I was able to away to the Antique Mall here in Edmonton yesterday with two of my favourite people, Val and Chad. The Antique Mall and I have a unique love affair in that it opens its doors to all and everyone and I wish it and all its beautifully aged belongings to be mine and mine alone. Yes, possibly this seems a bit possessive of the Antique Mall, but it's how I feel and I may as well state it plainly. I could stay for hours perusing the aisles and enjoying the well-stocked shelves. They are each filled with such deliciously lovely items, old and vintage and are teaming with unheard and unseen stories and nostalgia. Sweetly sighing am I. Love.
Yesterday, as it happens, I quite literally stumbled upon (honestly, tripped over an old rug and into the shelf that housed it) a darling little book called the Whittier Birthday Book, filled with what are excellently noted as Birthday Chimes, compiled by John Greenleaf Whittier. One chime for each day of the year is written on the side of each verso page and on the recto page is a place to write in birthdays. Because everyone has a birthday at some point, right? Or even better, every one is certain to have an unbirthday! In any event of birthdays or unbirthdays, it is a fantastic addition to my collection of old books and I cannot, as yet, put it down. It was a five dollar purchase that I don't think I'd part with for the world now. Mainly for the handwriting from someone nearly a hundred years ago that I have never met, nor likely am to meet unless in another lifetime. A gentleman by the name of Bill Montgomery from the Highlands, as is stated in hand-written well-worn black ink on the first page, would appear to have been the original owner of this little book. He used it rather lovingly, I suspect, for all the names and dates he placed in it pertaining to people's birthdays. I am now privy to the fact that a Mrs. Doreen Montgomery was born on February 10th, 1915 as is dotingly penned in this little book. Perhaps she was his wife and truest companion? His sister and best friend, maybe. Who knows, but she did, in fact, mean enough to him for him to remember her birthday in his little red Whittier birthday book. And I love that. This little book is circa 1896 and was published in Edinburgh and is in fine condition for both reading and thinking on. I'm quite happy that I came across it and even more so that I impulsively purchased it. Impulsively would seem my middle name with respects to vintage purchases from delightfully stocked antique malls. It is what it is, as my dear sweet grandmother would say, and I will not make apologies for it...not even to my poor, decrepit and lonely for funds bank account.
After I purchased it, I read aloud to both Val and Chad what their birthday chimes were, via 1896, of course. Then I read my own and I quite loved it, actually. It's a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson and it suits to a tee a little something that I need to learn for myself.
Self-trust is the first secret of success, the belief that if you are here, the authorities of the universe put you here, and for cause, or with some task strictly appointed you in your constitution, and so long as you work at that you are well and successful.
Ps. If you'd be interested in knowing what your birthday chime is, leave a comment with your birthday and I will happily oblige you with your chime.
What an amazing find!! I would love to hear what my birthday chime is. It was yesterday :)
Posted by: Candace | Monday, 14 November 2011 at 03:12 PM
Happy Belated Birthday, Candace! I hope it was a fantastic day! Your birthday chime reads:
"Fight not with ghosts and shadows. Instead, let us hear the snap of chain-links."
For a little bit of a sentence - that says a lot!
I like this one too! And it is one I need to work on - letting go of the past, moving forward from things I cannot change. And recognizing in my head that I've moved on (hearing the snap!).
Take care!
Posted by: J | Monday, 14 November 2011 at 04:02 PM
January 5th - interested to hear mine! :)
Posted by: BJ | Tuesday, 15 November 2011 at 03:07 AM
BJ - your birthday chime is taken from J.G. Whittier's poem - The Lumbermen
"Make we here our camp of winter;
And, through sleet and snow,
Pitchy knot and beechen splinter
On our hearth shall glow."
After reading your chime, I read the poem and it's quite interesting - as is the history on Whittier. Give it a read when you have time! xo
Posted by: J | Tuesday, 15 November 2011 at 04:08 PM
October 17 please :)
Posted by: Genevieve Woollin | Friday, 25 November 2011 at 09:11 PM
Hello Mrs. Woollin! Your birthday chime for October 17th is...
"Life is brief, duty grave;
but with rain-folded wings
Of yesterday's sunshine the grateful heart sings;
And we, of all others, have reason to pay
The tribute of thanks, and rejoice on our way."
The Quaker Alumni by John Greenleaf Whittier written around 1860.
You can find it online - it's a very long poem, but a very good one!
What I like about your chime is how he shows that even when our circumstances change (life is brief and duty grave) and things may seem worse off than before (rain-folded wings) that we always have things, experiences, etc. that we can be grateful for on our journey (of yesterday's sunshine the grateful heart sings). Very good chime indeed!
Hope you enjoyed your chime!
Blessings and much love! xo
Posted by: J | Sunday, 27 November 2011 at 11:50 AM