Grandfather Dake

I ordered this book from a used book dealer online.  

I bought it knowing it was used and loved.

I did not know that it would come with extra treats.

Among them is Grandfather Dake.

L Embury Dake, to be exact.

He was the original owner of the book, which he and his wife received on their first wedding anniversary, August 5th, 1870.

According to the list of names in the front of the book, it was passed down to William E Dake MD, who passed it down to Edward D Dake MD, who passed it down to Edward D Dake II, who is L Embury Dake's great-grandfather. 

I have never written in a book.  I always considered the pages sacred- nothing must be added, nothing must be taken.  This book has made me reconsider this stance.  How exciting it would be for someone to find me in a book?  

Not for me, I must surely be dead by then, but it must be exciting for the other person to know of the book's other owner, for them to know that someone else shared their taste in literature.

Literary Role Models

   My literary role models are found in The Wife, by Washington Irving and in Geraint and Enid by Lord Tennyson.  I consider both, the unamed wife and Enid, heroines. They do not stand by and let their men march through life while they sit and pout in feminine self-pity.  But they are not disrespectful or disobedient to their husbands, no matter what the requests or circumstances.  They stand by their men, faithfully and patiently.

   The Wife exemplifies 1 Peter 3:6 better than any other literary wife I have come across.  My bible has a sidenote that says that 'amazement' in this verse could also be translated 'sudden calamity'.  The Wife is a cheerful, respectful, and loving wife, even in the midst of sudden financial calamity.

   Enid is respectful(reverencing), obedient, and submissive, following her husband and obeying him, even when he falsely suspects her of cheating and forces her through many tests, the worst probably being the order for her to not speak to him.  In the end he is convinced of her love and commitment to him.

   You can read The Wife here:http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/wirving/bl-wirving-thewife.htm and Geraint and Enid here: http://www.classicreader.com/book/574/5/.

I do, however, recommend reading them in their book form.  The Wife is included in Irving's The Sketchbook and Geraint and Enid is part of Tennyson's Idyll's of the King.

Just Umbrella It

Everything is better with an umbrella.  Except, perhaps, very windy days.

Not a Nancy Drew

When was younger, I loved reading the old mystery novels by Carolyn Keene, and later on, I played the computer games.  I still do, on occasion.

At the end, when Nancy Drew saved the day and justice was served, I would heave a dreamy sigh and wish I was the heroine.  Then reality would hit me. 

I would never go beyond a No Trespassing sign.

If someone told me not to go in somewhere, I wouldn't.  That wouldn't mean I'd would not try to peek in, but I would not step inside.

I would never go through someone's drawers, and definitely not their journals!

I was raised better than to snoop in someone's house.

I would not go sneaking down dark tunnels and secret passageways in the middle of the night by myself.  I would at least take a dog.

So, I'm no Nancy Drew.  But I also have never been knocked unconscious, chloroformed unconscious, or strangled unconscious.  

I have not been in any near drowning, burning, or suffocating situations.

And I have never been tied up and had to rap out SOS with my heel.

Is it worth the safety to give up the glory of solving a mystery?

For me it is.  I'm more of a Bess or George,  standing on the sidelines, just a phone call away.  I'm ready to help you solve a riddle or give advice.  I will search for clues to your mystery on the internet and in books, but don't expect me to bring your lock pick if you forgot it.  

Attention All Wives

For those of you who are also wives, I have a blog just for us.

You can link to it here.

It is not a place for me to share about my marriage troubles and blessings, but merely a place to challenge and encourage you to take the steps to make your marriage beautiful.