysteries and detective books–ones that were published in the era of class that these stories took place in– are among the very best.  For those of you shopping for a fall birthday (or early Christmas gift) or looking for a book to read by the fire on a crisp night here are a few suggestions.

  • Sherlock Holmes by Sir A. Conan Doyle, Although all of his Sherlock Holmes adventures are not equal to each other, some being far superior to others, most of them are worth pursuing and are quite a pleasant way to spend an evening. There is a reason why they appear on every mystery list.
  • The Red House Mystery by A.A Milne, the famed author of Winnie The Pooh was (unknown to many) an excellent craftsman of a good “murder in the mansion” whodunit. Originally published in 1922 this fun book deserves to be reintroduced to this generation. Set in the delightful grounds of a British mansion and sure to keep you guessing! The dedication in the front of the book reads:

“To John Vine Milne My Dear Father,  Like all really nice people you have a weakness for detective stories and feel that there are not enough of them. So, after all that you have done for me, the least that I can do for you is to write you one. Here it is– with more gratitude and affection than I can well put down here. ~A. A. Milne”

  • The Problem Of Cell 13 by Jacques Futrelle, this short story deals with a detective that makes a bet that a man who uses his brain can escape from ANY prison cell, and to prove it they can place him in the highest security cell they have and he will be out in a week….

The Comings Of Cousin Ann By Emma Speed Sampson

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This is such a sweet story!DSCF9053 I found a copy of this book in an old bookshop and purchased it, eventually I picked it up and started reading and I am so glad I did.

In many ways it reminded me of the book “Mother” by Kathleen Norris, not in the message for this one is not about motherhood, but in the way that it was a charming book with several good lessons strongly woven into a delightful story. The lessons of this volume are are based on the theme of elderly relations and old age. It covers many points, some of them being: idleness and life of leisure in aged folks vs. industry, work, and dominion. The duty towards, and honor for an elderly relative that folks have. The BEAUTY of old age, and of acting one’s age and part in life. And the list goes on…all of it told within a fun story!

There are some words used in this book that have changed meaning since the days of this book that are nowadays considered derogatory and offensive to some, but to lovers of history and old books who understand the days gone by and the etymology of the times it will constitute no problem whatsoever. 🙂

This book is finding a permanent home on my shelves and I would highly suggest that you find an antique copy for your reading list! A delightful tale of generations learning to work together!

~Written by Emma Speed Sampson (who also wrote under the pseudonym of Nell Speed)
~Originally published in 1923 by Rilley & Lee

 

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What Does Your Library Say About You?

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Imagine that a complete stranger walked into your house when you were away. As they walked past your bookshelves and gazed at the choice books that you selected to occupy them what conclusions would they draw about the kind of person your are? What is the message your books send?

Henry Van Till once said “Culture is religion externalized”. Your religion is proclaimed by the culture you create in your life and in your home, and one of the most bold revelations  of your worldview and what you deem important is your library (or the lack thereof).

All over America you can see shelves of books that amount to nothing more that fluff, indoctrinated history, cheap romances, mindless escapism, immoral “classics”, entertainment, poor art, and a bad writing style.  The message that those books whisper are “I’m here to relax”, “I need to escape from work and life”, I’m addicted to the thrill of mental romance and affairs”, ” I have no higher goal in life than to entertain myself, fantasize, and dream”…..and so on.

Once upon a time that was not so.

The libraries of our founding fathers and mothers were nation changing libraries of individuals who had a distinct purpose in life, principled men and women with goals who amassed books filled with the knowledge and resources to carry out their plans and educate themselves.

Johann Hamza - Date unknown

As a Christian young lady I want my library to be stocked with the tools to help me carry out my missions and plans. And to be a worthy collection of high quality books that will stand the test of time and last for generations among my friends and descendants.  I want to fill my library with books that will delight a vigorous mind and well disciplined tastes; volumes on history, theology, culture, music, law, art, science, biographies, economics, warfare, education, etiquette, practical skills, and a well stocked stack of reference materials to assist in the art of writing, along with a choice selection of great, inspiring fiction and literature. The kind of library that would state “I have an exciting and grand purpose in life”, “The world will be different because of my life”, “I’m not here to dream and drift with the tides”, “Here their be dragons…and dragon slayers!”, “I’m changing culture”, “My time is too valuable to waste”, “I delight in work and dominion” etc. In short, a library filled with the kind of books that leave our stranger with the impression that the house’s occupant surely must be away on important business or an outstanding adventure.

