Journeys through Bookland : a new and original plan for reading applied to the world's best literature for children . ®S than wit (For fools are often blessed withfortunes smile),Had built a splendid house and fur-nished it In splendid stjde. One thing is wanting, said a friend; for though The rooms are fine, the furniture lack a library, dear sir, for not for use. Tis true, but zounds! replied the squire with glee,The lumber-room in yonder northern wing{I wonder I neer thought of it) will beThe very thing. Ill have it fitted up without delay With shelves and presses of the
Journeys through Bookland : a new and original plan for reading applied to the world's best literature for children . ®S than wit (For fools are often blessed withfortunes smile),Had built a splendid house and fur-nished it In splendid stjde. One thing is wanting, said a friend; for though The rooms are fine, the furniture lack a library, dear sir, for not for use. Tis true, but zounds! replied the squire with glee,The lumber-room in yonder northern wing{I wonder I neer thought of it) will beThe very thing. Ill have it fitted up without delay With shelves and presses of the newest mode,And rarest wood, befitting every wayA squires abode. And when the whole is ready, Ill dispatch My coachman—a most knowing fellow—dow^nTo buy me, by admeasurement, a batchOf books in town. 474 The Country Squire 475 But ere the library was half sn])])lie(l With all its ])()m|)s of cal)inet and shelf,The booby squire repented him, and criedUnto himself: This room is much more roomy than I thought; Ten thousand volumes hardly would sufficeTo fill it, and would cost, however bought,A plaguey THE SQUIRE S LIBRARY Now, as I only want them for their looks. It might, on second thoughts, be just as good,And cost me next to nothing, if the booksWere made of wood. It shall be so, Ill give the shaven dealA coat of paint—a colorable dress, 476 The Country Squire To look like calf or vellum and concealIts nakedness. And, gilt and lettered with the authors name. Whatever is most excellent and rareShall be, or seem to be (tis all the same),Assembled there. The work was done, the simulated hoards Of wit and wisdom round the chamber stood,In binding some; and some, of course, in boardsWhere all were wood. From bulky folios down to slender twelvesThe choicest tomes, in many an even rowDisplayed their lettered backs upon the shelves,A goodly show. With such a stock as seemingly surpassed The best collections ever formed in Spain,What wonder if the owner grew at lastSupr
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookidjourneysthro, bookyear1922
