The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-11-18
A Parsons Library.

But there is one scene on the death
of an incumbent which is more melan-
choly to a thoughtful observer than
even the departure forever OF his widow
from the home of her early welded
happiness, and that is the sale of the
good mans books. Probably he pos
sessed a useful and well-chosen library,
which he valued more than any other of
his inanimate chattels. Here stood mis-
college prizes. Plato and GibbOn there
were his favorite commentators; row
of ''poetry and other bookes, good ones,
Warrant ye," jostled the best works on
the topography and natural history of
the district. Now they are all igno-
miniously tied up in lots and flung on
the floor, fingered by curious laborers
and bargain-loving Jews, their titles
murdered by the rustic auctioneer as
he puts them up, and each lot, amid
merriment sufficiently incongruous
under the circumstances, knocked
down to country pumpkins for few
shillings where the late owner had
spent pounds. 1t is not the loss at
which such private libraries are ALWAYS
sold which is so affecting, as. the dis
persal of treasures which had been care
fully amassed and deeply valued by
their dead owner. Book-lovers soon
learn to look upon their idols as pos
sessing sympathies and feelings like
themselves. Tho pathetic side of
books character is now prominently
brought forward. To think of that
"Icon Basilike," in its tattered leather
covering, being carried Oft by the farrier
to wrap his horse. balls in; while little
Elzevir," for which farmer has, in
total ignorance of its estimation, given
3d., is thrown into his light cart,
and becomes his children's play
thing on reaching home! What
stronger irony has fate in store for
books as well as for their owners?
Therefore the sad spectacle of the sale
of the parsons books continually re-
peats itself around US, and is, for the
same reason, continually disregarded.
To the contemplative spectator,
however, no more touching con-
clusion could be found than this,
the last scene in the life of q coun-
try parson; ''vanity of vanities, all
is vanity" yet these reverent thoughts
may well be intensified as he looks on
to q day when some other books are to
be opened, not only for the poor parson,
but also for himself, and then he muir
murs the grand old pra, er-with which
the parson had been so familiar-that,
with One Above a. -FOUR Ruler and
Guide, we may so pass through things
temporal, that we finally lose not the
things eternal. "-C0r,shiU Magazine.
City clergymen are greatly restored
by religious impost0rs. ''What . list
it would be-" says the reverend editor
of the C0ngregatio,sntist, ''if we had
kept q record of the men we have
helped to get to New York, Providence
and elsewhere; the one-armed men, the
sick men, the men with feeble wives,
with pockets picked, with TRUNKS mis-
carried, summoned by telegram to the
deathbeds of dear parents and children.
enterPrising young men who were
fastening to enter on their first rema-
nerative engagement, every one of
whom was short from three dollars to
twenty dollars, and having heard
father, or Uncle John, or DR.. What g.
his-name, our classmate, speak so often
and 30 warmly Of US. ventured to call.
contide to US his embarrassing position,
and ask for loan" Finally he arranged
with q shrewd business man to deaf
with all unknown applicants. AMI that
gentleman hal little difficulty in detect
ing the frauds.
a