Your books do speak. They tell people:

Who you admire

What you value

What your tastes are

What you believe

What you aspire to in life

One does not need to be a Sherlock Holmes or Miss Marple to deduce those things.

What does your library say about you?

Auguste Toulmouche - 1872

The Camp Fire Girls Across The Sea~ In The Shop!

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I recently stumbled across several dusty treasures and among them was this turn-of-the-century book for girls–published in 1914!

The Camp Fire Girls

I debated for over a week on whether I should keep it and read it myself or list it in the shop, but I finally decided to share it with my customers. So here it is!

It has several black and white drawings that are nestled in the pages and a delight to come across. It would make a splendid surprise gift for a girl!

 

WWII First Hand Account: “Paris Underground”

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The scene: Paris, France~ June 1940. Two women–Etta, an American, and Kitty, an Englishwoman, are fleeing Paris as the German army invades France. Unable to get out of the city, they are forced to return and live under Nazi rule. There is only one problem: they have an English pilot in the luggage compartment of their car. Hiding him in their apartment is dangerous enough, but when other English soldiers start to use their apartment as a station on their escape route, normal things become deadly risks. Especially when a German soldier takes a shine to Kitty, and at unexpected times shows up at their apartment!

This book is written by Etta Shiber, and was first published in 1943, after she was exchanged for a German prisoner that the Americans held captive.

A tense, gripping story. It reads like a novel, but was all too true. An amazing portrait of Paris and first had account of what life was like in France under the Nazi regime. It is also a story of great personal courage and noble, selfless living.

A favorite quote of mine from the book is when an English pilot who is in hostile territory and surrounded on all sides by his mortal enemies who want to slaughter him, finds the kindness of a friend:

He sighed. “You’re both wonderful,” he said “I guess the world hasn’t gone to the dogs after all. No matter where you go or what happens, you always find nice people everywhere.”

~Lt. Burke

When Mother Reads Aloud

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When Mother Reads Aloud

When Mother reads aloud, the past
Seems real as every day;
I hear the tramp of armies vast;
I see the spears and lances cast;
I join the thrilling fray;
Brave knights and ladies fair and proud
I meet when Mother reads aloud.

When Mother reads aloud, far lands
Seem very near and true;
I cross the desert’s gleaming sands,
Or hunt the jungles’ prowling bands,
Or sail the ocean blue;
Far heights, whose peaks the cold mists shroud,
I scale, when Mother reads aloud.

When Mother reads aloud, I long
For noble deeds to do—
To help the right, redress the wrong;
It seems so easy to be strong,
So simple to be true.
Oh, thick and fast the visions crowd
When Mother reads aloud.
~Author Unknown

A Poet Who Deserves A Place In Your Library

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Edgar Guest on the radio 1935

Edgar Guest on the radio 1935

One of the best loved poets in America during the 1900’s was Edgar Guest. His ability to express the feelings and experiences that we all know is, as far as I have found, unsurpassed in the realm of poetry. Two of his books are among the treasured volumes in my library, and I always relish the time spent in them.

He captures aspects of humanity with such skill and cleverness that it is genuinely amusing to read.  The very best way to describe his work is as an astute friend of mine once remarked:

“Edgar Guest is to poetry what Norman Rockwell is to painting.” ~S. M.

Both of them are masters at depicting, in their respective mediums, the feelings, hopes, and dreams of Americans and the idiosyncrasies that are common among us.  One of Edgar Guests poems (just like one of Norman Rockwell’s paintings) is a piece that you can just sit there and study, a remarkable preservation of what our culture was like because it catches the spirit of of the people. His poems often are on themes of honor, friendship, character, manliness, family, small-town America, and humor.

