A Tale about a "Common Book"

My Stargazer Lily has three blossoms !

"As a blossom can't tell what becomes of it's fragrance, we can't tell what becomes of our influence."

I just realized that this is my 101st. post !  And a whole year after starting my blog I am still having fun doing it and want to thank you all for your comments whether here in the comment section or in the many emails you send letting me know that you are reading my musings.  Thanks !

As I sit to write this,  the sun has peeped out from the clouds after the lovely rain of last night and today. We so needed this rain to water our very thirsty gardens and lawns and to replenish wells and ponds.  We still need more but we're thankful for the good steady rain in the night.  The air has a sultry, heavy with moisture smell so typical of this type of summer day. From my open doors that lead out onto the patio,  I can hear the happy voices of children swimming upstream  in the river.  The water is low and one can walk or rock hop up toward the old mill dam where the water only falls over the west side which is quite a bit lower than the rest of the dam's span across the Black River.  All this brings back such fond memories of my own childhood and the old swimming hole in the Branch Brook.

I am having a quiet afternoon and evening all by myself.  My hubby has gone to an antique car show nearby, driving the old '53 Chevy that he is helping some friends to restore to it's old self, or pretty much as it used to be.  Our friend Sarah, who is staying with us for a spell has gone north today to job hunt and to have a weekend with friends.. so it is just Lizzie and me and the hummingbirds who are really raising a ruckus or showing off for Lizzie who is sitting so intrigued in her rocking chair by my side.

I have been reading some poems that have been pasted into what used to be referred to as a "Common Book".  I found this gem amongst my Grandma's things years ago.  It seems that in the old days before the advent of stationary stores and department stores, at least in rural areas, it was common practice for folks to use whatever was available to make a scrapbook out of.  This particular little book was originally Drs. Starkey and Palen's TREATMENT BY INHALATION.  Copyrighted 1888.  As all the pages are covered with poems clipped from newspapers and seed catalogs etc. I can't tell you what the book was all about!!  It promises good reading about 'reports of numerous and interesting cases'.  The poems pasted over the pages of this book were written and sent in to newspapers and catalogs from which they were clipped and are from country people from all over the USA.  Lots of them are from our own Vermont.  AND they are GOOD!  Each contributor gave at the end of their poems,  their name and what town and state they were from and some times the county. Many of the poems were cut from the Park Seed Catalog.  I know just how folks looked forward each late winter to receiving their seed catalog in the mail.  To plan for their veggie gardens and dream of the lovely flowers they could grow once the winter snow was gone and spring had arrived.  Seems that catalog readers would contribute their poems to the publisher of the catalog and some would be included in each issue.

Upon finding this book a few years back, and seeing a poem written about the Park Seed Co. I googled this Co. to find that it is still in existence and doing well!  I sent them a picture and the story of the little Common Book along with a poem written about their Company. It was written by Florence Josphine Boyce, Washington County, VT.  They were delighted to get this and even put the story on their website for awhile. I ordered a catalog from them and now buy most of my garden seeds from them.

I pick this Common Book up from time to time and read a poem or two.  I can't help but wonder about these women who wrote them.  I wish they could know that their thoughts are being read and appreciated now, so many years later.

This little poem by Lalia Mitchell from Essex Co. written on Oct.12, 1901 is a favorite of mine.

At Home

I have wandered long, I have wandered far,

But at last I am home...am home,

With a gleaming light and a lounging chair

And a loved, familiar tome.

There's a kitten here on the hearth asleep,

As happy as I myself,

But best of all are the plants abloom...

Abloom on the window shelf.

You may talk of fame and its laurels bright,

Of the joys of those who roam,

But they'll miss the peace that's mine tonight,

When at last I am home...am home.

For the proud of heart, there are honors brave,

For the seeker, golden pelf, 

But I'm well contented with my hearth-fire bright,

And the flowers on my window shelf.

Enjoy your upcoming weekend.  Laugh often and Love lots!  And Blessings to you all.