Friendship Book Study
Libr 280-18
Anna Cobbs
San Jose State University
April 26, 2011
I was fortunate to have this beautiful book at my immediate disposal, as in it sits atop a dresser in my bedroom along with a few other special books, for this study. The book is a family heirloom that at one time belonged to either my great-grandmother or great-grandfather. I would love to say that it was lovingly bequeathed especially to me, but it was not. If anything, I may have rescued it. Then again it wasn’t that heroic. The book was snagged during a visit to my great Aunt Pat’s house. We always say “Pat” like “Paht” when referring to our 89 year-old Bostonian family member. She has lived in the same house in Milton, Massachusetts for some seventy odd years. Naturally, she has accumulated a bit of stuff. Whenever we visit she allows us to make a treasure trove out of her home, “Do you need any books dear? I’ve got loads of them. There’s too much crap in this house anyway…,” (Aunt Paht). Out of the many detective novels and Reader’s Digest Collectibles I selected this book only because I’m a sap for Transcendentalists, like Emerson. It wasn’t until I got it back home that I realized it was 100 years old, beautifully illustrated, and in remarkably good condition. When I started researching this book, I wondered if what I would discover would lead me to the reason that my family wanted it in the first place. I think I now know both the reason they had it, and the reason it is in such good condition after 100 years.