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"Do you know," said Sylvia softly, "my father was a poet?
He published a little volume of verse once; and, Janet, I've never seen
a copy of it, and oh, how I would love to! It was published when
he was at college--just a small, private edition to give his friends.
He never published any more--poor father! I think life disappointed him.
But I have such a longing to see that little book of his verse.
I haven't a scrap of his writings. If I had it would seem as if I
possessed something of him--of his heart, his soul, his inner life.
He would be something more than a mere name to me."
"Didn't he have a copy of his own--didn't your mother
have one?" asked Janet.
"Mother hadn't. She died when I was born, you know, but Aunty
says there was no copy of father's poems among mother's books.
Mother didn't care for poetry, Aunty says--Aunty doesn't either.
Father went to Europe after mother died, and he died there the next year.
Nothing that he had with him was ever sent home to us.
He had sold most of his books before he went, but he gave a few of his
favourite ones to Aunty to keep for me. HIS book wasn't among them.
I don't suppose I shall ever find a copy, but I should be so delighted
if I only could."
When the Old Lady got home she took from her top bureau drawer
an inlaid box of sandalwood. It held a little, slim, limp volume,
wrapped in tissue paper--the Old Lady's most treasured possession.
On the fly-leaf was written, "To Margaret, with the author's love."
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