The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-07-24
A STORY OF A BOOK.

AAc O'NSh
Every one knows what the outsic
OF q book is-red, yellow, green {
purple in color, lettered IN silver, lie
tered in red, oblong and square, fl
and thin. Every book has some shad
of difference, which may distinguis
it. 1t is true we come in tribes-b
hundreds after n pattern-and latel
the most popular cover or dress Il boo
can wear is paper lettered with black
and the letters stretched across tn
cover, and are not at the back of the
volume, as used to be the case.
Where do we all come from
Whittier are we goingp are ques ton
which | think | may ask, without run
lIng the risk of beng thought vain.
l know where / came from-that is
the heart and core of me; and | wish,
rs l said before, to relate my history.
l must go back some way to get to the
beginning of things, and that begin
ming takes me to a dull, dreary lodg-
ing IN a dull. dreary back street in
London. l was born there. When
the baby was asleep in the cradle,
when the husband was away at his
work in the postoflice, when-notice
this-the last stocking was mended-
my author would get out an old case,
open sundry sheets of lined paper,
and with a smile on her lips, dip the
pen into the ink and let me grow
under her hand.
She was very happy when she was
making me the vehicle in her thoughts
pure, bright thougts they we're
and whatever merit | possess came
from her. who told out her thoughts
on the lined paper, and made me.
She kept this work of hers a secret.
Sometimes l heard her telling her
baby that mother was writing a story
that, perhaps, when it was published,
1t would make her fortune-and then,
oh! the joys that would come-the
country home instead of furnished
rooms, the flowers and the brightness,
like my old, old home, babyr'
And little by little 1 grew, and the
old case was full, and at last | was
finished. Rather this first part of my
ife-my best part-was over. Then
many a journey for me. As 1
was born in London, from whence
books are all sent out into the world,
1 was not committed to the post, but
my dear author would tie me up neat
~, and tuck me under her arm and
set forth with me.
She would wait patiently to see
great pundit who was to pro.
nounce on my merits. She was so
anxious about my fate that l could
feel her heart beating, as she waited
me, and wen when she received
me back a tear dropped upon me, and
! often heard her say: J
Il must give you up, my poor little t,
book; you have no chance among
thousands, of course not. I was 50 d,
lilly to think so. l will not try any t
I
But she did try 1t again. and I was 8
eceived. had been received before. s
'ut o l was unrolled and read.
When my dear author came back TO
lear my doom, the man who had me d
AID his hand upon me and said: Ii
This Isl nice story; it is not a q
ovel aud yeti t is full of interest. l t,
undertake to publish it,"
''Will you pay for ltp" she asked. il
''Well, no; l will bring it out, and if it
Oh deposit thirty pounds, L will share d
he profits If it succeeds" IL
Il can not pay you any money!" a
as the answer in a low tone, '.'for 1 d
I'VE none. l want money from YOU" m
The publisher stroked his beard; he in
I'd a long beard, for it tickled me as
bent over me. in
my dear young lady, that is always
Re cry of young authors; but the har- hi
'st is not reaped directly the seed is W
wn. You must be patient" w
"GIye my story back to me-" my
thor said in a trembling voice. Il
n not let you have it for nothing"
was being rolled up, and a thick m
'stic band clicked over me, when an ST
ler voice was heard: ST,
Mr.. Best, let me speak with you a if
)ment.n m,
Then l was laid down on the table. on
d l could hear the signs of my dear wi
thor as she sat near me. de
a few minutes, the gentleman dit
til the beard came back. and a KIN
gentleman with him. ma
1--WE think, madame, we will under DO
ke to publish this book, and-pay Sc
u ten pounds IN the day of issue. us
'e truth is my partner thinks highly tit
1t; forgive me, more highly than /
and by his desire l make you this On
er." a.
L was left on the table, then
W into a deep drawer, from apr
ence l was taken one morning and an,
n assunder. vo,
small part of me was sent off to VIII
printers, being first marked by the dea
ID OF some m who read me. the
cry soon after my arrival at the ira
'ter's office my fair pages were |
with black fingers, and | was ono
up before a man with a pair ly.
Keen eyes, and l heard him bv
ter: in 4,
Plain writing for once, that's a cou
cy-a woman's too" tax,
hen another voice called out: to #
! on are lucky. l have been puz- min
2 over this sentence for an hour: dur
t make head or tail of it," while eiy,
Ter grumbled: You