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Primer；'' a curious little； thin； square book in faded blue board covers。 A
good many times I have wondered whether I ought not to have the
precious little thing sumptuously attired in the finest style known to my
binder； indeed； I have often been tempted to exchange the homely blue
board covers for flexible levant； for it occurred to me that in this way I
could testify to my regard for the treasured volume。 I spoke of this one
day to my friend Judge Methuen； for I have great respect for his judgment。
‘‘It would be a desecration；'' said he； ‘‘to deprive the book of its
original binding。 What！ Would you tear off and cast away the covers
which have felt the caressing pressure of the hands of those whose
memory you revere？ The most sacred of sentiments should forbid that
act of vandalism！''
I never think or speak of the ‘‘New England Primer'' that I do not
recall Captivity Waite； for it was Captivity who introduced me to the
Primer that day in the springtime of sixty…three years ago。 She was of
my age； a bright； pretty girla very pretty； an exceptionally pretty girl； as
girls go。 We belonged to the same Sunday…school class。 I remember
that upon this particular day she brought me a russet apple。 It was she
who discovered the Primer in the mahogany case； and what was not our
joy as we turned over the tiny pages together and feasted our eyes upon
the vivid pictures and perused the absorbingly interesting text！ What
wonder that together we wept tears of sympathy at the harrowing recital of
the fate of John Rogers！
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THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF A BIBLIOMANIAC
Even at this remote date I cannot recall that experience with Captivity；
involving as it did the wood…cut representing the unfortunate Rogers
standing in an impossible bonfire and being consumed thereby in the
presence of his wife and their numerous progeny； strung along in a pitiful
line across the picture for artistic effecteven now； I say； I cannot
contemplate that experience and that wood…cut without feeling lumpy in
my throat and moist about my eyes。
How lasting are the impressions made upon the youthful mind！
Through the many busy years that have elapsed since first I tasted the
thrilling sweets of that miniature Primer I have not forgotten that ‘‘young
Obadias； David； Josias； all were pious''； that ‘‘Zaccheus he did climb the
Tree our Lord to see''； and that ‘‘Vashti for Pride was set aside''； and still
with many a sympathetic shudder and tingle do I recall Captivity's
overpowering sense of horror； and mine； as we lingered long over the
portraitures of Timothy flying from Sin； of Xerxes laid out in funeral garb；
and of proud Korah's troop partly submerged。
My Book and Heart
Must never part。
So runs one of the couplets in this little Primer…book； and right truly
can I say that from the springtime day sixty…odd years ago； when first my
heart went out in love to this little book； no change of scene or of custom
no allurement of fashion； no demand of mature years； has abated that love。
And herein is exemplified the advantage which the love of books has over
the other kinds of love。 Women are by nature fickle； and so are men； their
friendships are liable to dissipation at the merest provocation or the
slightest pretext。
Not so； however； with books； for books cannot change。 A thousand
years hence they are what you find them to…day； speaking the same words；
holding forth the same cheer； the same promise； the same comfort； always
constant； laughing with those who laugh and weeping with those who
weep。
Captivity Waite was an exception to the rule governing her sex。 In all
candor I must say that she approached closely to a realization of the ideals
of a booka sixteenmo； if you please； fair to look upon； of clear； clean
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THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF A BIBLIOMANIAC
type； well ordered and well edited； amply margined； neatly bound； a
human look whose text； as represented by her disposition and her mind；
corresponded felicitously with the comeliness of her exterior。 This child
was the great…great…granddaughter of Benjamin Waite； whose family was
carried off by Indians in 1677。 Benjamin followed the party to Canada；
and after many months of search found and ransomed the captives。
The historian has properly said that the names of Benjamin Waite and
his companion in their perilous journey through the wilderness to Canada
should ‘‘be memorable in all the sad or happy homes of this Connecticut
valley forever。'' The child who was my friend in youth； and to whom I
may allude occasionally hereafter in my narrative； bore the name of one of
the survivors of this Indian outrage； a name to be revered as a
remembrancer of sacrifice and heroism。
II
THE BIRTH OF A NEW PASSION
When I was thirteen years old I went to visit my Uncle Cephas。 My
grandmother would not have parted with me even for that fortnight had
she not actually been compelled to。 It happened that she was called to a
meeting of the American Tract Society； and it was her intention to pay a
visit to her cousin； Royall Eastman； after she had discharged the first and
imperative duty she owed the society。 Mrs。 Deacon Ranney was to have
taken me and provided for my temporal and spiritual wants during
grandmother's absence； but at the last moment the deacon came down with
one of his spells of quinsy； and no other alternative remained but to pack
me off to Nashua； where my Uncle Cephas lived。
This involved considerable expense； for the stage fare was three
shillings each way： it came particularly hard on grandmother。 inasmuch
as she had just paid her road tax and had not yet received her semi…annual
dividends on her Fitchburg Railway stock。 Indifferent； however； to every
sense of extravagance and to all other considerations except those of
personal pride； I rode away atop of the stage…coach； full of exultation。 As
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THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF A BIBLIOMANIAC
we rattled past the Waite house I waved my cap to Captivity and indulged
in the pleasing hope that she would be lonesome without me。 Much of
the satisfaction of going away arises from the thought that those you leave
behind are likely to be wretchedly miserable during your absence。
My Uncle Cephas lived in a house so very different from my
grandmother's that it took me some time to get used to the place。 Uncle
Cephas was a lawyer； and his style of living was not at all like
grandmother's； he was to have been a minister； but at twelve years of age
he attended the county fair； and that incident seemed to change the whole
bent of his life。 At twenty…one he married Samantha Talbott； and that
was another blow to grandmother； who always declared that the Talbotts
were a shiftless lot。 However； I was agreeably impressed with Uncle
Cephas and Aunt 'Manthy； for they welcomed me very cordially and
turned me over to my little cousins； Mary and Henry； and bade us three
make merry to the best of our ability。 These first favorable impressions
of my uncle's family were confirmed when I discovered that for supper we
had hot biscuit and dried beef warmed up in cream gravy； a diet which；
with all due respect to grandmother； I considered much more desirable
than dry bread and dried… apple sauce。
Aha； old Crusoe！ I see thee now in yonder case smiling out upon me
as cheerily as thou didst smile those many years ago when to a little boy
thou brought