I would recommend finding a copy of the handsomely bound antique “Collected Verse of Edgar A. Guest” to start your collection. It is a large collection of many of his poems, selected by himself, and the perfect introduction to this worthy poet.

Below are are two of Edgar Guest’s most loved poems: “Myself” and “Somebody Said It Couldn’t Be Done”  “Myself” was a favorite of my Grandpa who always carried an old newspaper clipping of it in his wallet.

 

Myself

I have to live with myself, and so
I want to be fit for myself to know;
I want to be able as days go by
Always to look myself straight in the eye;
I don’t want to stand with the setting sun
And hate myself for the things I’ve done.

I don’t want to keep on a closet shelf
A lot of secrets about myself,
And fool myself as I come and go
Into thinking that nobody else will know
The kind of man that I really am;
I don’t want to dress myself up in sham.

I want to go out with my head erect,
I want to deserve all men’s respect;
But here in this struggle for fame and pelf,
I want to be able to like myself.
I don’t want to think as I come and go
That I’m bluster and bluff and empty show.

I never can hide myself from me,
I see what others may never see,
I know what others may never know,
I never can fool myself—and so,
Whatever happens, I want to be
Self—respecting and conscience free.
~Edgar Guest

 

 

Somebody Said It Couldn’t Be Done

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done,
But, he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one has done it”;
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle it in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That “couldn’t be done,” and you’ll do it.

~Edgar Guest

 

 

7 Books About The West You Need To Know About

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Every era in history is important to study. I must admit though, I have a partiality for the settlement of the American west and cowboy history. Below is a list of 7 great first hand accounts of life in the west, several of which give western films a run for their money as far as entertainment goes! They are vivid stories of the kind of men and women that came before us, the culture they lived in, and the work they did.

  • Little Britches by Ralph Moody.  This book takes place in Colorado, 1906, originally published in 1950. This book and the next two below (also by Ralph Moody) are among my all time favorite books, if I had to pick only a box full of books to keep, this series would be in it.  These books set down on paper in authentic colors the story of growing up in a rugged western land, learning character, working with cowboys, and paint a portrait of a family who work together to build a life. Absolutely fantastic series of books.  Illustrated by Edward Shenton
  • Man Of The Family by Ralph Moody. Sequel to Little Britches, originally published in 1951.  Illustrated by Edward Shenton
  • The Home Ranch by Ralph Moody. 3rd book in the series. Originally published in 1956.   Illustrated by Tran Mawicke
  • A Bride Goes West by Nannie T. Alderson. Originally published in 1942, this book takes place in Montana during the late 1800’s.  It is about Nannie, who leaves the her well-to-do Virginia comfort for a land of hardships and ranch life with her husband.   Drawings by J. O’H. Cosgrave II
  • No Life For A Lady by Agnes Morley Cleaveland. Originally published in 1941. This book takes place in New Mexico (There is a splendid map in the front of the book) and is the story of a lady and her three children who run a ranch, Agnes was one of the children.  Illustrations were done by Edward Borein
  • A Frontier Lady by Sara Royce. This tale of California during the early gold rush days was originally published in 1932.  It ends with these words:                                     “California as a state has rallied from numerous shocks, and is now smiling in prosperity; while her first flock of adopted children many of them, have grown old, and look back on years of wonderful experiences which they sometimes wish they could be recorded along with the history of their adopted State; for their children and their children’s children to read, that they might learn to love and reverence the God who through all the devious paths of life ever guides safely those who trust and obey Him.”
  • Letters Of A Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt Stewart. The original copyright was 1914, it was illustrated by N. C. Wyeth.  The book is a compilation of letters written from 1909-1913 from the state of Wyoming on the life there.

Character, sound principles, hardihood, quite a sense of humor, zest for living, and a lack of fear of hard work, physical pain, or financial risk is what you will find in these books.  Our ancestors were far from perfect, but they had a moral courage, bravery, and grit that many of us today would do well to learn from. These books allow you to sit down and hear them tell you about it first hand.  A priceless collection of books.

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